Understanding the risks of irrigation expansion for key freshwater dependent habitats

Tender description

Within the context of WWF-UK's partnership with Coca-Cola, and our wider interest in ensuring sustainable food production, WW-UK is seeking to commission a project to enable us to understand where water withdrawal for irrigation is posing a potential risk to freshwater biodiversity, and how may this change in the future. For the purposes of this study we would like to focus on freshwater dependent sites that have high biodiversity importance. We recognise that, in many instances, the main water abstraction threats to these sites are not derived from agriculture. However, in the context of our strategic focus on global food production as a driver of biodiversity loss, WWF-UK is interested in understanding the additional potential risk from changes to the volume and location of irrigation for food production. In particular, this piece of work will contribute to our understanding of how future irrigation hotspot locations will be able to address the 'triple-challenge' of simultaneously adapting to and mitigating climate change, protection and enhancement of biodiversity, and producing food. Please submit your proposal by 5th March 2021 to the WWF-UK contact named below. Your proposal must contain: - Your approach and proposed methodology to address the fundamental questions raised and suggested approaches - An analysis of how you fulfil the required skill set - Names and CVs of all staff who will work on the consultancy, and proposed roles - A fee proposal including: o Total days and day rates for each member of staff who will work on the consultancy o Any ancillary costs (no travel is anticipated) o Your VAT status with VAT, if applicable, clearly identified Please submit your proposals to: clinstead@wwf.org.uk