Design of an Evaluation Framework for the Nature Strategy 2021 - 2030

Defra seeks a supplier to develop an evaluation framework for the future evaluation of the next Nature Strategy committed to in the 25 Year Environment Plan and under Conservation of Biological Diversity. As the current biodiversity strategy for England (Biodiversity 2020: A strategy for England's wildlife and ecosystem services) comes to an end, the Government is drawing up a new strategy setting out England's approach to protecting biodiversity over the next decade. This will take into account new global commitments agreed under the post-2020 Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) framework, of which the UK is a signatory. It will also set out how we will progress domestic commitments on nature that were introduced in the 25 Year Environment Plan. Our commitment to our ambitious biodiversity strategy will be cemented by legally binding biodiversity target(s) set under the Environment Bill framework, with secondary legislation due to be laid in parliament by October 2022.

In order to ensure that the Nature Strategy, the commitments and targets and the policies that help us to meet them are achieved, it is essential to assess the outcomes that we expect policies to achieve and how successful we have been in delivering these outcomes. This project will develop a framework to ensure we have a robust approach to evaluating the actions and progress towards outcomes outlined in the nature strategy, in line with evaluation best practice and Magenta book guidance.