Call for Project Ideas for Private Sector to Support Low-Carbon and Climate Resilient Development in Jamaica and Other CARICOM States

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CALL FOR PROJECT IDEAS

FOR

PRIVATE SECTOR TO SUPPORT LOW-CARBON AND

CLIMATE RESILIENT DEVELOPMENT IN JAMAICA AND OTHER CARICOM STATES

PUBLICATION DATE: JUNE 7, 2019

DEADLINE/CLOSING DATE: JUNE 28, 2019

1.  BACKGROUND

Climate change is a serious threat for the island nations of the Caribbean and the over 40 million people who live there. Due to their small size, geographic location and vulnerable economies, they are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, particularly increased intensity of hurricanes, sea level rising and higher temperatures and longer drought periods. Adapting to these adverse impacts of climate change will be an enormous challenge for these nations, requiring public and private sector coordination to transition to a low carbon and climate resilient development. In the Caribbean while climate change has been mainly the focus of the public sector, the private sector must be a significant partner in helping nations to mitigate and adapt to climate change. The private sector in the region is mostly comprises micro, small medium enterprises (MSMEs) who constitute 70%-80% of enterprises in the Caribbean region.

In August 2017 the Climate Change Division (CCD) within the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation (MEGJC), of the Government of Jamaica, engaged the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to leverage resources to support private sector mobilization for the development of climate change adaptation and mitigation projects/programmes, which would translate into regional and national benefits.

2.  OBJECTIVE OF THE CALL FOR PROJECT IDEAS

This Call for Project Ideas (CPI) invites Caribbean private sector entities with a strong business case for climate investment (existing and proposed) to submit their ‘project ideas’ to CCD-MEGJC which will be developed to access Green Climate Fund resources, specifically the GCF Private Sector Facility¹. These ‘project ideas’ must support their respective country’s climate change priorities and strategic development plans and align with the GCF’s investment criteria and the GCF Private Sector Facility (PSF) requirements.

Through this CPI, CCD-MEGJC will select at least ten (10) project ideas using the established Eligibility Criteria. The selected private sector entities will then be invited to participate in a training workshop to be held in Jamaica, aided by a project development consultant to transform these

1. The GCF has set up the Private Sector Facility (PSF) to fund and mobilize institutional investors and leverage GCF’s funds to encourage corporates to co-invest. For further information on the GCF, please visit their website at https://www.greenclimate.fund

project ideas into concept notes that can be considered by the GCF for financial assistance. These Concept Notes will be submitted in partnership with an Accredited Entity, National Designated Authority (NDA) or focal point to the GCF.

3.  LOCATION OF PROJECT IDEAS

The geographic focus under consideration are countries listed as a member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) – (i.e. Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize,

Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago).

4.  ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

4.1         Eligibility of Applicants: Who Can Apply

This Call for Project Ideas is open to private sector entities, but applicants must:

1. Be an entity (i.e. a company, an association or a financial institution) legally registered and operating in a CARICOM member state (i.e. Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas,

Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago);

2. Be in operation for at least three (3) years supported by the last three (3) years financial statements/accounts;

3. Be able to work in partnership with an Accredited Entity, National Designated Authority (NDA) or focal point and co-finance their project ideas;

4. Have project ideas that:

1. Support their country’s climate change priorities and policies
2. Align with the Green Climate Fund’s objectives, to support developing countries in limiting or reducing their greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change impacts

4.2         Eligible Project Ideas

GCF seeks project investments that are innovative, sustainable, and with high impact potential in the areas of mitigation (reducing greenhouse gas emissions) and adaptation (reducing vulnerability to climate change impacts). Adaptation projects will be prioritized. Project Ideas must be in line with the applicant’s country’s priorities and Green Climate Fund’s investment priorities:

Low emission energy access and power generation:

In pursuit of an optimal national energy mix which can include on-grid, mirco-grid or off-grid solar, wind, geothermal, hydro and biofuel energy and battery storage

Low-emission transport:

Public and private transport fleets using electric and hybrid vehicles, adoption of clean (liquefied natural gas – LNG) fuel; provision of low emission private vehicles for the consumer market and specialised servicing and maintenance.

Energy efficient buildings, cities and industries:

Investment in new and retrofitted energy-efficient buildings (factories, hospitals, schools, commercial and other mass use spaces), energy-efficient equipment for companies and supply chain management. Adoption of photo voltaic (PV) systems, energy efficient heating and cooling solutions, appliances and maintenance services.

Enhanced livelihoods of the most vulnerable people, communities, and regions:

Investments in drought, wind and flood resistant technologies to support climate smart agriculture. Investments in weather observation and early warning systems; Ecotourism etc.

Resilient infrastructure and built environment to climate change threats:

Investments in disaster-resilient modalities for critical infrastructure e.g. transport networks, information and communications networks; government services; banking and finance; water supply networks, electrical power, oil and gas production and storage, emergency services, public health services. Adoption of climate resilient technologies for housing. Disaster-resilient ‘green infrastructure’ projects like sea wall protection, mangrove forests, urban parks, and other nature-based services.

Sustainable land use and forest management, Increase health and well-being, and food and water security (storage and distribution), Resilient ecosystems:

Investments in support of conservation and protection of watersheds and coastal systems such as mangroves, coral reefs, seagrass beds and beaches and mitigate against erosion of river banks and hillsides. There are also social and economic considerations with respect to the viability of transport routes and movement of goods and people.

Investment in technologies to improve integration of land and water management, cost-effective adaptive water management and technology transfer help address the issue of water security and poverty reduction. Water impacts almost all aspects of society and the economy: public health, food production and security, domestic supply and sanitation, industry and eco-systems.

Applicants must be willing to provide and share project details (such as technical information and/or empirical data, but not proprietary information) upon request with the Accredited Entity, National Designated Authority or Focal Point to transform their project ideas into Concept Notes.

5. HOW TO APPLY & DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS 5.1 Where to Access the Application Form

Applicants interested in applying must complete the official application form for the Call for Project Ideas. The application form can be downloaded from the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation’s website at https://megjc.gov.jm/tenders/.

Further information on the Call for Project Ideas can be obtained by contacting the Climate Change Division of the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, at gcfreadinessja@gmail.com. All questions must be addressed to this email.

5.2         How to Submit an Application

Applications must be submitted via email in PDF format to unamay.gordon@megjc.gov.jm and must be copied to gcfreadinessja@gmail.com. The email subject line should read “Call for Project Ideas” and be addressed Attention: Ms. UnaMay Gordon, Principal Director, Climate Change Division, Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation.

5.3         Deadline for Receipt of Applications

The deadline for this Call for Project Ideas is June 28, 2019 @ 5:00 pm (UTC-5). The Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation reserves the right to accept or reject applications received after the deadline.

6.  EVALUATION PROCESS

6.1         Selection of Applications

All applications received for the Call for Project Ideas will be registered and checked to ensure that they have met the deadline. Applications meeting the deadline will be reviewed to determine if they have duly satisfied the Eligibility Criteria for the Call. Applications will be evaluated by members of the Evaluation Committee using the following evaluation criteria:

Evaluation Criteria

Relevance of the Project Idea/Strategic Fit

1. Clearly defined problem statement?

2. Clearly defined expected results that contribute to GCF’s objectives?

3. Align with GCF’s project areas for funding support?