NEIRF Evaluation Execution CCN

Tender description

Defra is designing a Natural Environment Investment Readiness Fund (hereafter referred to as the NEIRF); a grant programme to address market failures, develop capacity and support investment in natural environment projects which enable the outcomes contained in Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan (25 YEP) and the Green Finance Strategy. Initially, this commission is for a policy evaluation across the first year of the NEIRF scheme but will continue for a further two years subject to annual review. The role of evaluation is to assess evidence on the process, impact and value for money of NEIRF grant-funded projects. Through the evaluation we will want to know the extent to which NEIRF aims and objectives have been achieved, to recommend adjustments to ongoing and future projects, capture and disseminate policy learning and evidence on developing private sector investment to deliver environmental outcomes and make recommendations on, and arrangements for, long term achievement of scheme outcomes. The change to the contract is to include the HIVE initiative and case studies that were not in existence or applicable at original formulation of the project. Lot 1: Ecorys is carrying out an independent evaluation of the NEIRF as set out in Specification 1 of this contract. The role of evaluation is to assess evidence on the process, impact and value for money of NEIRF grant-funded projects. Through the evaluation we will establish the extent to which NEIRF aims and objectives have been achieved, to recommend adjustments to ongoing and future projects, capture and disseminate policy learning and evidence on developing private sector investment to deliver environmental outcomes and make recommendations on, and arrangements for, long term achievement of scheme outcomes. a) Evaluation of the Defra funded elements of GFI HIVE3 initiative, which will continue the provision of support for nature projects that are seeking private sector funding, and the facilitation of those relationships; and b) The production of standalone case studies of NEIRF projects, which can be disseminated to a wide audience, developed to the specification of the Coalition for Private Investment into Conservation.