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ANNUAL REPORT 2016 PHASE III (1 JANUARY TO 31 DECEMBER 2016) European Union / Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations FLEGT Programme FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS ROME, 2017
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Transcript of annual report 2016 phase iii - Fao.org
ANNUAL REPORT 2016
PHASE III (1 JANUARY TO 31 DECEMBER 2016)
European Union / Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations FLEGT Programme
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
ROME, 2017
The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any
opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) concerning the legal or
development status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or
boundaries. The mention of specific companies or products of manufacturers, whether or not these have been patented, does
not imply that these have been endorsed or recommended by FAO in preference to others of a similar nature that are not
mentioned.
The views expressed in this information product are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies
of FAO.
ISBN 978-92-5-109627-7
© FAO, 2017
FAO encourages the use, reproduction and dissemination of material in this information product. Except where otherwise
indicated, material may be copied, downloaded and printed for private study, research and teaching purposes, or for use in
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www.fao.org/contact-us/licence-request or addressed to [email protected].
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iii
Contents
Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................vii
1 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 1
2 Results........................................................................................................................... 1
2.1 VPA support .................................................................................................................. 1
2.1.1 Descriptions of projects .................................................................................................. 1
2.1.2 Direct assistance ............................................................................................................. 3
2.1.3 Pilot projects ................................................................................................................... 5
2.1.4 New call for proposals .................................................................................................... 7
2.2 Non-VPA Support ........................................................................................................... 9
2.2.1 Operational strategy ....................................................................................................... 9
2.2.2 Results........................................................................................................................... 11
2.2.3 Observations ................................................................................................................. 15
2.3 Private sector............................................................................................................... 17
2.3.1 Implementation of the operational strategy................................................................ 17
2.3.2 Results........................................................................................................................... 19
2.3.3 Reflections from this reporting period ......................................................................... 23
2.4 Challenges encountered ............................................................................................... 24
2.5 Communication activities ............................................................................................. 25
2.5.1 Strategy ......................................................................................................................... 25
2.5.2 Workshops-Meetings ................................................................................................... 25
2.5.3 Other visibility actions .................................................................................................. 29
2.5.4 Gender .......................................................................................................................... 31
2.6 Project monitoring ....................................................................................................... 33
2.6.1 Concept notes and proposal formats ........................................................................... 33
2.6.2 Due diligence and institutional capacity building ........................................................ 33
2.6.3 Project management tools ........................................................................................... 33
2.6.4 New project database................................................................................................... 34
2.6.5 Projects financial monitoring ....................................................................................... 34
2.7 Summary of expenditures ............................................................................................ 35
ANNEXES
Annex 1. Invitation and Agenda to the 10th Steering Committee Meeting 41
Annex 2. Minutes of the 9th Steering Committee Meeting 45
Annex 3. Expert Panel Report 53
Annex 4. 2017 work plan 83
iv
v
Acronyms
ASEAN Association of South East Asian Nations
DFID Department for International Development of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland
EFI European Forest Institute
EU European Union
FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
FAOR FAO Representative
FLEGT Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade
FPIC Free, Prior and Informed Consent
FSC Forest Stewardship Council
GTF Global Timber Forum
IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature
NGO Non-governmental organization
PEFC Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification
PMU Programme Management Unit
PROFOR World Bank Program on Forests
RAFT Responsible Asia Forestry and Trade Program
SFM Sustainable Forest Management
SMEs Small and Medium-sized Enterprises
TLAS Timber Legality Assurance System(s)
USD United States dollar(s)
VPA Voluntary Partnership Agreement
WRI World Resources Initiative
vi
vii
Executive Summary
The past year marked significant progress in the implementation of the FAO FLEGT Programme as it
continued to shift from the closing of Phase II work - effective 31 October 2016 – to focus greater
attention on the implementation of Phase III projects and measures.
Significant work has been undertaken in Phase III to contribute meaningfully to the global body of
FLEGT achievements. The Programme has continued its support mechanisms in VPA countries,
launched a new methodology to assist a limited number of non-VPA countries and increased its focus
on supporting the private sector so it can better understand the benefits of FLEGT initiatives and
contribute to these in all the Programme’s countries of operations. Further, the information and
knowledge component of the Programme has also expanded in Phase III.
VPA Countries:
Programme support continues in the VPA countries. Since Phase III began in January 2016, 64 projects
with a value of more than USD 8.3 million have been endorsed for funding in countries with Voluntary
Partnership Agreements. These countries are spread across the globe, with 34 projects in Africa, 16 in
Asia, 10 in Latin America and 4 regional/global projects. After one call for proposals was completed,
the programme received 282 concept notes, evaluated 42 projects and the expert panel ultimately
recommended funding for 24 projects.
While the ‘call for proposals’ remains the mainstay of the demand-driven mechanism to identify where
support is required and requested, the FAO team continues to reflect on improvements in targeting
projects. A variation suggested by the Programme Management Unit would tailor the call to particular,
individual country needs. These would include two or three key action areas unique to each country
and identified as priorities for action through work with local leaders of each VPA. These, in turn, would
become the focus for this year’s call for proposals.
Non-VPA countries:
Significant progress was made in 2016 in non-VPA countries and it is expected that country strategies
will be shared with the Steering Committee members this year, as the Programme begins to fund
projects. FAO launched a new methodology for working with countries addressing governance
challenges, using FLEGT Action Plan instruments apart from the VPA process. Seven countries were
selected almost one year ago for Programme exploration: Colombia, Guatemala, Madagascar,
Mozambique, Peru, Philippines, and Uganda. Applying a country-by-country approach to understand
the unique governance and private sector context, FAO also conducts a local situational analysis and
an initial stakeholder workshop. The results provide an initial indication of the country’s governance
goals and prioritize actions needed to achieve those goals. To date, all seven countries have initiated
the exploration process; four have completed their situational analysis (two others are in draft form);
and three countries have completed their stakeholder workshops.
