Sri Lanka is considered as a biodiversity hotspot, blessed with remarkable Biodiversity that was nurtured by a cultured society over thousands of years. However, the county’s biological wealth has faced many challenges in the face of anthropogenic land use changes, high human population pressures, pollution, habitat loss, overexploitation, and increased demand for biological resources, coupled with the effects of climate change and the introduction of Invasive Alien Species.

Sri Lanka, being a party to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD) since 1994.The Convention has three main goals: the conservation of biological diversity (or biodiversity); the sustainable use of its components; and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources. The Ministry of Environment plays the role of National Focal Point while Biodiversity Division comes under its preview and acts as the implementing center of actions.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Environment has identified the importance of an overarching policy that is necessary for the conservation and sustainable utilization of countries' biodiversity and has identified the formulation of the National Biodiversity Policy for Sri Lanka is an important task.

Expression of Interest for NBP Proposals 

Overall Objectives:

The overall objective of the assignment is the formulation of National Policy on Biodiversity which stands as an overarching policy instrument, followed by guiding actions towards biodiversity conservation, sustainable utilization, and benefit-sharing, while aligning it with other relevant national policies introduced by the MOE as well as other line ministries and agencies. Within the scope of this overall objective, specific objectives of the assignment are as follows,

1. To review the national obligations related to Convention on Biological Diversity, Cartagena Protocol & other relevant treaties, translate them into the domestic policy framework for formulation of National Policy on Biodiversity.
2. To review the biodiversity - related national policies to identify the scope of the National Policy on Biodiversity.  
3. To formulate the National Biodiversity Policy of Sri Lanka in consultation with the relevant stakeholders, sector experts, universities, researches and general public.

Required Consultant Educational Qualifications and Professional Experience

1. In Environment Sector/ Master degree or higher academic qualification related to Environment policy analysis or relevant field
2. At least 10 years of experience and capacity to analyze existing policies, action plans, regulatory frameworks, and barriers.
3. At least 10 years’ experience in working with a diverse range of stakeholders including government agencies and the private sector
4. Excellent capacity to communicate and carry out sectoral and plenary consultations with key decision- makers such as relevant ministries and national and local government agencies and key stakeholders in the private sector, NGOs, and academia.
5. Excellent knowledge on current status of the biodiversity of the country and biodiversity & environment-related policies.

The proposals will be reviewed and selection will be conducted by the Ministry Consultative procurement Committee (MCPC). 

Interested parties are invited to submit the EOIs as per the Request for Proposals (RFP) along with the CV of the Team Leader and the Team Members, including the details of the academic/ professional qualifications, experiences in the relevant field and publications. RFP format can be collected from Ministry web site and the Biodiversity Secretariate of the Ministry of Environment.

Proposals can be sent by registered post or hand delivery to the Director (Biodiversity), Biodiversity Secretariat, Ministry of Environment, ‘Sobadam Piyasa”, 416/1/C, Robert Gunawardana Mawatha, Battaramulla on or before 16^th November 2022.

Please contact the Director, Biodiversity Secretariat (Tel. 011-2034205), Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for collection of RFP and further information.