Terms of reference

Biodiversity Accounting Analyst

1. Introduction

We’re BirdLife International, the only global Partnership conserving birds and all life on our planet. We exist to give one voice to nature, and to unite and strengthen conservation across borders.

BirdLife Europe and Central Asia is a regional division of BirdLife International, one of six BirdLife regional offices around the world. It is composed of an international team of permanent staff working on conservation, capacity building, policy, management, finance, fundraising, advocacy, science, communication, marketing and administration. BirdLife Europe supports the European and Central Asia Partnership of BirdLife International, which consists of 46 independent, grassroots Civil Society Organisations, governed by a democratic programme.

Business interests continue to have a major impact on the environment and nature. To succeed in restoring nature and repairing environmental damage, we need to change how businesses operate, from negatively impacting nature towards positive impact. To contribute to its conservation goals, BirdLife engages with select businesses to develop work that is aligned with our science and advocacy.

2. Overall Purpose

For one of its extractive sector business partnerships, BirdLife Europe and Central Asia is looking for a consultant to complete desktop biodiversity net impact assessments for a global portfolio of extractive sites. Besides the impact assessments, a review of the current methodology is needed, as well as a suggested workflow to ground-truth these desktop assessments and collect feedback from site operations, as well as ways to integrate the results in the business’ database and impact monitoring.

3. Tasks

1. A review and streamlining of the current biodiversity net impact assessment methodology for extractive sites, examining scope and use cases.

2. Completion of biodiversity net impact assessments for a global portfolio of extractive sites.

3. Design workflows to ground-truth desktop assessments and collect feedback from site operations.

4. Examine integration of assessment results in the business’ database and impact monitoring.

4. Expected Deliverables

A written report describing and reviewing the current biodiversity net impact assessment.
Biodiversity net impact assessments of extractive sites within an existing data set.
A document detailing suggested workflows to ground-truth and collect feedback.

5. Qualifications Required

· An academic degree (or equivalent experience) in a topic relevant to sustainable development, bioinformatics or conservation.

· Demonstrable knowledge of methods/technologies for biodiversity accounting.

· Experience in producing coherent data sets, technical publications and reports.

· An understanding of extractive sector operations.

· An understanding of the biodiversity impact and management of extractive sites.

· Ability to speak and write English fluently.

6. Tendering

Prospective consultants are invited to submit proposals before 20^th August 2026, 23:59 CET. Proposals should be sent to thomas.sebrechts@birdlife.org (by email only) and include the following:

· A cover letter stating how the consultant(s) meet(s) the required qualifications (max. 1 page)

· The CV(s) of the person(s) who will be responsible for undertaking the study. In the case that more than one person will conduct the study the role and responsibilities of each individual should be explained.

· A work plan including a proposed start and end date.

· A financial proposal in Euros (VAT excluded).

Payments will be made upon the satisfactory completion and submission of the outputs/deliverables, as outlined in the work contract.

The price for the tender must be quoted in Euros. Tenderers from countries outside the euro zone must quote their prices in Euros. The price quoted may not be revised in line with exchange rate movements. It is for the tenderer to assume the risks or the benefits deriving from any variation.

The maximum budget available for the work is € 25,000 euros excluding VAT

Location:

Remote, with occasional attendance at the BirdLife office in Brussels, Belgium as required.

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Biodiversity Accounting Analyst Consultant