Expertise: Partnerships

ADEC Innovations CEO James Donovan speaks in front of governments, private sector and civil society representatives during the Business Assembly at the recently concluded Tenth Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF10) in Abu Dhabi, UAE. February 13, 2020, Abu Dhabi, UAE— Achieving the common vision of sustainable cities around the world will require an engaging framework for the private sector, and integrated reporting can play a vital role in spurring immediate and concrete actions. This was the call raised by ADEC Innovations CEO James Donovan in the Business Assembly during the recently-concluded Tenth Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF10), where he was joined by other global leaders in discussing their roles in realizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the UN Habitat’s New Urban Agenda (NUA). For Donovan, norms and standards that measure any organization’s progress on sustainability are seen to play an increasingly important role in contributing to these global goals. “There is a need to bridge the communication gap between governments, multilateral organizations, the private sector, and society to ultimately achieve sustainable development. Norms and standards will provide an environment that enables us to address the significant trillions of dollars in financial gap to achieving the SDGs,” Donovan explained. Integrated reporting, in particular, is seen to have the potential to influence the private sector and pave the way for actual change. “People-first PPPs (public-private partnerships) supported by data are important, especially in measuring the non-financial aspects to translate these investments’ value and impact,” Donovan said. These sentiments were in response to the challenge posed by UN Habitat’s Executive Director Maimunah Mohd Sharif, who urged all WUF10 participants to focus on concrete outcomes for sustainable cities. “I know that we share a common vision of sustainable and safer cities. We will go further today. We know that urbanization is unstoppable,” Sharif said. Donovan was joined by the UN Development Programme’s Policy Advisor on Inclusive Growth Renata Rubian, Global Development incubator Wadzi Katsidzira, and ARCADIS Shelter Programme Director Bert Smolders in the business assembly moderated by Monitoring and Evaluation Collaborative Association (MECA) Vice President Gabriel Pettyjohn. During the assembly, Donovan, along with his fellow panelists, engaged in discussions on the role of cross-sectoral collaboration in upgrading the sustainability of cities globally and how to set standards for such collaborations. Realizing standards and norms is one of the core competencies of Donovan’s company, ADEC Innovations, which provides assurance solutions for governments, businesses, and coalitions in following international guidelines and agreements. ADEC Innovations ADEC Innovations advances sustainable practices around the world and helps organizations grow and operate responsibly. Seamlessly delivering fully integrated, cost-effective consulting, data management, and software solutions, ADEC Innovations helps clients save time, reduce costs, optimize resource use, and drive operational efficiencies in a world where sustainability matters. www.adec-innovations.com Media Contact Jacki Fricke media@adec-innovations.com

The UNDP through the Biodiversity Finance Initiative together with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Biodiversity Management Bureau and ADEC Innovations committed to work together to develop an online Biodiversity Monitoring and Evaluation system and an investment platform to meet national targets for biodiversity conservation. Manila, Philippines (4 March 2019) – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) together with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) through its Biodiversity Management Bureau and ADEC Innovations Corporation committed to work together to develop an online Biodiversity Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system and an investment platform to meet national targets for biodiversity conservation. The M&E Platform is one of BIOFIN Philippines’ 21 finance solutions all aimed at narrowing the huge financing gap for the Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (PBSAP) implementation, the country’s roadmap to sustainably manage its biodiversity. The Platform will track the progress of the implementation of the PBSAP while mobilizing resources from various mechanisms such as corporate social responsibility, crowdfunding, diaspora or migrant philanthropy, and impact investment. The Platform is also envisioned to foster transparency and accountability on investments made for biodiversity thereby increasing both public and private sector participation to unlock capital towards sustainable biodiversity financing. This is in the context that there is an estimated gap of almost PhP19B (USD 349M) in the annual budget (2015-2028) for biodiversity efforts in the Philippines. ADEC Innovations Corporation recognizes the importance of developing such Platform and has committed to work hand in hand with UNDP-BIOFIN Philippines and DENR-BMB. “We at ADEC Innovations see the value in developing this platform as a way to achieve the Philippines’ targets for biodiversity conservation,” said James Donovan, CEO of ADEC Innovations. “This initiative not only requires work from the government and public agencies, but also calls for efforts from us in the private sector as we undoubtedly share the same vision with the Philippine government when it comes to sustainable management of natural resources,” Donovan added. “Clearly there is big opportunity to leverage the capital, capabilities and innovation available from the private sector for biodiversity conservation. UNDP is delighted to have the opportunity to work with ADEC Innovations, known for its software development capabilities, to create this unique platform to monitor and promote public and private investments in biodiversity conservation. This will be an invaluable tool for DENR to help it bridge the financing gap,” as seconded by Titon Mitra, UNDP Resident Representative. Encapsulating the country’s rich and vast data from various agencies and organizations, this Platform will provide visibility on and serve as repository of information on biodiversity-related projects and initiatives nationwide. The information provided by the Platform are expected to allow for making informed decisions for government programming and budgeting as well as for private investments for biodiversity contributing to the achievement of the Philippine Development Plan targets, Aichi Biodiversity Targets, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals Targets. It will also aid in the Philippines’ reporting to the Convention on Biological Diversity, a fulfillment of its international obligation. “I am excited about this partnership especially on working with UNDP and ADEC Innovations. I am looking forward to more years of partnership and learning more about this initiative,” said Director Crisanta Marlene Rodriguez of the Biodiversity Management Bureau and added that BMB will facilitate DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu’s signing of the Memorandum of Understanding for this undertaking. She assured that DENR Secretary Cimatu, as a biodiversity advocate himself, will strongly support this initiative. ### About Biodiversity Financing Initiative (BIOFIN) Launched in 2012, the Biodiversity Finance Initiative – BIOFIN, as a new global partnership, seeks to address the biodiversity finance challenge in a comprehensive manner – building a sound business case for increased investment in the management of ecosystems and biodiversity, with a particular focus on the needs and transformational opportunities at the national level. For more information, please visit: http://www.biodiversityfinance.net. ABOUT UNDP UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. On the ground in 177 countries and territories, we offer global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations. In the Philippines, UNDP fosters human development for peace and prosperity. Working with central and local governments as well as civil society, and building on global best practices, UNDP strengthens capacities of women, men and institutions to empower them to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and the objectives of the Philippine Development Plan. Through advocacy and development projects, with a special focus on vulnerable groups, UNDP works to ensure a better life for the Filipino people. Website:  www.ph.undp.org || Twitter: @UNDPPH || On Facebook: www.facebook.com/undp.ph ABOUT DENR DENR-Biodiversity Management Bureau is mandated to protect the country’s biological diversity, and properly manage and conserve these important resources. Twitter: @DENROfficial || On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/denrbiodiversity  ABOUT ADEC Innovations ADEC Innovations’ environmental, social, and governance (ESG) business advances sustainable practices around the world and helps organizations responsibly grow and operate.

Focused on achieving carbon transparency for organizations and suppliers for which sustainability has become a business imperative; voluntary carbon and climate change action reporting gaining traction among global organizations.