Call for Expression of Interest for Consultancy Services for Communications Services

Background:

The Belize Nature Conservation Foundation, (BNCF), formerly the PACT Foundation, was officially established in 2004, through the Tropical Forest Conservation Agreement (TFCA) of September 28, 2001, among the Government of Belize, The Nature Conservancy, Toledo Institute for Development and Environment, Programme for Belize, Belize Audubon Society, and the Protected Areas Conservation Trust. The TFCA Agreement resulted from the Debt-for-Nature Swap Agreement between the  Government of Belize and the Government of the United States of America of August 2, 2001, brokered, and purchased by The Nature Conservancy. Through the Debt-for-Nature-Swap, The Government of the United States of America prepaid and cancelled US $8.58M owed by the Government of Belize to the Government of the USA in exchange for a commitment by the GOB to fund forest conservation in Belize. As one of the four beneficiaries of the Debt-for-Nature Swap, from 2001 to 2011, the BNCF has received BZ $2,724,000 via the BNCF Endowment Fund, to fund registered, non-profit organizations that manage terrestrial protected areas to carry out projects for the conservation, maintenance, and restoration of tropical forest in Belize, through one or more of the following activities:

1. 1. Establishment, restoration, protection, and maintenance of parks, protected areas, and reserves.
   2. Training programs to increase scientific, technical, and managerial capacities of individuals and organizations involved in conservation efforts.
   3. Restoration, protection, or sustainable use of diverse animal and plant species.
   4. Research and identification of medicinal uses of tropical forest plant life to treat human diseases, illnesses, and health-related concerns.

The BNCF has entered into a Management Agreement with the Protected Areas Conservation Trust
(PACT) for the day-to-day management of the Foundation’s grant program. The Foundation has also recently adopted a Communications Strategy & Plan with the objectives to:

a) Increase awareness of the work and achievements of BNCF and promote greater
knowledge among key stakeholders and the public.

b) Promote the Foundation’s mandate and areas of work.

c) Foster greater information and knowledge exchange with key stakeholders and
development partners in the conservation sector.