Paraguay - Actions to improve organic waste management and reduce methane emissions in medium and small communities  - PY-24-002

Overview

This project responds to the request of the Ministry of Environment of Paraguay to develop a holistic national organic waste management strategy to mitigate emissions of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCP). The strategy should align with Paraguay's climate goals and help move forward, including the following:

• Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC)
• Law on Integrated Solid Waste Management (Law 3.956/2009) and its Regulatory Decree (7.391/2017), of the corresponding plans and programs. 
• The National Plan for the Comprehensive Management of Urban Solid Waste  

The outputs of this project should:

• Accelerate the implementation of transformative actions for organic waste management (recovery of organic waste, production of compost, savings by avoiding waste, redistribution of food that otherwise would be discarded to people in need.)
• Promote dialogue among the financial sector, national & local governments, and private sector to develop financial mechanisms to boost organic waste initiatives as a tool to achieve the NDC's goals for waste, and in support of the national circular economy plan.
• Enhance transfer of knowledge and dissemination of results taking advantage of CCAC Waste Hub and other international venues

More information on Paraguay's involvement in the CCAC is available on their Partner Page. 

Who to involve

• Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MADES)
• Local Municipalities
• Direct beneficiaries: Departmental Government of San Pedro
• Secondary Beneficiaries
• Co-implementation agents (large organic waste generators, landfill owners and staff)  

Expected Outcomes  

Outcome 1: The Government of Paraguay has increased knowledge on opportunities and options for organic waste diversion including their positive impacts by the end of the project or soon after.

Indicator: Number of government entities (municipalities) with a demonstrated improved capacity for better organic waste management and SLCP reduction.

Output 1.1: Pre-feasibility studies for organic waste treatment options conducted in Paraguay, including:

• Estimates of decentralized infrastructure supporting diverted organic waste, such as materials separation and recovery centers, black soldier fly infrastructure, and compositing plants
• Recommendations for alternative/complementary infrastructures to support organic waste diversion and circular economies.

Output 1.2: A report identifying necessary infrastructure and investment to support organic waste management (recovery of organic waste, production of compost, savings by avoiding waste, Methane reduction with the proposed infrastructure)

Outcome 2: The Government of Paraguay has increased its capacity to assess and implement SLCP mitigation measures in waste management at or shortly thereafter the end of the project.

Indicator: Number of government entities with enhanced capacity for SLCP action in waste management.

Output 2.1: Capacity-building and technical assistance workshops for stakeholders working on waste management

• Train government officials on SLCP monitoring and reduction techniques and share best practices in SLCP reduction.
• Develop training materials, manuals and case studies adapted to the Paraguayan context.
• Provide technical assistance to government entities for the implementation of SLCP reduction measures.
• Facilitate knowledge-sharing platforms, online forums, and webinars between government entities to share experiences and challenges.

Output 2.2: Awareness raising campaigns among cities and sub-national entities.

Outcome 3: The Government of Paraguay has an improved MRV system for the waste sector.

Indicator: Number of monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems developed or upgraded that include SLCPs.

Output 3.1: MRV System Development: Develop a comprehensive MRV system for the waste sector, incorporating SLCP monitoring.

Output 3.2: Training and capacity-building

• Develop and implement a specialized training program for government officials, focusing on utilizing the enhanced MRV system to improve transparent monitoring of SLCP reduction efforts in the waste sector compared to baselines to meet BTR reporting requirements.
• Develop easy-to-use manuals and guidelines for consistent reporting and verification.
• Establish mechanisms for the continuous improvement of the MRV system based on feedback and the evolution of technologies.

Outcome 4. The Government of Paraguay endorses project proposals/ initiatives for organic waste management using this project as a pilot for submission to public and private funding sources by the end of the project.

Indicator: Number of SLCP mitigation tools, technologies, or practices adopted

Output 4.1: Identification of at least 3 appropriate projects/initiatives with business potential in integral organic waste management supported by the public and private sector based on the findings of this project.  The identification should be based on an assessment of:

• Project name
• Sector
• Description
• Outcomes
• Implementing entities
• Stakeholders
• Link to policies, plans
• General timeline for Development, Financing,
• Implementation, and
• Operation
• Mitigation potential
• Co-benefits
• Investment needs
• Potential business model, financing strategy
• Gaps and barriers to implementation and proposed enabling mechanisms
• Financial sustainability
• Potential financing partners
• Enabling, Capacity Building and Technical Assistance Needs
• Information and MRV Needs
• Recovery of nutritious food waste

Output 4.2. Stakeholders convened and engaged on selection of at least 3 projects/ initiatives to identify financial opportunities.

