Resonance’s Post

We have been promoting the Safeguarding Carbon Markets Challenge (SCM Challenge), launched and supported by the USAID Countering Transnational Corruption (CTC) Grand Challenge, and implemented by Management Systems International and Resonance. This challenge will award multiple grants of between $50,000 and $500,000 to organizations with the most promising innovative concepts that counter corruption and strengthen transparency and accountability in carbon markets to preserve the benefits of critical climate finance. A webinar/Q&A session will be held tomorrow, July 9 at 9 am EST (registration below) for those interesting in exploring the challenge and process for submittal. WEBINAR - Q/A REGISTRATION LINK: https://lnkd.in/ePF-aPEw How timely then is Shanna Tova O'Reilly's featured blog just published by the Countering Environmental Corruption Practitioners Forum in which she details the technical, innovative, and pragmatic work of designing a challenge to address corruption in carbon markets. This forum is an ideal outlet for this how-to discussion. It is an active community of practitioners launched by WWF, the Basel Institute on Governance, Transparency International, and TRAFFIC, to encourage and provide connections for conservationists and anti-corruption actors to work across disciplines to address corruption as a key driver of environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, and climate change. Read Shanna's Insights Here: https://lnkd.in/erKxde-9

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, in partnership with WWF, commissioned a study that assesses the impact of an ambitious, effective, and legally binding global plastics treaty on Micro-, Small-, and Medium-sized Enterprises (#MSMEs) across the #plastic #packaging value chain. According to the announced release of the study, it is intended as a first exploration with both useful insights and a call for further research and investigation into this important challenge. Overarching, the study found: - Policymakers can be confident that there is broad support among MSMEs for an ambitious and legally binding plastics treaty, and - Global rules can unlock significant opportunities and benefits across the MSME landscape, if implemented effectively and fairly in the plastics treaty. The study concludes that in order to ensure that MSMEs harness the expected benefits over time, any binding UN treaty should establish specific policy measures that support MSMEs in managing the transition, such as differentiated implementation timelines and dedicated financing for MSMEs. Resonance continues to monitor research and critical dialogue focused on plastics pollution including innovative solutions. We have a vested interest that includes our role as an implementing firm for The CIRCLE Alliance—Catalyzing Inclusive, Resilient, and Circular Local Economies—a collaboration between the U.S. government via USAID and leading businesses, including founding partners Unilever and EY, to invest in solutions to reduce plastic use, tackle plastic waste, and drive the development of circular economies. This study and its contributions are important in this ongoing examination and can be found in PDF format here: https://lnkd.in/eRPdXAR6 More on The CIRCLE Alliance: https://lnkd.in/e5S84V9V Published Resonance Insights on Plastics:  The Circle Alliance: A New Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration to Address Plastic Pollution by Laurie Pickard: https://lnkd.in/ennZWg6i Recycling and the Circular Economy by Natalie Kra, MBA/MENV Kra: https://lnkd.in/gTadJDta 5 Best Practices to Combat Ocean Plastic by Charlotte Mack-Heller https://lnkd.in/ekR2qYTE

Are you interested in applying to the Safeguarding Carbon Markets Challenge (SCM Challenge)? Attend a Q&A webinar at 9:00 AM EDT on Tuesday, July 9 to learn more about this new funding opportunity by @USAID and partners @bhp-foundation and the Global Partnership for Social Accountability. MSI and Resonance help to implement this challenge. The SCM Challenge will award multiple grants of between $50,000 and $500,000 to organizations with the most promising innovative concepts that counter corruption and strengthen transparency and accountability in carbon markets to preserve the benefits of critical climate finance. Submit your questions to CTCGrandChallenge@tetratech.com as early as possible for them to be included and register for the webinar today. https://lnkd.in/ePF-aPEw

WEBINAR SCHEDULED to Address Questions and Provide Information on the Upcoming Safeguarding Carbon Markets (SCM Challenge). WHEN: Tuesday, July 9, 2024 at 9 a.m. EST. TO REGISTER FOR THE WEBINAR/Q&A VIA ZOOM https://lnkd.in/ePF-aPEw ABOUT THE SCM CHALLENGE USAID, in collaboration with partners BHP Foundation and the Global Partnership for Social Accountability, recently announced the launch of the Safeguarding Carbon Markets Challenge (SCM Challenge). This challenge seeks innovative concepts that counter corruption and enhance transparency and accountability in Carbon Markets to preserve the benefits of critical climate finance. We are encouraging fresh ideas, early-stage prototypes, and scalable solutions that bridge and build upon best practices and expertise from both the anti-corruption and climate finance communities to reduce opportunities for corruption, raise the costs of corruption, and incentivize public and private sector integrity in these critical markets. Concept notes are due by August 15, 2024, at 11:59 AM EDT. You can also learn more about the challenge and this funding opportunity via the website: https://lnkd.in/en-gvJfw This project is being implemented by Management Systems International and Resonance.