A critical factor in successfully implementing country-level activities is forming partnerships with key
donors and national actors who can contribute to improved forest governance in their respective
countries. For example, in Colombia and Guatemala, Programme work is building on existing platforms
that address illegal logging challenges in those countries. In Mozambique and Uganda, we are linking
Programme work with larger World Bank FIP initiatives.
viii
Private sector support:
Work with the private-sector is a large and growing part of the Programme strategy as a greater
understanding develops of how best to involve private-sector actors - particularly micro-, small- and
medium-sized producers and processors. Last year saw the signing and kick-off of the collaborative
agreement between FAO and the Global Timber Forum. Meanwhile, an analysis of the private-sector
context in 10 countries and other collaborative efforts to better understand the private sector SME
context with EFI, IUCN and WRI, were all initiated. The end results will be more targeted assistance to
national-level issues that affect both domestic and international markets.
Information and knowledge sharing:
Information and knowledge actions in 2016 focused in three main areas: publications, events and
visibility. Three FLEGT-related publications were launched in 2016: first, on traceability experiences in
four African countries titled “Traceability: a management tool for business and governments”; second,
“State of the timber sector in Cameroon (2015)”; and third, “FLEGT REDD+ synergies: case studies on
coordinated climate action” published in FAO’s forestry journal Unasylva 246, Vol. 67.
The Cameroon publication could significantly contribute to setting a baseline to identify trends in the
forest sector if relevant data is continually collected. The same methods will be applied in the Republic
of Congo, Liberia, and the Central African Republic in 2017. FAO contributed to eight major events in
2016 including Asia Pacific Forestry Week and the COFO side event on opportunities for a coordinated
approach between FLEGT and REDD to support climate-change mitigation. Such opportunities provide
ideas for continued work on FLEGT’s contribution to climate change and further collaboration with
FAO’s REDD+ programme.
These opportunities also helped to heighten visibility in 2016, as did the remodeling of the
Programme’s website and development and publication of visibility documents.
Expanding work in gender and lessons learned:
Gender and Learning Lessons were an integral part of the 2016 work plan. An evolving gender strategy
for the Programme will be revised in 2017, based on results from surveys launched last year. The
Programme has engaged in a gender-focused project in Liberia with Action Aid, which will provide
information on gender issues in key value chains and support some elements of gender within the VPA
impact monitoring effort.
Meanwhile, with the close of Phase II, an additional focus on learning lessons was integrated into the
2016 and 2017 work plans. A strategy to draw lessons from Phase II was initiated last year to better
understand previous experiences and formulate lessons and approaches for future Programme
endeavours. A comprehensive analysis will identify key themes in learning and help to develop policy
recommendations for Phase III. Learning areas include independent monitoring, FLEGT/VPA-
certification links, effectiveness of multi-stakeholder platforms in the VPA process, linkages between
FLEGT and REDD+, support to SMEs, and traceability support and its contribution to improving forest
sector governance.
Programme expenditures:
Total commited contributions to date are estimated at USD 31 454 167 based on exchange rates at
the time of signature of the contribution agreements. To date, overall commited expenditures are
ix
USD 10 826 748 from the European Commission, United Kingdom DFID, Swedish SIDA and
FAO contributions (table 7). All expenditures are on track. However, total costs of
consultants has exceeded the expactations of the programme to date. The Programme Management
Unit will present a budget revision request to the respective donors following the Steering Committee
meeting.
1
1 Introduction
The following is a progress report on the implementation of Phase III of the FAO FLEGT Programme,
presenting activities implemented during the 2016 calendar year. It includes a summary of activities
under Result 1 (Section 2.1 VPA support), Result 2 (Section 2.2 Non-VPA support), Result 3 (Section
2.3 Private-sector support) and Result 4 (Section 2.5 Communications).
2 Results
2.1 VPA support
2.1.1 Descriptions of projects
Since the start of Phase III in January 2016, 64 projects have been endorsed for funding in VPA
countries, amounting to USD 8 327 032. Of these, 22 were selected through the direct-assistance
mechanism and 36 through the first call for proposals, and six through the DFID contribution. Table 1
shows the distribution of the projects by region and country; there are 34 projects in Africa, 10 in Latin
America and the Caribbean and 16 in Asia. In addition, the Programme supports four global projects
which are active in each of the three regions.
Letters of agreement have been signed with 47 service providers, representing nearly 70 percent of
selected projects. Although it is still too early to demonstrate significant results, information is
provided below on the project distribution by thematic area, stakeholder group and region/country.
Table 1. Distribution of projects by region and country (DA = direct assistance, PP = pilot projects)
Region/country Endorsed DA Endorsed PP Endorsed DA +
PP
Budget
(USD)
Africa 13 21 34 4 398 037
Cameroon 2 6 8 740 170
Central African Republic 2 1 3 222 525
Democratic Republic of the
Congo
3 3 373 475
Congo 1 1 50 000
Côte d’Ivoire 1 2 3 365 395
Gabon 1 1 110 000
Ghana 4 4 8 816 284
Liberia 3 1 4 472 336
Regional 1 2 3 1 247 852
Latin America and the Caribbean 4 6 10 813 864
Guyana 2 2 178 090
Honduras 4 4 8 635 774
2
Asia 3 13 16 1 856 335
Indonesia 4 4 410 000
Lao People’s Democratic
Republic
3 3 278 293
Myanmar 2 2 230 000
Thailand 2 1 3 234 599
Viet Nam 1 3 4 703 443
Global Initiatives 2 2 4 1 258 796
Grand total 22 42 64 8 327 032
Thematic areas
The Programme continues to support actions in the eight thematic areas distilled from the FLEGT
Action Plan. Support to define, revise and advise on compliance with the legal frameworks is the
predominant thematic area so far under Phase III with 23 percent of projects funded (Figure 2).
