Strategic Environmental, Social and Climatic Assessment for the Sustainable Development of the Capricorn Bioceanic Corridor

Description

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), in collaboration with national and subnational authorities of the Capricorn Bioceanic Corridor (CBC), invites specialized consulting firms to submit proposals to execute a high-level Strategic Environmental, Social and Climatic Assessment (SESCA). The project will evaluate indirect and cumulative impacts across transport, energy, mining, agriculture, and logistics to guide low-GHG, nature-positive, and climate-resilient regional integration across Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Paraguay.

1. Scope of Services & Key Objectives
Cumulative & Indirect Risk Assessment: Analyze macro-level risks regarding greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, land-use change, deforestation, and biodiversity loss using the Valued Ecosystem Components (VEC) methodology.

Social Inclusion & Safeguards: Evaluate sociocultural impacts on Indigenous Peoples and traditional communities, physical/economic displacement, vulnerable groups, and gender dimensions in alignment with the IDB's ESPF and Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) standards.

Policy & Capacity Building: Develop strategic mitigation, adaptation, and organizational capacity recommendations to inform integrated territorial planning, land-use policies, and investment decision-making.

2. Key Activities & Technical Components
Multi-Sectoral Evaluation: Assess planned and foreseeable infrastructure (roads, bridges, ports, transmission grids, industrial parks) alongside expansion trends in lithium/mineral mining, cattle, agriculture, and urban growth.

Interactive Geospatial GIS Platform: Build an ArcGIS Online platform featuring spatial data layers (shapefiles) and dual interfaces—an internal interface for decision-makers and an external interface for public transparency.

Regional Consultations & Workshops: Execute preparation workshops and at least four (4) hybrid consultation workshops, ensuring a minimum of one session in each CBC country (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Paraguay).

3. Deliverables & Payment Timeline (210 Days)
Deliverable 1 — Inception Report (10% | Day 15): Detailed work plan, methodology, stakeholder map, and execution schedule.

Deliverable 2 — Scoping Report (20% | Day 60): Boundary-setting methodology (corridor vs. project level), document review, and Stakeholder Engagement Plan.

Deliverable 3 — Draft SESCA & GIS Platform (25% | Day 150): Draft SESCA report, operational GIS platform interfaces, shapefiles, and decision-support recommendations.

Deliverable 4 — Consultation Workshop Reports (20% | Day 180): Complete records of preparation and consultation workshops, stakeholder feedback matrices, and disaggregated participant logs.

Deliverable 5 — Final SESCA & Recommendations (25% | Day 210): Revised final SESCA report incorporating stakeholder feedback, monitoring indicators, and finalized policy frameworks.

Note: Interested companies must review the requirements in the BEO Bidders Portal.