Central Africa regional initiative to advance biodiversity, conservation, forest management and climate change mitigation objectives across the Congo Basin.

USAID/Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) Central Africa Regional Program for the Environment (CARPE) is considering a new Central Africa regional initiative to advance its biodiversity conservation, forest management and climate change mitigation objectives across the Congo Basin. The new activity would support USAID and its partners by bringing in additional expertise, innovation, and resources to ensure that the combined impact of CARPE’s programming in biodiversity conservation and forest protection are maximized.

The purpose of this communication is to obtain industry comment on the attached RFI. To that end, information obtained through this RFI will be held in confidence and will not be disclosed to the public unless specifically requested by responding sources. This RFI is open for comments from any interested party.

USAID’s work in the Congo Basin region continues to face many challenges. Numerous threats and drivers impact biodiversity and forests, including armed conflicts, displacement of people, poor governance, poverty, artisanal mining, transhumance, unsustainable land use practices, shifting agriculture, charcoal production, and wildlife poaching and trafficking, among others. Coupled with the negative impacts of climate change, these challenges accelerate the rates of biodiversity and forest loss.

Current USAID activities, which are implemented by NGOs, private sector partners, and U.S. Government agencies, focus on managing protected areas, empowering communities, engaging the private sector, strengthening policy, and building capacity. For more details, please see the CARPE Vision document. The CARPE’s factsheet summarizes current activities and achievements. However, the many complex challenges facing biodiversity and forests in this region require innovation and learning across CARPE’s programs, and target policy interventions at a national and regional level. A well-planned and coordinated strategic approach is needed if we are going to achieve our objectives.