Application deadline
Tuesday, 22 July 2025 – 23:45

Location
Remote

Budget
12 396.70 € (VAT excluded)

Application: via email, details at the end of the Terms of Reference

Terms of Reference for a Consultancy

For a guidance document on Nature Restoration Regulation and Agriculture

1                BACKGROUND

BirdLife International is a global Partnership of autonomous, national non-governmental conservation organisations, with a large grassroots membership, in 120 countries and territories. BirdLife works together as a Partnership to conserve wild birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, by working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources. BirdLife is the global authority on the status of bird species, has unparalleled technical expertise in bird and biodiversity assessment, and provides a global outreach through its national Partners and its global team. 

Stichting BirdLife Europe (BirdLife Europe) is the regional division of BirdLife International and one of six BirdLife regional offices around the world. It consists of an international team of staff working on conservation, capacity building, policy, science, and communication. The European and Central Asia Partnership of BirdLife comprises 45 independent, grassroots civil society organisations.

Delivering a step change in nature restoration is one of BirdLife Europe’s top strategic priorities. The new Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR) represents a key policy instrument with the potential to drive meaningful progress toward this priority within the EU. The legislation sets out ambitious objectives to implement restoration measures across at least 20% of the EU’s land and sea by 2030 and to ensure the recovery of all ecosystems in need by 2050. It also includes ecosystem-specific targets for a wide range of habitats, including those linked to agricultural land, which is the focus of this work. At the same time, discussions have begun on the post-2027 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The success of the NRR will largely depend on how effectively Member States develop and implement their National Restoration Plans, including proper alignment with key land use policies like CAP, as well as leveraging opportunities beyond it. The tender aims to equip BirdLife Partners and other environmental stakeholders with the technical guidance and background information they need to engage effectively in and contribute to this alignment.

2                OVERALL PURPOSE OF THE JOB

The objective of this assignment is to develop a guidance document that supports BirdLife Partners and other environmental stakeholders in their engagement on agricultural-related topics during the development and implementation of National Restoration Plans under the EU Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR). The guidance document shall provide clear, evidence-based technical guidance and background information, with particular emphasis on restoration measures related to agricultural ecosystems and their integration with the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) while also exploring opportunities beyond the CAP. The analysis and recommendations must be grounded in the current and expected legal obligations, and informed by the best available scientific literature and evidence. The final product should serve as a practical tool to facilitate effective, informed advocacy and support concrete implementation efforts, helping to ensure that national plans are robust, ambitious, and fully aligned with restoration needs and policies in agricultural ecosystems and beyond.

3                KEY OBJECTIVES

The consultancy should produce a practical guidance document that doesn’t just cover the theory but offers clear guidance and actionable insights to help BirdLife Partners and other environmental stakeholders actively participate in the National Restoration Plan drafting and implementation process. This should include, but not limited to, the following elements:

1. Identify and analyse all relevant provisions of the Nature Restoration Regulation related to agriculture:
2. Provide a list of all articles and annexes of the NRR that directly or indirectly relate to agricultural ecosystems and land use  (e.g., Articles 4, 10, 11, and 13)
3. Provide a brief explanation of each article’s content, targets, obligations, and implications for Member States, building on the general recommendations already developed.

1. Identify links between the NRR and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP):
2. Put forward proposals on how existing and expected future CAP instruments (e.g., eco-schemes, agri-environment-climate measures, non-productive investment) can support the implementation of NRR objectives. Illustrate this with relevant examples and provide cost estimates where available.
3. Identify opportunities and gaps in the current and expected future CAP framework for financing and incentivising restoration on farmland; put forward proposal how to address them.

1. Identify measures and approaches beyond the CAP that can contribute to the NRR objectives related to agriculture ecosystems
2. Put forward proposals for measures and approaches beyond the CAP (e.g., rewilding through land purchase, leveraging energy and transport infrastructure on agricultural land for biodiversity, farmers’ agreements with water companies) that can contribute to the NRR objectives related to agricultural ecosystems, highlighting their potential impact and feasibility.

1. Review and synthesise scientific evidence in the context of NRR objectives:

• Conduct a targeted review of recent key scientific literature and available EU-level guidance related to ecosystem restoration in agricultural landscapes, including on the conservation and recovery of farmland species and their habitats.
• Synthesise findings with reference to the specific ecological objectives of the NRR. Ensure that the evidence base is linked with indicators defined in the NRR.

• Identify effective restoration measures and good practices applicable in farming contexts
• Provide existing examples of restoration measures (e.g. rewetting of peatlands, agroforestry, hedgerow planting, creation of small ponds) that have proven successful in diverse agricultural systems, based on available published reports and literature.
• Place each proposed measure within the framework of the NRR’s objectives and indicators, clearly explaining how it supports the achievement of the Regulation’s ecological goals.
• Highlight practical considerations such as scalability, farmer engagement, and cost-effectiveness.

4                DELIVERABLES

• Guidance document (10–15 pages) with annex prepared in line with the key objectives outlined above.

-the content should be presented in a clear, structured, and accessible format.

– visuals such as tables, or summary boxes should be included to explain complex content.

– all legal and scientific sources used must be referenced, ensuring transparency and credibility.

• Overview of relevant scientific literature prepared in line with the key objectives outlined above.
  • The content should be presented in a clear, structured, and accessible format.
  • Visuals (e.g. tables, graphs) may be used to clarify key points.
  • All scientific sources must be properly cited, ensuring transparency and credibility.

5                QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

• Have a relevant academic degree (Master or PhD);
• Have relevant experience with the EU Agriculture and Biodiversity policy, and of conservation issues;
• Excellent track record of producing synthesis or technical report;
• Write and speak English fluently.

6                BUDGET

BirdLife can provide 12 396.70 € (VAT excluded) for the above-mentioned consultancy

Any offers received that do not respect the upper limit will be automatically excluded from the evaluation procedure.

The price for the tender must be quoted in euro. Tenderers from countries outside the euro zone have to quote their prices in euro. The price quoted may not be revised in line with exchange rate movements. Quotes should specify daily rate and amount of work offered. It is for the tenderer to assume the risks or the benefits deriving from any variation.

• SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Interested consultancies must submit the following by 22 July 2025:

A timeline outlining milestones and the delivery schedule. (The briefing should be finalised by the end of October; however, early delivery is considered an advantage)

A detailed proposal describing the approach to achieving the stated objectives and deliverables.

CVs of key team members emphasising relevant skills and experience.

A budget breakdown.

HOW TO APPLY

Please apply via email to Tatiana Nemcova (Senior Agriculture Policy Officer) at: [email protected]