Supporting capacity development accounted for 20 percent of projects, while supporting the
engagement of communities, indigenous peoples’ groups and SMEs in the VPA process accounted for
17 percent; transparency measures and independent monitoring accounts for 13 percent of projects;
support to legality berification systems accounted for 10%; and the other thematic areas account for
the remaining 19 percents of projects. These numbers are consistent with the previous two Phases of
the programme and the breakdown of the concept notes received.
Figure 1. Distribution of Phase III projects, by thematic area
Stakeholder distribution
Collectively, civil-society organizations are the most active group of stakeholders, accounting for 49
percent of the projects endorsed (Figure 2). The first call for proposals included a specific lot for the
private sector and new to phase III, the private sector organizations are eligible to submit direct-
assistance requests. As a result, there has been a significant increase in the number of projects
Legal reform, 23%
Capacity building, 20%
Support to local communities,
17%
Transparency measures, 13%
Verification systems, 10%
Studies / Needs assessment, 6%
Information exchange, 6% Other actions, 7%
3
dedicated to private-sector initiatives (21 percent). Governmental institutions account for
the remaining projects (30 percent).
Figure 2. Distribution of Phase III projects, by stakeholder group
2.1.2 Direct assistance
The Programme continues to support government institutions with the direct-assistance mechanism,
but has also opened this option to private sector organizations. In 2016, twenty-two direct-assistance
projects were approved and implemented. Two projects submitted by private sector organizations
were endorsed. The remaining 20 direct-assistance projects are implemented by governmental
institutions. Direct assistance is most often requested and used to help governments working towards
the VPA to address urgent issues, issues arising that are unforeseen and / or not budgeted through
other mechanisms, and actions that deblock and immediate bottleneck to keep governance or VPA
processes moving forward. Table 2 lists all of the direct-assistance projects funded, additional detail
about project results is available upon request, but was too lengthy to provide in this report (Table 2
2).
Table 2. Phase III direct-assistance projects in VPA countries
Country/service
provider
Title Budget
(USD)
Cameroon 114 669
GFBC* Projet d’amélioration et de valorisation des systèmes de traçabilité forestière
par les technologies mobiles
59 949
MINFOF Appui à la délivrance des certificats de légalité dans le cadre du régime
d’Autorisation FLEGT
54 720
Central African Republic 87 595
MEFCP Appui à la relance du processus APV en République centrafricaine 53 600
CIFOR Appui au Ministère de l’Environnement, du Développement Durable, des
Eaux, Forêts, Chasse et Pêche (MEDDEFCP) dans la mise en œuvre de l’annexe
11 de l’APV en République Centrafricaine.
33 995
Civil Society , 49%
Private Sector , 21%
Government, 30%
4
Côte d’Ivoire 50 000
MINEF Appui à la rédaction des textes d’application du Code Forestier nécessaires à
la mise en œuvre des processus FLEGT et REDD+
50 000
Ghana 246 630
RMSC Building the capacity of the Coalition on Domestic Lumber Supply in Ghana
for the supply and production of legal timber in the wood product value chain
for a functional VPA
55 015
RMSC Promoting forest governance through stakeholder consultations for ten
production forest reserves in Ghana
63 230
TIDD Upscaling artisanal milling to improve the supply of legal lumber to the
domestic market
63 325
RMSC/Tropenbos Strengthening Regulatory mechanism on overland timber trade for enhanced
FLEGT/VPA implementation
65 060
Liberia 182 729
CIFOR/FDA A study to inform the review of the Chainsaw Milling Regulation #115-11 in
view of its effective inclusion into the Timber Legality Assurance system of
Liberia
44 504
LICSATDUN* Institutional and capacity development support to the Liberia Chainsaw and
Timber Dealers Union (LICSATDUN)
28 827
FDA Strengthening the capacity of Wood-based energy producing communities to
ensure that productions are in compliance with the Regulation on Sustainable
Wood-based Biomass energy production and marketing
109 398
Honduras 214 220
CONADEH Apoyo de CONADEH al ICF incorporando el enfoque de derechos humanos
integrales y el derecho a un ambiente sano, en particular, y un mejor
conocimiento con los actores locales del proceso AVA FLEGT en Honduras
55 000
ICF Implementación del módulo de Industria Forestal en el Sistema Informático
de Rastreabilidad de la Madera (SIRMA)
55 000
ICF Incorporando actores locales mediante la socialización y consulta de los
documentos AVA en el marco de la VI Ronda de Negociaciones Honduras-UE
49 220
AFH Organización y Capacitación de Pequeños y Medianos Propietarios de Bosque
Privado en Honduras
55 000
Thailand 119 616
TEFSO Strengthening TEFSO’s support to the FLEGT VPA negotiation 65 991
TEFSO Strenghtening multi-stakeholder engagement and participation in the FLEGT
process in Thailand 53 625
Viet Nam 60 000
VAFS Improving the compatibility between the Viet Nam FLEGT VPA and National
standards for VFCS
60 000
Global and regional Initiatives 87 000
CIDT Regional Forest Governance Forum in Yaoundé, Cameroon 15 000
CIDT Improving Forest Governance 2016 – UK-based training course 60 000
Chatham House Support to illegal logging update and stakeholder consultation 12 000
Grand total 1 162 459
* Private sector organizations
5
2.1.3 Pilot projects
Thirty-six pilot projects have been endorsed following the first call for proposals, and six other projects
were selected through the contribution agreement signed between the Programme and DFID.
Collectively, these 42 pilot projects have a budget of approximately USD 7.2 million (Table 3).
