The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Madagascar, is seeking comments on the Statement of Objectives (SOO) for Knowledge Management for biodiversity conservation activity under the Conservation and Communities Project as described in the attached request document. These comments will assist USAID in finalizing this SOO.
The Conservation and Communities Project will encompass two primary activities that will be mutually supportive. One is the Knowledge Management for biodiversity conservation named Hay Tao meaning "know how" in Malagasy which will assist a wide array of development partners, including the Ministry of Environment, Ecology, Sea and Forests (MEEMF), to enhance the enabling conditions and policy frameworks supporting improved management of biodiversity resources, enhanced security of land and natural resource use rights, and effective civil society engagement. Hay Tao will also assist in data collection and sharing as well as supporting the community of practice. Hay Tao's efforts will target support for the other site-based conservation activity named Mikajy which means "taking good care of" in Malagasy that will work to reduce threats to targeted protected areas and High Biodiversity Value (HBV) ecosystems through improved management, increased economic opportunities, access to social services, and support for more secure land and natural resource property and use rights.

RFI questions for Hay Tao are as follows:

1. Given that data quality and effective data management are critical in determining management effectiveness in the conservation of terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity, i.e., demonstrating quantifiable measures of changes in biodiversity threats and in biophysical conditions, what should USAID's role be in improving such systems in comparison to the Government of Madagascar, other donors, and other stakeholders?

2. Understanding that USAID's history in Madagascar has been largely limited to terrestrial ecosystems, what role should USAID play through this program to advance the creation and management of Marine Protected Areas, Locally-Managed Marine Areas, and sustainable use zones for coastal/marine ecosystems?

3. Given the actors supporting biodiversity conservation at the national level what is USAID's comparative advantage under the three intermediate results (management, livelihoods, and governance) for this program?
4. Understanding that there are different levels of capacity and experience to consider, what are the best ways for USAID to support basic competencies for management of areas of High Biodiversity Value through this program in such a way as to advance both protected area management and community-based natural resource management in Madagascar?

5. USAID appreciates any additional input in response to this RFI.

We would appreciate it that comments to this Request for Information be received by the Government electronically to [email protected] on or before 11:00 a.m. Antananarivo local time on March 18, 2016. Submission of hard copies is not required.

The issuance of this announcement in no way obligates the U.S Agency for International Development to award a grant, nor does it commit USAID to pay any cost incurred in the preparation and submission of an application in response hereto. Furthermore, USAID reserves the right to fund any or none of the applications submitted and to negotiate separately with an applicant if such an action is considered to be in the interest of the USG.

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