Do you work on a project or activity that is increasing climate resilience or reducing carbon emissions while conserving biodiversity?
Have you collaborated with colleagues across USAID to design a project or activity that has biodiversity outcomes and tackles development challenges across multiple programming areas?
Are you trying to monitor biodiversity co-benefits in your climate change activities or projects?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, we encourage you to share your experience through USAID’s biodiversity integration case study competition.
USAID’s Bureau for Economic Growth, Education and Environment (E3) Office of Forestry and Biodiversity is now accepting submissions for a case study competition on biodiversity integration across USAID’s portfolio. Cases may include biodiversity programming with multiple sector outcomes, as well as other development programming with biodiversity outcomes. In addition to successes, case studies are welcome to discuss challenges in design, implementation or monitoring of integration.
Integration of biodiversity conservation with other sectors has the potential to increase sustainability of development programming, amplify results and promote cost-savings. Integrated programming offers an opportunity to advance learning and an evidence-based approach, to identify lessons learned and to capture best practices. This case study competition seeks to understand and capture field-level learning on biodiversity integration into USAID programming across sectors. By entering the competition, your case study will help broaden knowledge and evidence on biodiversity integration both within and outside of USAID.
The Competition
All USAID staff and implementing partners working on USAID projects and activities are eligible to enter this case study competition. The Office of Forestry and Biodiversity will consider all entries that:
- address biodiversity integration at any stage of the USAID program cycle.
- receive USAID funding. Applicants are not required to receive biodiversity funding and can come from any sector but must address biodiversity in some aspect of their integration case.
- are submitted in English by May 3, 2019. USAID staff and implementing partners are encouraged to collaborate on joint submissions.
The Judges
A high-level judging panel will evaluate submitted cases. Judges include:
- Cynthia Gill, Office Director, E3 Office of Forestry and Biodiversity, USAID
- Tony Pryor, Senior Advisor, Bureau for Policy, Planning and Learning, USAID
- James Watson, Development Diplomat in Residence, USAID
The competition is open March 25 – May 3, 2019. Participants will need to complete a simple submission form. Full competition guidelines are available on the case study competition website. USAID’s Biodiversity Results and Integrated Development Gains Enhanced (BRIDGE) project is managing the competition and will work with winners to enhance and adapt cases to share with USAID, partners and the public. BRIDGE will also highlight the case studies in a networking and learning event in Washington, DC, co-hosted with USAID LEARN.
We encourage you to submit your biodiversity integration stories!
Jennifer Kane
Jennifer Kane is a Senior Biodiversity and Natural Resources Advisor in the Biodiversity Division of USAID’s Center for Environment, Energy, and Infrastructure. She helps lead efforts to integrate climate change and biodiversity at USAID, including nature-based solutions and climate-resilient biodiversity programming, especially in the marine context. She also provides leadership on fisheries and food security, as well as promoting equity and inclusion in the environment sector. Jenny holds a Master of Science in Sustainable Development and Conservation Biology and a Master of Public Policy in Environmental Policy from the University of Maryland College Park, a graduate certificate in science communication from the University of California Santa Cruz, and a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Visual Art from Brown University.
Catherine Wahlen
Catherine Benson Wahlén is the Research and Learning Specialist for the Biodiversity Results and Integrated Development Gains (BRIDGE) project, which promotes biodiversity integration in USAID programming. In her role at BRIDGE, Catherine has written case studies on biodiversity integration in Honduras and Mozambique and promoted the intersections of biodiversity programming with democracy, human rights and governance and sustainable landscapes. Catherine has a PhD in environmental governance from the University of Michigan, a Masters of Environmental Science from Yale University and BAs in Biology and Environmental Policy from Colby College.