Table 3. Phase III pilot projects in VPA countries
Country/service
provider
Title Budget
(USD)
Cameroon 625 499
ASD Renforcement de la légalité dans le marché domestique et
transfrontalier du bois dans la région forestière de l’Est Cameroun
95 665
FECAPROBOIS Appui à l’implication des artisans de la deuxième transformation du
bois dans le processus FLEGT
99 985
FFE Integrating carpenters in a legal timber value chain in the South
region
97 408
FODER Mise en œuvre du système normalisé d'observation indépendante
externe (SNOIE)
122 461
SAILD Mise en place d’un Système de Vérification Communautaire de la
légalité des bois des Forêts Communautaires
99 983
WCS Suivi de la Gestion de la Faune dans les concessions forestières au
Cameroun
109 998
Central African Republic 134 930
CIEDD Appui à la mise en œuvre de la stratégie d’observation indépendante 134 930
Democratic Republic of the Congo 373 475
ACS Projet pilote d’appui au secteur forestier à l’est de la RDC pour
favoriser l’exploitation légale du bois
127 065
OCEAN Consolidation de l’observation indépendante mandatée en matière
d’exploitation artisanale de bois dans les provinces de la Tshopo, du
Haut Uele et de l’Ituri
113 390
Tropenbos Exploitation et transformation du bois artisanal : appui à la création
de petites entreprises formelles et légales
133 020
Congo 50 000
CLFT Développement d'un manuel consensuel sur le traitement des cas de
non-respect des indicateurs de la grille de légalité APV-FLEGT
50 000
Côte d’Ivoire 315 395
AVSI Promotion de la légalité et des bonnes pratiques en matière de
gestion durable par la mise en place d'un cadre d'échange et
formation entre les clients de l'UE, les exportateurs et les PMEs
99 815
WCS Réplication de l’Observation Indépendante Mandatée (OIM),
renforcement des capacités et création de synergies entre les
opérateurs forestiers, les agents de la SODEFOR et l’OIM pour une
gestion durable des forêts classées
215 580
Gabon 110 000
SIAG Secteur privé et mobilisation en faveur de l’APV au Gabon 110 000
Ghana 569 654
6
Civic Response* Civil society-led independent forest monitoring in Ghana (CSIFM) 308 908
FoE Influencing sustainable market policies through innovative socio-
technical influencing sustainable market policies through innovative
socio-technical solutions
83 308
GTMO Strengthening the operational capacity for timber operators for
effective compliance of FLEGT VPA
69 862
KWC Empowering small-medium forest enterprises through training and
supervision for their effective compliance and active participation in
VPA/FLEGT implementation
107 576
Liberia 289 607
Action Aid* Promoting women and community rights in forest governance and
management in Liberia
289 607
Regional Africa 1 232 852
CED* Agir sur les défis de l’APV: exploitation illégale et changement du
couvert forestier dans le cadre d’investissement non-forestiers
607 612
NDF* Innovation for improved forest governance in West Africa: demand
and supply side solutions in a changing landscape
625 240
Guyana 178 090
APA Promoting community-based monitoring of timber trade legality in
Guyana
70 090
FPA Building the awareness and capacity of private-sector operators to
participate in the VPA process in Guyana
108 000
Honduras 421 554
ALIANZAVERDE Promoción de derechos colectivos, gobernanza territorial y
participación de los pueblos indígenas en los procesos de AVA-FLEGT
100 950
FEHCAFOR Apoyando el desarrollo de un sistema nacional de rastreabilidad,
control y verificación de la madera que sea equitativo y viable para las
pequeñas cooperativas que conforman el sector comunitario del país
95 604
FDsF Generación de mayor contribución a las negociaciones AVA FLEGT en
Honduras a través de sinergias entre plataformas de Gobernanza
Forestal
85 000
Fundación Vida Estudio de mercado de los productos forestales y sus substitutos en
Honduras: oferta, demanda, barreras y plan para incrementar el uso
de madera legal
140 000
Indonesia 410 000
JURnaL Celebes Strengthening Indonesia’s independent forestry monitoring network
to ensure a credible SVLK and effective VPA Implementation
110 000
ASMINDO Engaging Voluntary Partnership Agreement to Indonesia furniture
and handicraft industry value chain
110 000
WRI Supporting implementation of the VPA by strengthening capacities to
detect and suppress forestry sector corruption
80 000
Yayasan Bioma Scaling up SVLK timber supply from community forest in East
Kalimantan
110 000
7
Lao People’s Democratic Republic 278 293
ECCDA Support legal timber production through improved competitiveness
for small and medium timber processing enterprises in Lao PDR
105 683
LFA Private sector leading better practice for SMEs legal compliance in the
plantation industry of Lao PDR
106 000
NUoL Building capacity for timber species identification to strengthen the
timber legality assurance system in Lao PDR
66 610
Myanmar 230 000
FFI FLEGT preparedness for community timber producers In Myanmar 110 000
MFPMF Empowering wood-based SMEs through participation and
engagement in FLEGT VPA process
120 000
Thailand 114 983
RECOFTC Enhancing smallholders accessibility to timber legality and trade for
effective implementation of VPA process in Thailand
114 983
Viet Nam 643 443
HAWA* Establishing HAWA due diligence system (HAWA DDS) 483 646
IPSARD Scattered timber sources in Viet Nam and potential development
under the VPA with European Union
50 000
CED Promoting private-sector engagement in the VPA process 109 797
Global Initiatives 1 186 796
GTF Building the GTF institution to deliver communications and technical
support to enable increased engagement of the private sector to
improve forest governance and address deforestation
86 964
GTF* Increased engagement of the private sector to improve forest
governance and address deforestation, through the Global Timber
Forum’s leadership, enhanced communication and policy
development
1 099 832
Grand total 7 164 571
*Projects funded under the DFID contribution.
2.1.4 New call for proposals
There was one call for concept notes in 2016, with a continuing focus on the private sector as well as
interest in innovative and effective approaches to integrating gender issues in the context of forest
governance. Guidelines on gender mainstreaming have been developed to provide assistance in
project formulation; concrete examples and tools have also been made available for assessing and
promoting women’s empowerment and participation in various areas relevant to forest governance.
The selection of projects follows a two-phase approach, with proponents of selected concept notes
asked to submit full project proposals within one month.
The initial figure from the first phase of the selection process has shown a keen interest – 282 concept
notes were received by the Programme Management Unit, approximately the same number as the
previous call (Table 4). All 16 VPA countries have submitted proposals, but consistent with past calls,
three countries submitted nearly 50 percent of the concept notes: Cameroon, DRC and Ghana.
