In developing its Biodiversity Policy, USAID undertook a global biodiversity prioritization process that drew on a mix of biological and institutional criteria. Two tiers of operating units were established for USAID investments with biodiversity funds.
Tier One Operating Units are responsible for activities in USAID-assisted countries or regions that are the highest ranked in terms of biological criteria based on the Global Environment Facility’s Global Benefits Index for Biodiversity and that contain a preponderance of globally significant ecoregions as determined by the World Wildlife Fund’s Global 200 list. USAID expects that more than half of Agency biodiversity resources will focus on these Tier One Operating Units.
Tier One Operating Units are displayed and listed below. This list will be reviewed when significant new data on global biodiversity is released or to take into account changing priorities of the Agency.
Map of countries prioritized for biodiversity programming by Tier One Operating Units
Tier One Operating Units are: Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and South America Regional; Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Madagascar, Tanzania, and Central Africa Regional; Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Vietnam and the Regional Development Mission for Asia.
Tier One Operating Units are:
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expected to identify biodiversity as a priority in their Country or Regional Development Cooperation Strategies, ensuring that biodiversity is covered in sufficient detail in to define strategic direction, particularly with respect to key threats, and request sufficient biodiversity funds to have an impact on target biodiversity;
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expected to focus on globally significant biodiversity targets in their countries or regions;
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prioritized for biodiversity technical assistance from USAID/Washington and for placement of Foreign Service Environment Officers.
Tier Two Operating Units are responsible for activities in countries or regions that have some combination of the following characteristics: contains a globally significant ecoregion; provides important habitat for endangered/threatened species; adds to global representation of the USAID portfolio; and is an area where USAID has a comparative advantage or previous record of success. The Tier Two list is more subject to institutional factors in determining which operating units are priorities and thus is more dynamic and not presented here.
Tier Two Operating Units should:
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strongly consider undertaking biodiversity programs, reflect the planning in their Country or Regional Development Cooperation Strategies, and request sufficient biodiversity funds to achieve the desired biodiversity conservation outcome, and
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should focus on globally significant biodiversity targets in their countries or regions.
Tier One and Two Operating Units will make tactical and strategic decisions that apply to the regional or subnational level, based on the best information available regarding biodiversity actual and emerging threats, drivers, and opportunities; priorities of host governments; cost; probability of success; and other contextual factors. See Box 15 on p. 24 of the Biodiversity Policy for more information.
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