• Design a plan to support three selected projects in coordination with public and private institutions. This plan should include the identifications for financial opportunities. 

APPLICATION PROCESs

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for consideration, project proposals must meet the following requirements:

• Complete and submitted before the deadline
• Submitted by a non-governmental organization (NGO), intergovernmental organization (IGO), or other not-for-profit entity. 
• Requested funding is within the estimated budget amount, or includes a clear justification for additional expenses 
• Project duration is less than 24 months
• Budget criteria are met and spending caps on expenses are respected. 
• Please note that entities will be required to provide the last three (3) audited financial statements to be eligible for CCAC funding. These statements may be provided along with the application for funding or at the request of the CCAC Secretariat during the evaluation process.

For-profit entities may only participate in the project as stakeholders, co-funders, or end users. Applicants are encouraged to include for-profit entities in the development of the project proposal and/or during project implementation if their ownership of the proposed solution is key to the project’s success.  

How to apply

Eligible applicants are invited to apply using the Application Form and Excel Budget Form. Specific instructions on completing these forms are available in both documents.

Applicants may choose to follow the cost range proposed above OR propose a different budget supported by a clear justification. However, applicants should note that cost efficiency will play a significant role in the selection process.

The completed Application Form and Excel Budget Form should be submitted to secretariat [at] ccacoalition.org.

Evaluation criteria

Proposals will be evaluated against the following criteria:

• Presents a clear plan to achieve the required outcomes during the lifetime of the project or soon after
• Includes a plan or activities to enable the scaling up of, replication of, or sustained use of project results over time
• Sets out a clear approach for enabling or contributing to SLCP emissions reductions and resulting co-benefits
• Involves relevant stakeholders 
• Approach is grounded in a strong understanding of relevant risks
• Complements other relevant initiatives, funding mechanisms, and existing policy processes
• Applicant demonstrates necessary capacity and experience to perform the work
• A realistic, cost-effective, and clearly justified budget and approach is proposed
• Project meets the minimum requirements for the OECD DAC gender equality marker Score 1
   
  Selection process
• A preliminary review of proposals submitted by the deadline will be conducted by members of the CCAC Secretariat, Funding Task Team, and Board, in consultation with relevant CCAC Partners. 
• Shortlisted applicants will be invited to present their proposals in further detail and to respond to follow-up questions about their application.
• Successful applicants will be invited to develop a Project Implementation Plan and Detailed Budget in consultation with the CCAC Secretariat and relevant CCAC Partners.
• The selection process may take up to 6 months after the closing date of the call for proposals. Due to the high volume of requests, the CCAC will not respond to requests for updates or feedback during this time.

NOTE: DUE DILIGENCE 

In addition to eligibility criteria outlined above, qualified UNEP/CCAC implementers* must meet the following criteria: 

• Have adequate financial resources to perform the contract and meet all existing commitments (financial health)
• Be able to provide proof of registration, proof of not-for-profit status and audited financial statements for the last three completed fiscal years 
• Have a record of satisfactory performance with UNEP/CCAC, when applicable; and  - Not have been suspended or debarred by UNEP/CCAC or another UN agency. UNEP/CCAC also considers entities included in the Security Council Resolution Lists to be ineligible for UNEP/CCAC agreements.
  * (inter)governmental entities/ United Nations are exempt from this requirement

Procurement

As a general rule, Implementation Agreements allow for incidental procurement only, and as such, total costs in the following categories must fall below a certain threshold*:

• Contractual Services
• Equipment, Vehicles and Furniture
• Operating and other Direct costs

• Supplies, Commodities and Materials

  
  *Agreements of $200,000 and below: up to $20,000 or 15% of total budget, whichever is lower.

  *Agreements of above $200,000: up to $40,000 or 15%. * United Nations agencies are exempt from this requirement