Framework for case studies

on biodiversity related projects with the contribution of the financial/banking sector

Suggested length: 10-15 pages

1. Introduction (Location of the study site with its main characteristics, introduction to the project, the main objective of the case study)

2. Description of the study area (main ecological, economic and social characteristics, with a focus on characteristics that served as a basis to carry out the project: the positive features to be built on or the main threats to the ecosystem that needed to be eliminated)

3. Description of the project

3.1 main goal of the project (e.g. conservation, habitat reconstruction, sustainable use of nature (e.g. sustainable agriculture, forestry, fisheries, hunting, eco-tourism), market creation for biodiversity products, development of rural or urban project with nature conservation components (e.g. construction, wastewater treatment, regional development)

3.2 key steps (listing and describing the main activities, their duration)

3.3 organisational matters (description of the main organiser, its capacity to carry out the project, partners)

3.4 local, national, international stakeholders affected by the project or involved (local community, local governments, NGOs, business organisations, scientific organisations, authorities, media)

3.5 financing (main costs (types and sum) for the whole project period, main sources of funding and their division (public, private), economic valuation methods used)

4. Involvement of the financial institutes/banks in the project (way to find the institution, requirements set by the bank to be met, form of financial support (loans, bank guarantee, interest subsidies, grants, in-kind contribution, donations), conditions of financing, accepted risk rate)

5. Main achievements

5.1 Effectiveness of the project (have it reached its original goal, how has the ecosystem been affected by the project, how have the main stakeholders been affected by the project (e.g. awareness raising or developing new markets))

5.2 Using financial resources efficiently (actual costs compared to the planned costs, CBA, rate of returns: short run, long run, NPV)

6. Lessons learned

6.1 lessons learned (both positive and to be further developed) on the side of the project developer (e.g. institutional development, management skills from writing project proposals to carrying out the project, innovative funding, involving partners, conflict resolution)

6.2 lessons learned (both positive and to be further developed) on the side of the financial institution (e.g. institutional development, establishment of special conditions for biodiversity related projects, criteria to evaluate such projects, assistance to the project developer)

Maps and photos about the study site are welcome