Multiple benefits of mitigation

Request for proposals

Request

ClimateWorks Foundation’s Global Intelligence team is looking to commission a study as part of its new Climate Analytics portfolio to provide a landscape analysis of the multiple benefits of mitigation measures beyond emission reductions. The study should identify and explore currently available data, tools, organizations, and/or reporting resources to assess mitigation response outcomes across multiple benefits beyond emissions and economic impacts. The insights and framework resulting from this project will inform decision-making for net-zero transitions and corresponding mitigation and adaptation responses and strategies.

Goals

  • Provide insights into the available tools and frameworks to assess the co-benefits of climate change mitigation.
  • Develop a framework for assessing multiple benefits of mitigation measures and policy that allows ClimateWorks to identify a range of benefits (such as impacts on jobs and productivity, health, equitable energy access and savings, crop yields and food security, and vulnerability reduction, among others) that result from a mitigation project; select the appropriate assessment tools; estimate benefits; and present results using metrics relevant to our philanthropic audiences.
  • Produce a summary report on the landscape analysis, including a case study or studies to test the framework and serve as proof of concept. The report and case studies will supply visually engaging materials that can be shared with three primary audiences: ClimateWorks Foundation internal programs, philanthropic partners, and new climate funders.

Some questions we are looking to explore include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • What do regional and sectoral opportunities for reducing emissions look like when incorporating a multiple benefits lens?
  • What benefits of mitigation are quantifiable? What are the existing tools and models?
  • Are there any tools or modeling that account for behavioral changes, such as shifting to public transit, for example?
  • What specific metrics can be used to measure each benefit?

About ClimateWorks Foundation and Climate Analytics at Global Intelligence

Background context and rationale

The Climate Analytics portfolio encompasses Global Intelligence’s research and advisory services with a mission to supply ClimateWorks, its philanthropic partners, and the broader climate change space with crucial data and analysis to inform philanthropic decision-making across an expanding suite of topics, including science, economics, impacts, and societal ramifications of addressing climate change. This project seeks to expand the portfolio beyond a traditional techno-economic analysis of mitigation by including a multiple benefits lens.

In recent years, ClimateWorks Foundation has committed to a more people-centered approach, which has prompted the expansion of our resources into incorporating data and metrics that reflect impacts beyond CO₂ emissions. Mitigation strategies can provide multiple benefits for people, such as the reduction of local pollution, improved health, increased jobs, improved resilience of communities, and the prioritization of justice and equity, among others. With this work, the Climate Analytics team would like to begin answering questions such as: How can we incorporate considerations related to multiple benefits into our intelligence? And how can the multiple implications of mitigation strategies be reflected in ClimateWorks’ Climate Analytics workstream?

In 2014, ClimateWorks commissioned a project with the World Bank that would serve as the foundation for this exploratory work — and produced the report, Climate-smart development: adding up the benefits of actions that help build prosperity, end poverty, and combat climate change. The report argued that it is possible to reduce emissions and deliver jobs and economic opportunity while simultaneously cutting health care and energy costs.

Although this work was directed to policymakers, it builds on climate mitigation research and engages with country-specific development projects that provide a relevant basis for exploring the multiple benefits that mitigation strategies that philanthropy can support. The work also provided a framework to understand better climate risks and benefits, which would be updated with the proposed exploratory work.

Lastly, the request for proposals comes on the heels of a considerable effort by the scientific and research community to quantify and model Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We aim to identify and assess the tools the scientific and research community created for our eventual use in strategy development and communications efforts. We support the prioritization of mitigation measures that can help advance sustainable development goals and a just transition.

Activities and deliverables

Potential activities related to this work include but are not limited to:

  • A detailed proposed methodology and approach for undertaking this project.
  • Kick-off meeting with the ClimateWorks team to present and review the methodology.
  • Initial project scope that provides overall insights about the models, organizations, and tools available to assess the co-benefits of mitigation.
    • Contractor to conduct initial landscape assessment, produce a draft framework in consultation with the ClimateWorks team, and summarize findings in an interim report.
    • The draft framework should identify a range of benefits (as defined by the initial project scope) that result from a mitigation project; inform the selection of the appropriate assessment tools for evaluating measurable co-benefits; and provide an estimation of benefits using metrics relevant to our philanthropic audiences.
    • The report should include a case study or case studies that can be later developed to serve as proof of concept.
  • Interim presentation with the ClimateWorks team to finalize the scope for the final report based on interim report findings and feedback.
  • Deliverables and materials provided by the contractor.
  • ClimateWorks will review deliverables and provide feedback before the products are considered final.
  • A summary of the work will be presented to the larger ClimateWorks group and other interested parties.
  • Contractor should provide written or verbal updates on progress on a monthly basis or as needed.

How to apply

By October 17, 2023, submit a proposal to josefina.cobian@climateworks.org of no more than seven pages in length.

ClimateWorks Foundation strongly encourages applications from qualified organizations, consulting firms, and individuals from countries in the Global South.

Proposal

Proposals need to be kept concise and simple, and not exceed a seven-page limit. The proposal should include, but is not limited to:

  • An introduction that demonstrates knowledge and understanding of the field and capacity to undertake the project.
  • A brief outline of a proposed data collection and research path to address the questions stated above that builds on existing information and addresses the goals of the project in a creative way. If possible, include a proposed example for a case study for proof of concept that could include a selected region of the world, a sector to decarbonize, and a philanthropy-aligned mitigation strategy.
  • Activities and deliverables.
  • Overall timeline and budget tables.
  • Organizational resume that highlights the strengths and experience necessary to conduct the activities described above.
  • Team members and qualifications.
  • Contact person(s).

Budget and payment

The proposal budget should not exceed $100,000 USD. It would be reasonable to offer additional work beyond that budget to clarify the scope of the proposal and to allow for further consideration by ClimateWorks. Please note, however, that our evaluation of submissions will consider cost as a factor, so we recommend methodologies and approaches that can engage with and build on existing work and public data. An efficient use of resources is expected.

Standard payments: 50% of payment will be delivered upon contract signing and 50% upon the satisfactory completion of the final report and associated deliverables. A different calendarization is allowed.

We strongly suggest that interested parties reach out at least one week prior to the October 17 deadline to arrange an informal discussion during which we can provide additional details and orientation regarding the application process.