Introduced this week, Top Tier Impact mapped out in this schematic investors in nature, examining forest and nature forestation, ocean conservation and blue economy, regenerative agriculture, and integrated environmental conservation. The global ecosystem of investors, entrepreneurs, and professionals that make up TT Impact invites others to tag any of those investors missing, hoping to provide a comprehensive resource across the Nature Investors Landscape.

Managing Director of Resonance Impact Advisory Peter J. Hall spoke on a "Nature Positive Action for Private Sector Action" panel yesterday at the WBCSD – World Business Council for Sustainable Development forum as part of London Climate Action Week. There is tremendous momentum building to move from policy and ambition to #adaptation for #resilience - with a strong focus on #partnerships, #SMEs, and #PrivateSectorAction that puts people at the center. This is a core focus of the outcomes we deliver at Resonance and we were excited and proud to join other climate action leaders in London this past week who are driving #transforming initiatives and #impact. #ClimateAction #ClimateFinance #Resiliency #PartnershipAcceleration

Ranggi Muharam is Private Sector Engagement and Partnership Lead for the USAID Ber-IKAN project, a five-year effort designed to improve sustainable, resilient, and equitable fisheries management in #Indonesia, which is already demonstrating significant progress and impact. He shares his insights (and photos) following a recent multi-stakeholder dialogue on sustainable seafood held in Jakarta. #IgnitingOpportunity. #AdvancingGlobalGood

London Climate Action Week Highlights Innovative Solutions Like Those We Seek Under the Safeguarding Carbon Markets Challenge    London Climate Action Week's themes include climate ambition, #ClimateFinance, and mobilizing the whole of society towards #ClimateAction. These resonate with our vision for climate projects and carbon markets as potential vehicles for achieving a sustainable new economy. Critical to this vision is the need to safeguard carbon markets from the numerous corruption risks that can undermine the trust in and effectiveness of these growing and promising solutions. Corruption jeopardizes the intended benefits of carbon markets; diverts resources intended for decarbonization or, in the case of land-based projects, for local, indigenous, marginalized, and underserved communities; and potentially threatens community livelihoods. Visibly addressing corruption risks is critical to maximize the impact of investments, raising additional funds for climate finance; and advancing broader environmental, social, and governance goals. Announcing the Safeguarding Carbon Markets (SCM) Challenge Last week, USAID, in collaboration with partners BHP Foundation and the Global Partnership for Social Accountability, announced the launch of the Safeguarding Carbon Markets Challenge (SCM Challenge). Resonance serves as an implementing partner with Management Systems International. The SCM Challenge seeks innovative concepts that counter #corruption and enhance transparency and accountability in #CarbonMarkets to preserve the benefits of critical climate finance. We encourage fresh ideas, early-stage prototypes, and scalable solutions that bridge and build upon best practices and expertise from both the anti-corruption and climate finance communities to reduce opportunities for corruption, raise the costs of corruption, and incentivize public and private sector integrity in these critical markets. Concept notes are due by August 15, 2024 at 11:59 AM EDT. To learn more about this funding opportunity, visit the website. https://lnkd.in/en-gvJfw

This morning we shared out one of our most-read Insights article by the Director of our newly-named Evidence For Transformation (E4T) Services area Monica Gadkari, "What is MEL?" (Linked Below). It provides a great overview of #MEL as a tailored and integrative approach and toolset for USAID-funded projects, robust partnerships and collaboration, and corporate clients. We follow that with an update on the growing demand for MEL specialists in Global Development and Sustainability, detailing requisite background, preparation, career advancement, and and resources for training in this highly-skilled and growing area of expertise. https://hubs.ly/Q02Df5V00 Also read our recently-published Insights authored by one of our star E4T experts, Javaid Rafat, entitled "Evidence for Transformation: Documenting the Business Value of Social Impact Programs," to see how E4T services, including MEL, are critical for program improvement, transformative change, and building the business case for investment. https://hubs.ly/Q02DffLT0 What is MEL? https://lnkd.in/g5jAMaF5