Background
The international Initiative "4 per 1000" 'Soils for Food Security and Climate' was launched in 2015 at the UNFCCC COP 21 in Paris. In 2020, it developed and adopted its strategic plan. It includes 24 objectives with clearly defined targets for 2030 and 2050, contributing to 6 goals to strengthen the different phases of the transformation continuum.
For each objective, a Task Force (TF) was established. In a first step, its 126 experts specified the problem underlying each objective and its consequences and examined the causes in a global consultation process. In a second step, they developed detailed implementation strategies. They identified the activities that need to be invested in, the obstacles that need to be overcome and the critical success factors that need to be considered to achieve the objectives. The resulting strategy document serves as a global reference framework for actions and projects that contribute to achieving the "4per1000" vision for 2050: "Globally healthy and carbon-rich soils to combat climate change and end hunger."
From now on, Task Forces will focus on implementation. They develop project ideas, forge alliances and form partnerships for project development, facilitate access to funding, and monitor progress.
Purpose
The primary purpose of the Strategy Implementation Cycle (SIC) is to systematically assist Initiative partners in planning and raising funds for projects and activities that contribute to the goals of the "4per1000" strategy. In addition, this process will provide an overview of relevant ongoing activities and gaps, facilitating the coordination of investments by funding agencies and governments while demonstrating progress in implementing the strategy.
Process
Prior to the start of the Strategy Implementation Cycle (SIC), the Executive Secretariat will Consolidate the Task Forces to allow for decentralized management of activities.
The annual cycle includes 6 steps:
I. Stocktaking & Planning: Inventory current projects and activities, analyze gaps, explore funding opportunities, and plan task force activities.
II. Ideation & Team Building: Develop project ideas and form project teams to address gaps.
III. Project Conception: Develop concise project concepts of 2 to 3 pages using a standard template that highlights the relevance of the project to strategic objectives.
IV. Scouting for Funding: Present project concepts to decision makers and as investment opportunities to funding institutions to encourage them to invite project teams to submit a full project proposal or to direct them to appropriate funding programs.
V. Securing Funding: Prepare and submit a complete project proposal in accordance with funder guidelines.
VI. Implementation: Project implementation
The Executive Secretariat provides Backstopping & Monitors progress throughout the cycle.
Activities, actors and responsibilities
| Step | # | Activities | Purpose / Description | Output | Executive Secretariat | STC | Bureau | Task Force Leader & Regional representative | Project Team leaders | Timing |
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| Consolidate Task Forces (TF) | 1 | Call for joining Task Forces (TF) | The Executive Secretariat (ExSec) asks Task Force Members (TFM) to review their membership and encourages none members to join them. When joining, partners indicate their preferred role (Task Force Leader (TFL); Task Force Regional Representative (TFRR); ordinairy Task Force Member (TFM)) and provide information about their relevant "Expertise". |
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| September 2022 | ||||
| 2 | Nominate TF Leaders (TFL) and Regional Representatives (TFRR) | The ExSec will ask Task Force Leader candidates and TF Regional Representatives to a) update their profiles, b) list key global and regional players, and c) explain why they believe they are qualified for the role. The ExSec will use the feedback to propose TFLs and TFRRs for each Task Force for approval by the bureau. |
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| November 2022 (at COP27) | ||||
| 3 | 1st Task Force Leaders Meeting | Task Force Leaders will be briefed regarding their roles and responsibilities and the structure and expected outcome of the SIC. |
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| December 2022 | |||
| I. Stocktaking & Planning | 4 | Planning of Task Force activities | The TFLs exchange and meet virtually with the TFRR to share the results of the TFL planning meeting (Activity 3), review the implementation strategy and list of members. Together, they draft a TF-specific action plan that includes (a) a brief description of the general approach explaining how the TF will be organized to achieve the 2030 and 2050 targets, (b) a list of indicators and an overview of the modalities for monitoring progress, and (c) a work plan for the first cycle indicating TFL and TFRR responsibilities for successful execution of subsequent activities. |
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| December 2022 | ||
| 5 | Inventory of project and sponsors | Based on the information resulting from activity 1 and 2, the TFL and TFRR will exchange with their members to compile information on relevant past and ongoing activities (titel, region, sponsor, ...). |
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| November 2022 - January 2023 | ||||
| II. Ideation & Team Building | 6 | Task Forces meeting(s) | The Task Forces hold one or more meetings to review the status (implementation strategy, list of past and ongoing projects, funding opportunities, ...), identify gaps, exchange project ideas and form Project Teams. It is possible that a single idea may lead to the creation of several Project Teams covering different regions or thematic areas that are part of a concerted action. This might be an interesting option for larger actions requiring the support of multiple donors. |
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| February to May 2023 | |||
| III. Project Conception | 7 | Project Team meeting | The Project Team meets to start completing the 4p1000 - Project Concept Note Template and to define an action plan for the completion. |
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| March to August 2023 | ||
| 8 | Complete project concept notes | Members of the Project Team complete the 4p1000 - Project Concept Note Template |
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| May to August 2023 | ||||
| 9 | 2nd Task Force Leaders Meeting | Evaluate progress and prepare a list of concept notes for the assessment by the STC and validation of the bureau |
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| June to July 2023 | ||||
| IV. Scouting for funding | 10 | Assess relevance of concept notes | Verify the relevance of the project for the Initiatives strategy and the quality and completeness of the concept note |
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| September 2023 | ||
| 11 | Search and advocate for financial support | Exchange of concept papers with funding bodies (call for investment interest). The aim is to get an expression of interest to invest and to convince funding bodies to request the submission of a complete proposal following their guidelines. |
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| June to November 2023 | ||||
| 12 | 3rd Task Force Leaders Meeting | Evaluate progress and formulate recommendations for improvement of the SIC |
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| November / December 2023 | ||||
| V. Securing funding | 13 | Develop and submit a full proposal | Preparation of full proposals in accordance with the guidelines of the funding agencies. |
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| July to December 2023 | ||||
| 14 | Contract negotiations | Conclude and finalize project agreement |
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| VI. Implementation | 15 | Implement projects | Projects that work toward the objectives of the strategy are implemented |
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| Backstopping & Monitoring | 16 | Backstopping | Exchange regularly with TFL and TFRR and assist them if required |
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| 17 | Monitoring | Document progress and prepare an annual progress report on the SIC and the projects that are underway / ongoing. How far have they progressed, how do they help to achieve the strategic objectives? |
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