8
The overall indicative amount made available under the 2016 VPA call for concept notes is USD
3,300,000.
The expert panel report presenting the results of this call for proposals in VPA countries is presented
in Annex 3. Based on the recommendations of the expert panel, 22 new projects are recommended
for funding for an indicative budget of USD 2,251,262.
Observations from the Call for Proposals. The Programme Management Unit (PMU) has made great
efforts to integrate gender issues into the call for proposals and the subsequent project development
after project endorsement. It is encouraging to see that several proprosal submissions are gender
focused and that gender components are included in every proposal. However, in general terms, the
submissions demonstrate a continued weak understanding and capacity to develop ideas to address
gender. Further effort in 2017 will focus on understanding the weaknesses and addressing this.
Table 4. Number of concept notes submitted per VPA country, those that were selected for the second stage and the number of proposals proposed for endorsement
Country Number of concept
notes received
CN that made it to
the Full Proposals
stage
Full proposals
proposed for
endorsement
Cameroon 62 5 3
DRC 42 4 3
Ghana 29 7 3
Honduras 24 7 5
Congo 23 4 1
Indonesia 22 11 *
Côte d’Ivoire 20 4 1
Liberia 13 5 4
Central African Republic 11 2 1
Gabon 10 0 0
Viet Nam 10 5 *
Lao 6 4 1
Guyana 5 2 0
Myanmar 2 3 *
Malaysia 2 1 *
Thailand 1 1 0
Total 282 65 22
* While stakeholders from Indonesia, Myanmar, Malaysia and Vietnam have participated in the call for concept notes, the FAO has entered dialogue to revise and formalize the operating procedures of the FLEGT Programme in these countries. As a result, the selection process does not include proposals from these four countries. It is anticipated that the formalized processes will be formally agreed in early 2017 and the selection process for these countries will be finalized. For more details, please refer to section 2.4 “Challenges encountered”.
9
2.2 Non-VPA Support
2.2.1 Operational strategy
Previous phases of the FAO FLEGT Programme identified the need for a more targeted process to
support countries that seek to improve their forest governance without engaging in the VPA process.
The PMU conducted an expert survey to identify priority countries that would receive support.
Countries were selected based on a set of indicators that took into account production, consumption
and trade of timber; the extent of illegal logging; and the level of political commitment to address
forest governance issues as well as a willingness to engage with the EU on these issues.
The countries chosen for Year 1 Programme exploration were: Colombia, Guatemala, Madagascar,
Mozambique, Peru, the Philippines and Uganda. These countries were endorsed as eligible for
Programme support by the Programme Steering Committee in February 2016.
Cambodia, Ecuador and Zambia were recommended for Year 2 activities.
An indicative methodology for the implementation of the Programme in non-VPA countries was
provided in the inception report of Phase III. Building on this methodology, the PMU developed a more
detailed strategy for initiating country activities that ensures the implementation of a process that is
efficient, participatory and consistent across countries. Based on the methodology, the PMU prepared
two briefing notes: one, a detailed note on the methodology for the initial dialogue with FAO
Representatives at the country level; and a second short note for distribution to the respective
governments and EU Delegations at the country level. The briefing notes contained information on
the following steps:
A. Contact with FAO Representation
First, the PMU informs the FAO Representations (FAOR) of the country that it has been endorsed by
the Steering Committee to receive support through the process. The PMU and the FAOR discuss
implementation of activities, roles and responsibilities, and informing and committing key country
stakeholders such as the national government and the EU Delegation.
B. Communication with the national government and EU Delegation
The FAOR then initiates official communication with the government concerning the Programme. If
the government confirms its interest, it is asked to sign the FAO/Government Cooperative Programme
Project Agreement. Either the FAOR or the PMU contacts the local EU Delegation regarding the start
of Programme activities.
C. Scoping mission
If necessary, the PMU organizes an initial scoping mission of two to three days in each participating
country. During this mission, the PMU meets with the FAOR, the EU Delegation, the government and
relevant stakeholders.
D. Situation analysis
A local or international consultant is contracted to carry out a situation analysis under the supervision
of the FAOR and the PMU. The objective of the analysis is to provide a rapid assessment of the state
of forest governance in the country, including existing structures; key stakeholders; former, current
and planned initiatives to strengthen governance; and the main challenges and opportunities for
10
influencing outcomes. The situation analysis is not a definitive analysis of the state of forest
governance in a country. Rather, the work focuses on those areas relevant to Programme objectives
and capacity, providing a realistic review of areas where the Programme has the greatest potential for
influence. The analysis guides the Programme in achieving desired outcomes in the country based on
a desk review of available information and interviews with key stakeholders.
E. National stakeholder workshop
Following the situation analysis, a two-day stakeholder workshop is held to validate the information
compiled, establish priorities for the Programme’s support and develop a national-level “roadmap”
for improving forest-sector governance. In each participating country, the Programme’s activities
contribute to achieving the objectives and tasks of this roadmap. The workshop also defines key areas
to be measured during a country forest governance baseline assessment. Stakeholders invited to the
workshop are identified in the situation analysis but workshops may also include relevant government
entities and the EU Delegation, as well as representatives of civil society, the private sector, indigenous
organizations, and donors and development partners.
F. Meeting of the technical committee
Following the stakeholder workshop, a half-day meeting of the local technical committee is organized.
This technical committee is formed by the EU Delegation-designated representative, the FAOR, the
national/regional FAO FLEGT Programme officer, and a representative of the government ministry or
authority that oversees the forest sector. This committee plays a key role in the endorsement and
monitoring of country activities.
The half-day meeting sets the next steps in the Programme’s activities in the country and determines
the committee’s operational mechanisms, such as objectives and paths for action; roles and
responsibilities; frequency of meetings; and selection of the chair.
