Development of a Strategic Plan for the Protected Areas Conservation Trust

NOTE: Any requests for clarification or questions regarding this Terms of Reference (ToR) should be submitted in writing to procurement-desk@pactbelize.org

                                                                                               Terms of Reference

                                    Development of a Strategic Plan for the Protected Areas Conservation Trust

Background

The Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT) is a statutory organization established as a Trust Fund under the Protected Areas Conservation Trust Act, Chapter 218 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2020.  Since its establishment in 1995 as Belize’s national conservation trust fund, PACT has been at the forefront of conservation efforts in Belize, playing a central role in financing the sustainable management of the country’s natural and cultural resources.

Over the past three decades, PACT has evolved into a cornerstone institution within Belize’s environmental financing architecture. Sourcing funds nationally and internationally, PACT contributes to financing the sustainable management and development of Belize through collaboration and partnerships with government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and community-based organizations that manage Belize’s National Protected Areas System (NPAS).  Additionally, recognizing the global impact of climate change, PACT established its Climate Finance Portfolio in 2022 to support national efforts in building Belize’s climate resilience across all sectors.  Through its accreditation to international climate financing institutions, PACT provides access to funding for climate adaptation and mitigation projects.  PACT operates under a strategic framework designed to close the financing gap in conservation and climate finance, improve stakeholder engagement, and optimize organizational performance.

Rationale

In 2022, PACT approved its current Strategic Plan (2022-2027) after a comprehensive planning process that included consultations with internal and external stakeholders and that led to defining priorities and a clear 5-year strategic roadmap for PACT. This plan’s strategic framework comprised of three Key Results Areas:

• Strategic Financing- with the objective of reducing the financing gap needed to enhance Belize’s socio-ecological systems.
• Strategic Communications- with the objective of enhancing PACT’s visibility, deepening community engagement, and maintaining broad-based support in service of PACT’s mission.
• Strategic Human Resources Management- with the objective of optimizing and sustaining the work performance of management and staff.

This Strategic Plan is entering its fourth year of implementation, however, PACT now operates within a rapidly evolving ecosystem characterized by shifts, such as the:

• Emergence of a Project Finance for Permanence and Conservation Plan for the Marine-scape.
• Expansion of new climate finance mechanisms.
• Growing emphasis on nature-based solutions, carbon markets, and ecosystem services.
• Increase adoption of blended finance models and private sector engagement.
• Rising expectations for equity, inclusion, and community co-management.
• Persistent and widening Financing Gap within the National Protected Areas System.

These shifts present both significant opportunities and structural challenges for PACT. PACT recognizes that its current mandate, institutional framework, and strategic direction may no longer be fully adequate to respond to these emerging opportunities and challenges.

Accordingly, PACT seeks to undertake a comprehensive institutional transformation process to redefine its:

• Vision
• Mission
• Mandate
• Strategic Positioning

This process is to ensure that PACT is positioned as a modern, agile, and impactful national financing mechanism, climate resilience and sustainable development.

Objectives of the Consultancy

The overall objective of this Consultancy is to facilitate a participatory, evidence-based, and forward-looking institutional transformation process that redefines PACT’s identity, mandate and strategic direction to align with the evolving conservation and climate finance landscape, and to position PACT as a leading national financing mechanism for sustainable development.

Specifically, the Consultancy will:

1. Facilitate a co-creation process to develop a new Vision, Mission and Mandate that reflects national priorities and global opportunities.
2. Develop a Strategic Plan (2027-2030) grounded in a robust theory of change.
3. Prepare a costed Operational Plan to guide implementation of the Strategic Plan.
4. Strengthen stakeholder ownership and consensus around PACT’s future role.
5. Provide a clear transition and change management roadmap.
6. Guiding Principles

The Consultant Firm shall be guided by the following principles:

1. Inclusivity and Participation- The Consultant Firm, in its work plan must ensure broad cross-section meaningful engagement of stakeholders, respectful of best practices in equity and social inclusion.
2. National Ownership- Ensure that outputs reflect Belizean priorities, values and institutional realities, and strengthen PACT’s legitimacy as a national financial mechanism.
3. Evidence-based Decision Making- Ground recommendations in data and financial analysis.
4. Future-Oriented and Adaptive – Position PACT to respond to emerging financing instruments, climate risks and opportunities, and changing policy landscapes.
5. Transparency and Accountability – Maintain a clear documentation and validation process.

