Strategic environmental, social and climatic assessment for the sustainable development of the Capricorn Bioceanic Corridor

Description

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), in coordination with national and subnational governments across the Capricorn Bioceanic Corridor (CBC), invites consulting firms to submit proposals to conduct a high-level Strategic Environmental, Social and Climatic Assessment (SESCA). The assignment aims to evaluate cumulative risks and identify sustainable development opportunities for regional integration across transport, energy, logistics, agriculture, and mining sectors.

1. Technical objectives & sectoral scope
Cumulative risk & impact assessment: Evaluate high-level environmental, social, disaster, and climate-related risks, focusing on indirect, cumulative, and transboundary impacts across key sectors—transport (roads, bridges, ports), energy transmission, trade logistics, agriculture/livestock, and mining (including lithium extraction in the Chaco and Andean subregions).

Strategic alternative evaluation: Assess plan and project alternatives to prioritize low-GHG, climate-resilient, and nature-positive economic development paths, applying the mitigation hierarchy across short-, medium-, and long-term scenarios.

2. Sustainable mainstreaming & institutional recommendations
Mainstreaming green & social solutions: Identify opportunities to incorporate disaster-resilient infrastructure, nature-based solutions (NbS), green financing, natural capital preservation, social equity, gender considerations, and safeguards for indigenous and traditional populations.

Capacity building & policy roadmap: Formulate policy, procedural, and institutional capacity recommendations for integrated land-use planning and investment decision-making, specifying responsible entities and preliminary budget estimates for implementation.

3. Standards & framework alignment
Compliance with international standards: Ensure full consistency with the IDB’s Environmental and Social Performance Framework (ESPF), Paris Alignment Implementation Approach (PAIA), IDB Impact+ framework, national climate/nature commitments, and international Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) benchmarks (e.g., EU SEA Directive and CEPAL guidelines).

Note: Interested consulting firms must review the requirements on the BEO Bidders Portal.