G. Baseline assessment
The specific objective of the FAO FLEGT Programme is to improve forest governance and law
enforcement and promote legal and sustainable forest industries. To measure whether forest
governance has improved, it is important to have a clear idea of the status of forest governance in the
country at the beginning of Programme activities. Therefore, a rapid baseline assessment of certain
aspects of forest governance is conducted. Governance indicators to be measured are selected based
on the priorities for support of the non-VPA country, as agreed at the stakeholder workshop, and the
baseline assessment is carried out by a national or international consultant. The assessment is
repeated at the end of Programme activities in the country, to determine whether the forest
governance situation of the country changed over the period of the Programme’s activities, and the
extent to which the Programme influenced that change.
H. Programme start-up at country level
Following the national stakeholder workshop, detailed planning of activities is carried out with
relevant stakeholders to finalize the national roadmap for the Programme. This outlines the priority
activities to be developed and the potential partners for implementing those activities. An initial
budget of 500,000 euros is designated for Programme activities in each participating country and the
PMU seeks, where possible, to raise additional funds to finance the activities. Based on the work plan
developed by local stakeholders, Programme activities (referred to as projects) are issued using
various implementation mechanisms, such as calls for proposals and direct-assistance requests.
11
I. Reporting and monitoring
Service providers are responsible for delivery of timely technical and financial reports on their
activities. The PMU, local/regional consultants and the technical committee monitor these activities.
The PMU and the local/regional consultant support the service provider throughout project
implementation, reinforced by the results of systematic evaluations. The Programme’s activities in the
country are monitored against the Programme Logical Framework.
2.2.2 Results
The implementation strategy for non-VPA countries has been an important baseline for establishing
activities in all countries; however, there are minor differences in the processes implemented in
individual countries due to varying country conditions. This section describes the progress and key
features of work carried out to date in the seven non-VPA countries (Table 5).
Table 5. The steps implemented in the seven non-VPA countries
Steps Colombia Guatemala
Madaga-
scar
Mozam-
bique Peru Philippines Uganda
Contact with
FAOR ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Country
methodology ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Contact with
government ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Gvt confirmed
interest ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Contact
initiated with
EU Del.
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Recruitment of
consultant ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Draft situation
analysis ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 03/17
Stakeholder
workshop ✓ 02/17 ✓ 02/17 ✓ ✓ 04/17
Technical
Committee ✓ ✓ ✓
Forest
governance
assessment
✓ ✓ ✓
Detailed
planning ✓ ✓ ✓
A. Colombia
There is considerable interest in improving forest governance in Colombia, and the country has led
the way in implementing activities. The government and national stakeholders are committed to
addressing illegal logging through the Pact for Legal Timber in Colombia (Pacto Intersectorial por la
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Madera Legal en Colombia). Forest governance will also be a crucial challenge in implementing the
peace process in conflict-affected areas of the country. In the Colombian Peace Agreement, FAO is
one of the agencies asked to support significant rural reform in the country – a process in which forests
will play a key role.
The FAO FLEGT Programme conducted a scoping mission to Colombia in March 2016, during which
the government voiced its interest in Programme activities. Since then, a situational analysis was
conducted by a local consultant and a stakeholder workshop held in October 2016 with participants
from government, private sector, civil society and development agencies. Discussions on work areas
identified three priorities from eight proposed overarching topics: 1) strengthening the regional forest
roundtables; 2) strengthening the forest governance structures for local communities; and 3)
supporting the implementation of the Pact for Legal Wood in Colombia. The Technical Committee for
the country also held its first meeting, which included the identification of an operational mechanism
and agreement on next steps for the Programme. Building on the results of the workshop, the
Programme is currently undertaking a detailed planning process with relevant national stakeholders
in order to initiate country activities in the first trimester of 2017. The Programme will collaborate
with, and build on, activities of other donors such as the EU, the German Federal Enterprise for
International Cooperation (GIZ) and the World Bank.
B. Guatemala
There is significant momentum for implementing the Programme in Guatemala, where the head of
the Instituto Nacional de Bosques (INAB - National Forests Institute) has shown strong interest in
Programme activities. FAO and the FAO FLEGT Programme have played an important role in
supporting forest governance in Guatemala in the past. In Phase III, the Programme will collaborate
with, and build on, the work of EU-funded and DFID-funded projects led by the International Union
for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). A situational analysis by a national consultant, in consultation with
local stakeholders, identifies a number of potential priority areas for Programme support, and these
will be presented for prioritization by national stakeholders at a workshop scheduled for February
2017. Overall, supporting forest governance in Guatemala is of considerable importance, given the
country’s status as a hotspot for forest biodiversity and the fact that it hosts one of the largest
remaining tracts of forest in Central America. Still, forest governance in many areas of the country is
weak and deforestation and forest degradation are driven by slash-and-burn farming, large-scale
agricultural expansion, illegal logging and fuelwood extraction. Underlying this are such problems as
weak law enforcement, land-use conflicts, drug trafficking, migration and lack of economic incentives
for conserving the forests.
The National Forests Institute has established a commission to follow up on the country’s Plan of
Action for the Reduction of Illegal Logging in Guatemala. Participation by IUCN and FAO have
contributed to this Plan (which was evaluated by the EU FAO FLEGT Program in Phase II) with some
actions that were generated with the IUCN EU FLEGT Project.
INAB and ICF have discussed and prepared a conceptual note for the "Exchange of experiences on
mechanisms to control cross-border trade between Honduras and Guatemala." This proposed
exchange seeks to create an opportunity for analyzing and sharing approaches to trade and control of
institutions responsible for cross-border trade as well as analyzing the legal origin of forest products.
This proposal will be presented to EU FAO FLEGT Programme in 2017.
13
In the northern part of Guatemala (Peten Department), local partner BALAM Association
met with FAO to jointly prepare a proposal aimed at reinforcing the control of illegal logging
on the borders with Belize and Honduras.