Scope of Consultancy

The Consultancy will be executed across seven (7) phases:

Phase 1 - Inception and Process Design

1. 1. Will develop a detailed stakeholder engagement strategy, including stakeholder mapping, and engagement methods, inclusive of a co-creation methodology.
   2. Establish a validation and governance framework.
   3. Prepare an Inception Report with workplan and timeline, communication and engagement plan, and risk management plan.

Output: Inception Report

Phase 2- Institutional and Landscape Diagnostics

1. 1. Will carry out an Institutional Analysis including a review of the legal and regulatory framework, governance and decision-making structures, organizational capacity and systems, and carry out a financial performance and sustainability analysis.
   2. Must carry out a Financial Landscape Analysis including mapping of the conservation and climate financing flows in Belize, finance opportunities, and where PACT is currently positioned versus its potential role.
   3. Carry out a comparative Benchmarking exercise to review similar institutions, and identify models for climate finance access, blended finance and revenue diversification.
   4. Carry out a political economic analysis identifying institutional relationships, power dynamics and policy environment.

Output: Diagnostic and Landscape Assessment Report

Phase 3- Stakeholder Engagement and Co-Creation

1. 1. The Firm will be expected to employ a mix of engagement modalities and culminate with co-creation labs structured to define future scenarios for PACT, identify stakeholder priorities and expectations, and co-develop elements of the vision, mission, and core functions of PACT.
   2. Based on results of the engagements, the Firm will be tasked with validation sessions with technical stakeholders, policy-level stakeholders and community representatives.

Output- Stakeholder Engagement and Consultation Report

Phase 4- Vision, Mission and Mandate Development

1. 1. The firm will facilitate a structured process to define a new vision, mission, and mandate for PACT, including new core functions and expanded roles where relevant.
   2. The firm will be expected to establish institutional implications to implement the new vision, mission and mandate, and provide recommendations on how to address.

Output- Vision, Mission and Mandate Document

Phase 5- Strategic Plan Development

1. 1. The firm will draft a Strategic Plan for 2027-2030, and must include:
      1. Strategic Pillars and Objectives
      2. Theory of Change and Results Framework

• Programmatic Areas

1. Resource Mobilization Strategy
2. Institutional Strengthening Plan
3. Financial Budget

Risk and Scenario Analysis

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Framework

Output- Strategic Plan Document

Phase 6 - Operational Planning

1. 1. The firm will prepare a highly practical and costed plan including:
      1. First Year Annual Implementation Plan.
      2. Organizational structure and staffing model

First Year Operational Budget

1. First Year Procurement Plan.

Output- Operational Plan (Year One) Document

1. Phase 7- Transition and Change Management Plan
   1. This should include a:
      1. Phased Implementation Plan
      2. Institutional Restructuring (if required)

Capacity Development Plan

1. Technology and Systems Optimization Plan.
2. Internal and External Communication Strategy for Transition
3. Risk Mitigation Measures.

Output – Change Management and Transition Plan

Deliverables and Timelines

The following are deliverables expected under this Consultancy, estimated for an execution period of 10 calendar months.

Inception Report

• • Submission of final work plan, budget, and methodology
  • Timeline: Two weeks
• Diagnostic and Landscape Assessment Report
  • Institutional analysis
  • Financial landscape analysis
  • Benchmarking report
  • Political economy analysis
  • Timeline: Month 2
• Stakeholder Engagement and Consultation Report
  • Validated stakeholder recommendations
  • Timeline: Month 4
• Vision, Mission, and Mandate
  • Submission of new vision, mission, and mandate concept for PACT
  • Timeline: Month 5
• Strategic Plan
  • Submission of new strategic plan
  • Timeline: Month 7
• Operational Plan and Change Management Plan
  • Submission of Year One operational plan
  • Timeline: Month 9
• Presentation and Validation Workshops
  • Final presentation to internal and external stakeholders
  • Timeline: Month 10

Qualifications of Consulting Firm/Team

The consultant firm shall propose a multi-disciplinary team of experts with demonstrated experience in strategic planning, institutional transformation, conservation finance, climate finance, stakeholder engagement and similar. The team must collectively demonstrate strong regional or international experience, with experience in working in Belize, preferred.

