The need for nature positive aligned business models
Consultant required to produce a Technical Paper to assess and describe the potential role of nature positive aligned business models in achieving the global nature positive goal
Please note that this call for proposals is issued by the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) in its role as a partner of the EU-Horizon A-Track project. Given CISL’s position as a non-EU affiliated partner within the project, contracting will take place between the consultant and Capitals Coalition with CISL retaining editorial oversight.
1.1 About A-Track (context)
A-Track is a four-year, €11 million project that will accelerate action for nature
by business, financial institutions and government.
Businesses, financial institutions and governments across Europe and beyond are increasingly recognising that they depend on nature and that action for nature can
help them to build resilience, manage risks and increase value. Over the last decade,
new guidance, tools, methods, data and training materials have been developed
to support measuring impacts and dependencies on nature and integrating this
knowledge into decision making.
However, despite increasing commitments to change, nature is still in crisis and there
is an urgent need to further accelerate action for nature. The European Green Deal and
the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework have established a clear policy context for this acceleration, with key actions for business, finance and government.
Yet, organisations often struggle to navigate the complexities of nature and the related
risks and opportunities. Understanding what tools to use or what actions should be
taken can be overwhelming.
Through A-Track, existing tools and approaches will be brought together and developed further. A-Track will make it easier for organisations to identify the most appropriate
way forward for their sector and scale, to unlock the most relevant natural capital and biodiversity information for a range of applications and ultimately make more informed decisions that accelerate action for nature positive outcomes.
A-Track will create robust and reliable resources, targeted to the needs of
key decision makers that:
- support the flows of biodiversity information for use in business,
finance and government decisions - strengthen consideration of biodiversity and ecosystem services
in life cycle assessment for products and organisations - mainstream and advance natural capital assessment and
accounting across society - facilitate the adoption and scaling of business models that contribute
to nature positive outcomes - nurture financial innovations that contribute to nature positive outcomes.
A-Track brings together leading thought leaders and practitioners who have been
driving change in the measurement and valuation of natural capital and biodiversity
in business, finance and government. Partners have led the development or implementation of guidelines and standards for measurement of nature impacts
and dependencies for improved decision-making, including: biodiversity footprinting, natural capital assessment and accounting, and business models and finance
that contribute to nature positive outcomes.
The project is funded by the European Union's Horizon Europe programme with
co-funding from UK Research and Innovation and the Swiss National Science Foundation. The eleven A-Track partners are: Capitals Coalition, VITO, UNEP-WCMC, Tecnalia,
World Business Council for Sustainable Development, Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, Oppla, Institute of Chartered Accountants in England
and Wales, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, University of Stuttgart and IDEEA Global.
Ultimately, through supporting businesses, financial institutions and governments to consider impacts and dependencies on natural capital, and associated risks and opportunities, A-Track aims to support nature positive outcomes, the European
Green Deal and worldwide action under the Global Biodiversity Framework,
accelerating the conservation and restoration of nature.
The A-Track team aims to develop practical tools and resources that address concrete business needs and challenges. As part of the A-track project, CISL has developed a typology of business model archetypes that demonstrate some ways that both natural and financial capital can be integrated into business activity. The initial analysis from CISL’s ongoing work was published as a working paper in 2024, with a second paper due to be published in September 2025).
The successful applicant will be working directly with the team developing these ideas over the project period. They will also have access to the expertise within the A-Track consortium to aid in the successful delivery of the work.
1.2 Purpose of the proposed work
The report delivered by the consultant will show how and where nature positive aligned business models could have the most impact, helping to inform business model innovation and the future work of A-Track. The work by the consultant will build out the rationale outlined previously by CISL for why we need these new business models, the value they will deliver and priority actions to implementation.
1.3 Scope and description of the required work
The proposed work would build on existing research, including the World Economic Forum’s The Future of Nature and Business report and the Sector Actions Towards a Nature Positive Future developed by Business for Nature, WEF and WBCSD. This research identifies the key impacts, dependencies and priority actions for business in key sectors and systems.