C. Madagascar
After Madagascar’s Minister in Charge of Forests expressed his government’s interest in engaging in
the FLEGT process in March 2015 to the European Commission, the EC proposed supporting FLEGT
measures in Phase III of the FAO FLEGT Programme. Madagascar was subsequently selected as a non-
VPA country, and a cooperation agreement signed in August 2016 to frame the Programme’s
intervention in the country. Madagascar’s minister has also said his government was interested in
increasing legal revenues from the forest sector and engaging in the FLEGT process to increase the
trade of legal timber with the European Union, improve forest governance, and send a strong political
signal, both within Madagascar and internationally, about the government’s commitment to curbing
illegal logging and illegal timber trade.
A team of national and international consultants conducted a scoping study and situational analysis
of forest governance in the country in October and November 2016, and results were presented at a
multi-stakeholder workshop 7 and 8 December 2016 in Antananarivo.
Stakeholder groups from civil society, the private sector and governmental agencies at the workshop
helped to define priorities for the Programme, as well as a set of governance indicators to measure
the impact of the Programme’s activities in the country.
Key recommendations from the study and the workshop include:
• Creation of a steering committee composed of representatives from government Forestry
administration, FAO representation, the EU Delegation and the FAO FLEGT Programme. Through
a multisectorial approach, the committee will provide orientation and assistance in implementing
Programme activities.
• Creation of an operational team with a focal point from the Ministry in Charge of Forests and a
FAO consultant.
• Development of a roadmap defining the governance situation in 2017 (on the basis of pre-
determined criteria); the organization of a call for proposals; and the opening of a direct-
assistance mechanism.
D. Mozambique
Mozambique is reported to be a major source country for illegal timber exports, mainly destined for
China. The government has voiced its commitment to act, and has expressed significant interest in
receiving support from the FAO FLEGT Programme. It is also collaborating with other partners,
particularly the World Bank, to develop strategies to address illegal logging. The Programme is well
placed to continue supporting the country, thanks to a recent project that supported the Mozambican
Forestry Operators Association. This project aimed to raise awareness and build the capacity of wood-
market actors in the implementation of the FLEGT Action Plan and on sustainable forestry. A
situational analysis was carried out by a team of two national consultants, with results of the
assessment to be discussed at a stakeholder meeting in February 2017. It is expected the meeting with
also establish priority areas for Programme support. FAO has been approved as implementing partner
for the Mozambique Forest Investment Project (MozFIP) of the Climate Investment Funds. This project
will see an investment of USD 44 million in the forest sector of Mozambique and will include
components related to strengthening forest governance and reducing illegal logging. FAO FLEGT
14
Programme will work closely with other FAO technical teams and the Mozambique government to
ensure that Programme activities complement other work as part of the MozFIP.
E. Peru
Peru has the second-largest area of Amazon forest after Brazil; its forests are of crucial importance
but are subject to increasing levels of deforestation and illegal logging. High-profile seizures of
shipments of illegal wood and the killing of indigenous leaders by illegal loggers have highlighted
Peru’s forest governance challenges. Further, forest governance in Peru has seen legal and
institutional changes in recent years, including a policy of decentralization under which many
functions of the forest authority have been shifted to regional governments, many of which lack
sufficient institutional capacity to implement forest control activities. Peru’s forest governance
challenges are major obstacles to trade, and Peru’s international trading partners are looking for
solutions.
Therefore, there is a significant opportunity for the Programme to support improved forest
governance in the country. A national consultant developed a forest governance situational analysis,
which included the identification of eight possible thematic areas for Programme support in the
country. A national stakeholder workshop was held in December 2016 involving stakeholders from
the public and private sectors, civil society and indigenous groups. As result, three work areas were
prioritized: 1) strengthening regional forest authorities in the management of forest resources; 2)
support for the network of indigenous forest community monitoring (Veedurías Indígenas); 3) support
for forest enterprise development. The latter aims to deal with the analysis of the value-chain and
markets of wooden doors and implementation of sustainable procurement policies for this product.
F. Philippines
The livelihoods of some 80 million people in the Philippines are highly dependent on forests and the
forest industry is an important employer. The Philippine furniture industry, which is 98 percent
comprised of SMEs, is said to provide direct employment to 2.1 million workers nationwide and
provides a further 5.4 million indirect jobs servicing the supply chain (2011).
Despite the absence of a VPA with the EU, the Philippines has initiated a number of FLEGT-related
initiatives in response to national and ASEAN level commitments and changing international market
requirements and trends. A draft National Timber Legality Assurance Standard, based on the ASEAN
criteria and Indicators for Legality of Timber, was developed in response to the ASEAN’s commitment
to a phased approach towards forest certification and the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint
(2007) promoting regional market integration. The Philippines is also developing and testing a timber
tracking system and its National Forest Certification Scheme is to be submitted to PEFC for
endorsement.
Since 2014, the Programme has provided ad hoc support to the Philippines based on requests by local
stakeholders and guided by the Technical Working Group on Wood (TWGW). This group was initiated
and chaired by the Chamber of Furniture Industries of the Philippines (CFIP) and co-chaired by the
Department of Trade and Industry-Export Marketing Bureau (DTI-EMB) with other important forest
sector stakeholders. Through an initial grant to the DTI, FAO supported development of a Guidebook
on Requirements for Chain-of-Custody (CoC) Systems on Timber and Wood products & Monitoring
Compliance by CFIP and PWPA. The guidebook is based on the existing national legal framework, the
draft National Timber Legality Assurance Standard and international CoC standards. It aims to help the
industry apply best practices on traceability and responsible sourcing of wood products; and to meet
15
the demands of buyers in regulated markets including Europe (EU Timber Regulation), the
US (Lacey Act) and Australia (Illegal Logging Prohibition Act).
FAO FLEGT also supported building the capacity of local foresters to become qualified CoC trainers or
auditors, after needs were identified including market requirements through voluntary Chain-of-
Custody (CoC) certification and the adherence to the CFI/PWPA guidance.
