COMPONENT 4: SUSTAINABILITY OF IABIN IABIN GEF PROJECT __________________ April 8, 2005 Panamá República de Panamá

IABIN´S SUSTAINABILITY During the last couple of years IABIN officials carried out an active campaign to strengthen the network, including fund raising, grant proposals writing, execution of projects, and capacity building. During the last couple of years IABIN officials carried out an active campaign to strengthen the network, including fund raising, grant proposals writing, execution of projects, and capacity building. Support came through grants from the OAS, the U.S. AID, the World Bank, and the Brazilian government, and by in-kind contributions from nations of the hemisphere. Support came through grants from the OAS, the U.S. AID, the World Bank, and the Brazilian government, and by in-kind contributions from nations of the hemisphere. A grant from the Global Environmental Fund (GEF) in order to build IABIN (2004). This project and it funds are officially executed by the OAS, through the General Secretariat (GS/OAS), on behalf of IABIN A grant from the Global Environmental Fund (GEF) in order to build IABIN (2004). This project and it funds are officially executed by the OAS, through the General Secretariat (GS/OAS), on behalf of IABIN

“Building IABIN” A GEF SUPPORTED PROJECT The Project Implementation Plan outlines a $35 million project. The Project Implementation Plan outlines a $35 million project. IABIN was awarded $6 million from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) towards this plan. IABIN was awarded $6 million from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) towards this plan. Co-financing of $28.9 million has been identified from 76 regional or national institutions and programs. Co-financing of $28.9 million has been identified from 76 regional or national institutions and programs.

SUSTAINABILITY OF IABIN OBJECTIVE: To create an enabling environment for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in the Americas

SUB-COMPONENTS 1. IABIN Secretariat 2. Partnerships and Communications 3. The IABIN Gateway 4. The Development Gateway 5. The IABIN Foundation

1. IABIN SECRETARIAT MAIN ACTIVITIES Define an overall architecture for the network, in consultation with the pertinent technical working groups Define an overall architecture for the network, in consultation with the pertinent technical working groups Oversee the development of the network products and services Oversee the development of the network products and services Promote the network Promote the network

1. IABIN SECRETARIAT MAIN ACTIVITIES Attract resources for the network´s activities Attract resources for the network´s activities Facilitate the preparation of strategic plans Facilitate the preparation of strategic plans Manage all IABIN documents Manage all IABIN documents Facilitate access to esential datasets Facilitate access to esential datasets

1. IABIN SECRETARIAT YEAR 1 WORK PLAN Learn about IABIN Learn about IABIN Identify and review IABIN documents Identify and review IABIN documents Develop Secretariat Work Plan Develop Secretariat Work Plan Become familiar with all IABIN Stakeholders Become familiar with all IABIN Stakeholders Form and coordinate a Fund Raising Team Form and coordinate a Fund Raising Team Identify where financial and other support can be obtained to drive the network´s development Identify where financial and other support can be obtained to drive the network´s development

2. PARTNERSHIPS AND COMMUNICATIONS MAIN ACTIVITIES: Convene three IABIN Council Meetings during the lifetime of the project, scheduled in coordination with CHM meetings Convene three IABIN Council Meetings during the lifetime of the project, scheduled in coordination with CHM meetings Convene two IEC Meetings in between Council Meetings Convene two IEC Meetings in between Council Meetings Support the IABIN Council, IEC, ad hoc working groups and particularly National Focal Points Support the IABIN Council, IEC, ad hoc working groups and particularly National Focal Points Negotiate agreements with key organizations and initiatives Negotiate agreements with key organizations and initiatives Collaborate with CHM national focal points Collaborate with CHM national focal points

2. PARTNERSHIPS AND COMMUNICATIONS MAIN ACTIVITIES (continuation): Participate in other global and regional biodiversity informatics initiatives, such as GBIF Participate in other global and regional biodiversity informatics initiatives, such as GBIF Target better information access to indigenous people Target better information access to indigenous people Manage data on the status and availability of the Network´s capacity Manage data on the status and availability of the Network´s capacity Promote cooperation amongst the network´s partners through meetings, workshops, newsletters, etc. Promote cooperation amongst the network´s partners through meetings, workshops, newsletters, etc.

2. PARTNERSHIPS AND COMMUNICATIONS YEAR 1 WORK PLAN Organize IABIN Council Meeting – April 6-8 Organize IABIN Council Meeting – April 6-8 Identify and prioritize key organizations and initiatives Identify and prioritize key organizations and initiatives Analyze current IABIN communication tools and contract to improve them or develop new ones Analyze current IABIN communication tools and contract to improve them or develop new ones Attend GBIF meeting Attend GBIF meeting Identify where capacities are located in the network Identify where capacities are located in the network

3. THE IABIN GATEWAY MAIN ACTIVITIES Manage the IABIN Gateway Manage the IABIN Gateway Manage the directory of webpages that provide biodiversity information Manage the directory of webpages that provide biodiversity information Provide network and user support, possibly including a help desk Provide network and user support, possibly including a help desk Monitor the needs of the user community Monitor the needs of the user community

3. THE IABIN GATEWAY YEAR 1 WORK PLAN Re-design the Gateway Re-design the Gateway Integration with DGF Project Integration with DGF Project Translation to Spanish and Portuguese Translation to Spanish and Portuguese

4. DEVELOPMENT GATEWAY MAIN ACTIVITIES Coordinate maintenance of “Biodiversity in the Americas” link in the Development Gateway Coordinate maintenance of “Biodiversity in the Americas” link in the Development Gateway

