The David and Lucile Packard Foundation

• Surveyed available data on ocean health: In 2014, CEA worked with the Packard Foundation to survey existing data and to identify gaps for evaluating and reporting progress on oceans conservation. The purpose of this initial scoping project was to scan existing data sets to better understand which options may be most suitable for the Foundation’s internal evaluation and reporting needs.
• Produced a global oceans report: The Packard Foundation commissioned CEA to produce a global ocean report, released in June 2017 at The Ocean Conference, a high-level United Nations meeting to support the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14. The purpose of the report is to elevate the collective understanding of the state of ocean conservation and to help share future directions for philanthropy, practice and research. Report link
• Distant Water Fishing: In 2018 CEA was commissioned by the Packard Foundation to explore the topic of Distant Water Fishing (DWF) and its impacts on the ocean. The goal of the engagement was two-fold: synthesize the state of knowledge on DWF and to assess leading academics’ research agendas on the topic. Report link
• Our Shared Seas: While it is often said that the world is awash in data, informed decision-making can occur only when data are transparent and readily available to the stakeholders that need the information. Our Shared Seas is an open-source web platform that rolls up relevant ocean conservation data in a centralized, easy-to-use platform, providing authoritative data and sensemaking of ocean trends. We encourage marine conservation funders, advocates, policymakers, journalists, and engaged global citizens to use this resource for learning and advancing informed decision-making for the benefit of our blue planet. The site includes updated data and analysis on climate impacts on the ocean, marine fisheries, aquaculture, seafood trade, pollution and development, marine protected areas, and marine conservation funding. Visitors to the site are welcome to download both individual charts and PowerPoint decks for external use, provided that corresponding references are cited. This project, launched in April 2019, was commissioned by The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, as an update to CEA Consulting’s original “Our Shared Seas” report released in 2017.

• Supported Walmart’s sustainable seafood supply chain efforts: In 2006, Walmart committed to buying 100 percent sustainable seafood from MSC certified fisheries within five years. Meeting Walmart’s goals required significant coordination among three large NGOs (WWF, MSC, and the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership). With support from the Packard Foundation, CEA provided high-level planning, analysis and coordination among the three NGOs.
• Reviewed the impact of Fishery Improvement Projects: Fishery improvement projects (FIPs) are multi-stakeholder efforts aimed at using the power of the private sector to incentivize positive changes toward sustainability in fisheries. CEA conducted 30 site visits and over 140 interviews globally to understand how FIPs are currently implemented around the world and characterize their progress, best practices, and lessons learned. Report link
• Conducted research on Illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing (IUU): CEA assessed the global extent of IUU, the philanthropic community’s current efforts to help reduce it, and potential opportunities for the Packard Foundation to become more actively engaged. Report link
• Trends in global offshore finfish aquaculture: We assessed the track record of a dozen producer countries to understand the drivers, constraints, and risks of offshore operations. Based on these findings, we then evaluated the potential of a U.S.-based offshore sector, from a purely economic standpoint. Our findings suggest that offshore finfish aquaculture will remain more expensive than nearshore marine aquaculture but it is likely to grow globally. Report link

CEA has provided support to Packard’s Western Pacific Oceans program in a number of ways:

• Evaluated the opportunity for right-based fisheries management in the region: CEA conducted assessments in the six countries where Packard was already working: Indonesia, Fiji, the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Palau, and the Federated States of Micronesia. CEA and various subcontractors developed a taxonomy of the enabling conditions required for rights-based management to proliferate, wrote reports for all six countries, and also created a summary document. This information was used to support development of a new Western Pacific Program strategy, and a measurement and evaluation system to inform grants associated with this strategy.
• Provided a baseline on trends in coastal marine resources and fisheries management the Western Central Pacific: CEA wrote reports identifying trends in fisheries management and reform. The report’s purpose was to aggregate the best available data on fisheries statistics and to provide a baseline for tracking changes in the status of marine resources and fisheries management in key countries. Palau link, Fiji link, Indonesia link
• Strategic planning: In 2012, the Packard Foundations’ Western Pacific Subprogram contracted CEA to help them develop a new five-year program strategy. Through the process, CEA and subcontractors interviewed more than a hundred experts across five priority countries for the program. The effort culminated in the creation of a new strategy focused on rights-based fisheries management, protected areas, and building the enabling conditions for improved ocean management. The strategy was approved by Packard’s board of trustees and is now in operation.
• Facilitated the Indonesia Marine Funders Collaboration: CEA helped to galvanize a relationship between funders in the Indonesia marine space. CEA facilitated conversations between the Packard Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Walton Family Foundation, and the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation to determine a format for ongoing collaboration around topics of collective interest. CEA also helped to draft document articulating the group’s shared vision. CEA continues to work with the funders and other interested partners to convene calls and meetings on a regular basis.

CEA has provided support to Packard’s Climate and Land Use program in a number of ways:

• Interim program officer support: During a period of time between permanent program officers, CEA provided support to the Climate and Land Use program by investigating potential new grantmaking opportunities, identifying program related investments, and helping to develop a number of strategic planning documents for Packard’s board.
• Reviewed the landscape of agriculture and environment issues: As a part of their agriculture program strategy refresh in 2013, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation asked CEA to conduct a broad, landscape level review of leading agriculture and environment issues. The purpose of this landscape scan was to consider potential opportunities that might exist outside of the current scope of Packard’s work on agriculture and climate, and to examine whether those opportunities might be promising areas of investment for the foundation. The scan was designed to identify those issues at the intersection of agriculture and the environment that are most urgent and serious; where in the world they are most severe; what are the implications of a business-as-usual scenario; what solutions are the most promising; who is working on these issues; and what role philanthropy might play in addressing them. CEA’s report helped inform board level decisions about the future strategy of Packard’s agriculture grantmaking.

• Monitoring and evaluation: Through its Western Conservation subprogram, the Packard Foundation invested more than $122 million to advance land conservation, public policy, and conservation funding measures in western North America – California, the Colorado Plateau, and northwestern Mexico. To assess the impact of the subprogram’s approach and investments, the Foundation commissioned CEA to conduct a third-party evaluation and to summarize its successes, challenges, and lessons learned. CEA created a dashboard to track targets, conducted third-party evaluations of the grantmaking, and created www.EcoWest.org to track environmental trends in the region. Report link

In addition to supporting specific subprograms, CEA has also provided more general support to the Packard Foundation including:

• Environmental certification programs: On behalf of a number of philanthropic foundations, including the David and Lucille Packard Foundation, CEA evaluated the performance of organizations involved in environmental certification programs and analyzed improvements that could be made.
• Program related investments: CEA has evaluated potential Program Related Investments (PRIs) at the David and Lucile Packard Foundation in the fields of both sustainable fisheries and sustainable agriculture. CEA performed detailed due diligence on a number of potential investments, which included analyzing company performance against financial and environmental criteria. In 2005, CEA has structured a $20 million private equity fund to invest in companies that expand the market for sustainable seafood. The Sea Change Investment Fund is capitalized with a $10 million PRI loan from The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, matched by a $10 million private equity investment and will invest in seafood companies which meet strict sustainability and financial criteria. The Fund’s dual objectives are to expand the market for sustainable seafood and demonstrate that sustainable seafood is profitable for the fisherman and for the investor.