The Firm, therefore, shall possess the following qualifications and experience:

Work Experience

• At least seven (7) years of experience in conducting strategic plans, organizational reviews, institutional assessments, or similar assignments.
• At least five (5) projects/consultancies in facilitating stakeholder consultations, vision planning, strategic planning, or institutional assessments and transformations.

Key Experts

1. 
   Team Leader – Strategy and Institutional Development

The Team Leader will be responsible for the overall coordination, quality assurance, and delivery of the assignment. They will serve as the primary point of contact with PACT during the implementation of the Consultancy.

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Master’s degree in Public Policy, Business Administration, Development Studies, Environmental Management, Strategic Planning or related field.
• At minimum, 10 years of professional experience in institutional development, strategic planning, or organizational transformation.

Required Expertise:

• Proven experience in leading at least 3 similar scale consultancies.
• Demonstrated experience designing and facilitating Theory of Change frameworks.
• Experience in governance reform and organizational restructuring.
• Ability to integrate financial, public policy, and operational dimensions into strategic frameworks.

Conservation and Climate Finance Specialist

This specialist will provide technical lead on financing mechanisms, ensuring that the strategic plan positions PACT effectively within evolving conservation and climate finance landscapes.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Finance, Environmental Economics or related field.
• At least 8 years of experience in conservation finance, climate finance or environmental economics.

Required Expertise:

• Demonstrated experience with climate finance mechanisms, conservation trusts funds and similar conservation-based finance mechanisms.
• Experience in conducting financial landscape assessments, resource mobilization strategies, and finance modelling and sustainability analysis.

Strategic Planning Expert

 This specialist will lead the development of the Vision Planning, the Strategic Plan, and the Operational Plan.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Strategic Management, Development Planning, Economics or related field.
• At-least 8 years of experience in strategic planning and results-based management.

Required Expertise:

• Proven experience in developing multi-year strategic plans, results frameworks, and monitoring and evaluation systems.
• Familiarity with Theory of Change methodologies, KPI development and performance measurement systems.
• Adaptive Management Approaches.

Stakeholder Engagement Specialist

This specialist will design and implement an inclusive and co-creation strategy for the consultancy, ensuring robust and meaningful stakeholder engagement.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in social sciences, Communications, Development Studies, Social Management or related field.
• At least 8 years of experience in stakeholder engagement, participatory planning or facilitation.

Required Expertise:

• Demonstrated experience facilitating multi-stakeholder consultations, community engagement processes, and co-creation approaches.
• Experience working with government agencies, civil society organizations, and Indigenous peoples and local communities will be a must.

Governance and Oversight

The Consultant Firm will work directly under the supervision of the Executive Director of PACT and will work under the oversight of the PACT Board of Directors.

Submission of Proposals

Interested firms/teams must submit the following documents by April 24, 2026, via the following link:

1. Signed Letter of Interest - highlighting general experience and specific expertise to carry out this assignment.
2. Technical Proposal - describing technical methodology, level of effort, and approach for the consultancy.
3. CV (s) of team member(s) highlighting relevant experience.
4. Financial proposal – breakdown of professional fees and related expenses.

The successful firm or team engaged under this consultancy will be subject to applicable taxes payable to the Belize Tax Service Department in accordance with the laws of Belize.

For the purposes of this engagement:

• Local consultants will be subject to a 6% withholding tax.
• CARICOM consultants will be subject to a 15% withholding tax.
• International consultants will be subject to a 25% withholding tax.

These taxes will be applied in accordance with the relevant tax regulations of Belize and may be deducted at source where applicable.