4. DEVELOPMENT GATEWAY YEAR 1 WORK PLAN Work out the overall topic page strategy and criteria for approval/rejection of content Work out the overall topic page strategy and criteria for approval/rejection of content Coordinate preparation of highlights and newsletters Coordinate preparation of highlights and newsletters Send requests for posting of upcoming events, reports, jobs, etc Send requests for posting of upcoming events, reports, jobs, etc Post resources Post resources

FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY FOR IABIN Recurring funding for the operation of the Secretariat and other periodic activities (e.g., annual IABIN Council meetings) must be identified Recurring funding for the operation of the Secretariat and other periodic activities (e.g., annual IABIN Council meetings) must be identified Participating agencies and institutions must be assured of continued internal funding for IABIN-related activities that are their in-kind contributions to the development of IABIN Participating agencies and institutions must be assured of continued internal funding for IABIN-related activities that are their in-kind contributions to the development of IABIN IABIN itself will not be a source of funding for projects; rather, it should facilitate the fund-seeking process by helping its members identify potential funding sources and potential partners with whom collaborations can be formed to leverage available resources. IABIN itself will not be a source of funding for projects; rather, it should facilitate the fund-seeking process by helping its members identify potential funding sources and potential partners with whom collaborations can be formed to leverage available resources.

FUNDRAISING EFFORTS  Development Grant Facility of the World Bank approves project on “Developing Connectivity between Biological and Geospatial Data in Latin America and the Caribbean” for US$800,000 over 2 years (managed by City Of Knowledge, overhead)  The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation awarded the Office for Sustainable Development and Environment of the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (OSDE/GS/OAS) US$65,000 to produce and deliver the following with relation to IABIN: Information on protected area management Information on protected area management Tools and mechanisms to gather, publish, and update the above referenced protected areas data on line fully developed and operational Tools and mechanisms to gather, publish, and update the above referenced protected areas data on line fully developed and operational

FUNDRAISING: PRELIMINARY STRATEGY Currently IABIN does not have a “Legal Status” Currently IABIN does not have a “Legal Status” IABIN projects are financially manage by other organization, thus overhead resources ca. 8-10% allocated to other institutions (>400K) IABIN projects are financially manage by other organization, thus overhead resources ca. 8-10% allocated to other institutions (>400K) Need to explore the Legal Status (Secretariat and ad hoc committee) Need to explore the Legal Status (Secretariat and ad hoc committee)

FUNDRAISING: PRELIMINARY STRATEGY Funding strategy for IABIN should be a mix of activities, developed in conjunction with participating countries Funding strategy for IABIN should be a mix of activities, developed in conjunction with participating countries Direct fundraising efforts at different types of funding sources: Direct fundraising efforts at different types of funding sources: Private foundations (e.g., Moore Foundation, Macarthur Foundation) Private foundations (e.g., Moore Foundation, Macarthur Foundation) Government agencies (USAID, National Science Foundation International Competition, CIDA, SIDA, Agencia de Cooperación Española,) Government agencies (USAID, National Science Foundation International Competition, CIDA, SIDA, Agencia de Cooperación Española,) Bilateral cooperation: AECI, USAID, JICA Bilateral cooperation: AECI, USAID, JICA Multilateral cooperation: European Union, World Bank (Dutch Funds, DGF), ADB,CAF, USAID Multilateral cooperation: European Union, World Bank (Dutch Funds, DGF), ADB,CAF, USAID Partner organizations Partner organizations Private sector (i.e., corporate sponsorship) Private sector (i.e., corporate sponsorship)

FUNDRAISING: PRELIMINARY STRATEGY Develop fundraising partnerships with similar initiatives, organizations, and programs Develop fundraising partnerships with similar initiatives, organizations, and programs Establish a fundraising team: Establish a fundraising team: IEC IEC Secretariat Secretariat OAS OAS CoK CoK Fundraising Professionals to seek and acquire support to: capitalize an endowment (using associated interest for fund development) Fundraising Professionals to seek and acquire support to: capitalize an endowment (using associated interest for fund development)

FUNDRAISING: PRELIMINARY STRATEGY SECRETARIAT IEC NFP´S OASOAS OASOAS P O ‘S P O ‘S FUNDRAISING PROFESSIONALS

FUNDRAISING: PRELIMINARY STRATEGY Develop a grant ideas and a proposals portfolio that: Develop a grant ideas and a proposals portfolio that: Includes strategic, appealing and relevant bioinformatics ideas for decision-making processes Includes strategic, appealing and relevant bioinformatics ideas for decision-making processes Is tailored to and targeted to previously identified funding sources Is tailored to and targeted to previously identified funding sources Is flexible Is flexible

FUNDRAISING: PRELIMINARY STRATEGY Write at least two (2) grant proposals during first year and three (3) during second year of Secretariat installation Write at least two (2) grant proposals during first year and three (3) during second year of Secretariat installation Establish IABIN formal “Legal Status” Establish IABIN formal “Legal Status” Obtain seed money from current IABIN projects managed by other organizations to capitalize an endowment Obtain seed money from current IABIN projects managed by other organizations to capitalize an endowment

5. THE IABIN FOUNDATION MAIN ACTIVITIES Explore whether the International Bioinformatics Foundation is the appropriate organization to serve as IABIN Foundation Explore whether the International Bioinformatics Foundation is the appropriate organization to serve as IABIN Foundation

Secretariat Iván Valdespino, Executive Director Rita Besana, Data Content Manager Boris Ramírez, Thematic Networks Coord. Ciudad del Saber, Edificio 801, Clayton, República de Panamá Telephones: and Fax: QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS PREGUNTAS O COMENTARIOS