The proposed activity would focus on 3-5 sectors or sub-sectors which have high impact or dependency on nature (likely to include food/agriculture, infrastructure, built environment and energy). For each sector, the work would show where business model innovation can deliver nature positive outcomes, using the definitions and archetypes developed by A-Track WP5. The sectors will be determined in collaboration with CISL, but applying consultants should make suggestions in their proposal.
The proposed work will involve categorising existing nature positive business actions/transitions (and identifying new ones if needed) and analysing the role of business model innovation in supporting these actions in priority sectors. For each sector, the analysis should
- identify pathways through which the business model archetypes could be implemented
- suggest which ones are feasible given current constraints at both the organisational, sector and system levels (technology, finance, sector-specific regulations, economic incentives and policy etc.)
- provide a case study (or publicly available examples)
- discuss what changes are needed to facilitate the transition to nature positive aligned business models, including how nature-related risks and opportunities are measured and incorporated into financial decision-making.
The output of this work would help to build the case for nature positive aligned business models based on analysis and synthesis of the scientific and economic evidence available in 3-5 sectors or sub-sectors. It will demonstrate where current business models are incompatible with a nature positive economy and identify areas of most opportunity from the adoption of nature positive aligned business models.
Consultant embedded within team; expected to attend regular team meetings (close collaboration with project team). We may be running events during this period which the consultant would be expected to attend
Workplan: we anticipate the activity would follow a structure similar to the following
- Define scope and methodology
- Carry out literature review and speak to subject matter experts
- Create analytical framework to analyse the impact of a transition to nature positive aligned business models on nature
- Write paper evaluating the role of business model shifts in achieving nature positive transition (in line with global goals eg. under the Global Biodiversity Framework) and the enabling conditions required for these shifts (expected length approx. 20 pages)
- Consultation and review by project team and A-Track consortium
- Revision and preparation of final deliverable ready for design and publication
1.4 Target audience
There are 2 primary target audiences for this work:
- Businesses (both larger corporates that may transform elements of their business model and smaller startups/SMEs that could develop new business models)
- Policymakers at both the national level and the European institutions to demonstrate how new business models are essential in meeting nature positive goals, and the enabling environment needed for these to scale
1.5 Timeline
- Deadline for proposals: 6th October 2025
- Shortlisting deadline: 8th October 2025
- Appointment deadline: 15th October 2025
- Contract start date: early November 2025
- Deadline for delivery of final product: Friday 16th March 2026
1.6 Criteria
The University intends to award to the most economically advantageous offer or offers in accordance with the following criteria:
- Suitability of proposed approach (25%)
- Demonstrated understanding of report (25%)
- Relevant experience (25%)
- Value of quotation (25%)
1.7 Expressions of interest
If you are interested in applying, please submit the following information to business&nature@cisl.cam.ac.uk by close of business on Monday 6th October 2025:
- CV(s) (max 4 pages per person)
- Quotation in EUR (including staff cost breakdown, including VAT)
- The maximum available budget for this work is EUR45,000 (incl. VAT)
- Description of the approach you would take (max 2 pages)
- Examples of relevant publications and writing samples (max 5 pages)
The University expects to decide award of contract by Wednesday 15th October 2025
1.8 Please note
The University of Cambridge is not a public body within the meaning of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU) as amended. It is, therefore, not subject to UK procurement legislation.
Do not supply any goods or services until you have received confirmation that your proposal has been successful. Acceptance of the proposal by the University will be in writing. A purchase order will normally be issued.
The University will not be liable for any costs and expenses incurred by you in the preparation and submission of your proposal (whether or not the proposal is successful). The University will not reimburse any bidding costs.
This Invitation is confidential. Do not discuss with any third parties the bid you intend to make (except professional advisers or joint bidders who need to be consulted) nor canvass your bid for acceptance.
The University will regard submissions as confidential until award. Information you believe would be exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 after award must be individually identified in your submission together with the reason for the exemption and for the non-disclosure period claimed.
Variant bids may be submitted but must clearly identify all variants from the University’s specification and state all cost implications.
Proposals and supporting documents shall be in English. Any contract subsequently entered into will be subject to English law and jurisdiction. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, proposals and orders are issued subject to the University’s standard terms and conditions, a copy of which is available on request.
Proposals shall comprise a response to the specification and a pricing schedule.
