This involves:

• Establishing the PIR team
• Developing a stakeholder consultation plan
• Defining the scope of analysis
• Identifying information sources and document owners

The PIR will be most effective if the team, ideally including biodiversity specialists and public/private finance experts, combines policy and finance skills. The identification or creation of an oversight group is an essential initial step. Countries should already have established Steering Committees and/or technical working groups (see Chapter 2), to fulfil this function. The next step is determining the “owner” of the PIR. The owner is the group or entity most interested in and best placed to use the results. This may be the Steering Committee itself. The report should assess and address the owner’s needs.

The PIR helps to develop the BIOFIN stakeholder engagement plan (see Chapter 2). It requires an effective consultation process with a variety of stakeholder types. The scope of analysis needs to be defined early, with flexibility to refine it as more information becomes available. Clarity of scope will help maintain a results-oriented focus. Although the PIR should be a comprehensive national assessment, countries may wish to emphasize:

• Specific biodiversity issues and trends
• Economic sectors that are most important for driving biodiversity loss
• Institutions with high relevance as potential or actual finance stakeholders/decision makers

During the preparation phase, the team should start compiling critical documents such as:

• National strategic documents including the NBSAP, national reports to the CBD, strategies for green growth, climate, poverty, etc.
• National and sectoral development plans, economic development plans, long- and medium-term fiscal plans
• Statistical reports on forests, water, fisheries, tourism and environmental economics
• Private company reports for companies depending on or significantly impacting nature
• Technical reports relating to biodiversity finance, ecosystem services, etc.
• Studies and publications related to biodiversity (finance)
• National budgets and budget execution reports.