Based on early experiences and absent an established multi-stakeholder process such as negotiation
of a VPA with the EU, FAO decided to consolidate Programme support and ensure local ownership as
well as full stakeholder engagement going forward. FAO commissioned a situational analysis
comprised of a forest governance and a private sector assessment. This analysis contributed to a
national multi-stakeholder workshop 17-18 January 2017 where national stakeholders developed a
FLEGT country plan including priorities for Programme support, potential synergies with other
initiatives, and the responsibilities of a national multi-stakeholder platform. The analysis also provides
a basis for measuring FLEGT related progress and to assess the impact of FAO FLEGT support by 2020.
The TWGW is also providing guidance to FAO FLEGT's engagement in the Philippines and the
government has indicated the chair of the TWGW will move from DTI to DENR with the understanding
that DTI will remain a member of the TWGW and fully committed to supporting the wood sector. This
change in TWGW leadership is reflecting the anticipated widening of the group’s mandate and
therefore FAO support. The TWGW will cover domestic timber production and the primary wood
industry as well as the downstream processing industry and trade facilitation. TWGW membership is
likely to be extended to a wider stakeholders group to reflect this wider scope.
FAO has recruited a national forestry officer who, together with FAO’s PMU staff will provide
secretarial and technical support to the TWGW on behalf of FAO.
G. Uganda
Working through the Uganda FAOR, the Programme has signed an agreement with the Government
of Uganda for its participation. The EU Delegation has been told about the Programme and agreed
that it would be useful to ensure strong collaborative approaches between the FAO FLEGT Programme
and the Sawlog Production Grant Scheme Phase III (a multimillion-dollar project with multi-year
funding) to ensure synergies between private-sector incentive mechanisms and governance support
actions. FAO is also supporting the development of the Forest Investment Project in the country, which
will likely include significant components related to strengthening forest governance and reducing
illegal logging. The Programme seeks to coordinate its actions closely with this project and is working
with a consultant who will carry out the forest governance situational analysis in the country. Although
less progress has been achieved in Uganda than in the other countries, the government’s commitment
and support for the Programme is equal to that shown by other countries.
2.2.3 Observations
Positive work is progressing in initiating country processes in the seven non-VPA countries. It is
important to note that a considerable amount of time and effort is required to implement a process
of engaging country stakeholders and identify country priorities - when compared, for example, with
the level of engagement required for global calls of proposals. However, such an engagement process
ensures greater national stakeholder ownership and ensures that Programme funds are targeted
carefully so they best contribute to a systematic set of actions and thus, have a greater impact.
16
A functional governance structure for FAO FLEGT Programme interventions is crucial for the successful
implementation of in-country activities. Local technical committees comprised of FAO, the EU
Delegation and the national government will function as the decision-making body at the national
level. In most countries, EU Delegations are interested in playing an active role in such committees; in
Colombia and Peru for example, the local EU representative is actively engaged with the committee.
In some countries, however, the EU Delegation has a less direct role; in the Philippines, for example,
the EU Delegation will be an observer of a technical working group composed of national stakeholders.
The programme has sought to anchor its activities into existing processes that aim to improve the
forest governance in the countries. In Colombia, for example, most of the country activities are linked
to the framework of an existing multistakeholder initiative, the Pact for Legal Wood, in Uganda there
is a FLEGT Working Group, actions in the Philippines are organized through the Technical Working
Group on Wood, while in Guatemala the activities will contribute to the implementation of country’s
Plan of Action for the Reduction of Illegal Logging that is unde the leadership of the Forestry
Department. Support will be focused on actions that continue to promote these processes and ensure
the inclusion of diverse stakeholder groups in decision making.
A key factor in the successful implementation of country-level activities is the development of
partnerships with key donors and national actors who can contribute to improved forest governance
in the country. By working together with other actors, the Programme avoids overlaps, ensures
implemented measures are complementary, and aligns activities along a priority axis. Moreover,
partnerships help maximize the impact of Programme interventions in countries. Identifying key
partners and initiating conversations with them has been an important part of the groundwork carried
out in the countries before the stakeholder workshops.
A strong partnership emerging in the non-VPA countries is with the World Bank, which is undertaking
work through its Forest Carbon Partnership Facility or Forest Investment Program in all the targeted
non-VPA countries except the Philippines. In Mozambique and Uganda, FAO is expected to play a role
in the implementation of the Forest Investment Program, which will include significant funding for
strengthening forest governance and combatting illegal logging. FAO’s Programme is therefore ideally
placed to coordinate our actions as a part of the larger work in the country.
The FAO FLEGT Programme has also been in discussions with the World Bank Program on Forests
(PROFOR), which aims to conduct forest governance assessments in a number of countries. In
Mozambique, the FAO FLEGT Governance Baseline Assessment will build on the assessment carried
out by PROFOR. Other emerging partnerships include those with IUCN in Guatemala, the World
Resources Initiative (WRI) in Peru and Guatemala, and GIZ in Colombia and the Philippines. Important
synergies are also emerging with other FAO projects, such as the Sawlog Production Grant Scheme in
Guatemala, FFF and UN-REDD; in Uganda, linkages between the Sawlog Production Grant Scheme and
the FAO FLEGT Programme will be essential (both are funded by the EU).
As noted in Table 5, six situation analyses have already been carried out and are now being finalized
and will be translated into English. These will then be circulated among the Steering Committee
members. Four stakeholder workshops have been held with the rest scheduled to take place in the
first quarter of 2017. Most countries are moving to the stage of project development based on the
defined priority areas, and projects will be funded either through direct-assistance requests or by
soliciting service providers through tenders (calls for proposals). As the project implementation kicks
off, periodic stakeholder meetings will be held to review activities and adjust the plans as necessary.
17
This allows the implementation of a stakeholder-driven, deliberative process with the
objective of strengthening the forest governance in the non-VPA countries.
2.3 Private sector
2.3.1 Implementation of the operational strategy
During the current reporting period, activities are consistent with the private sector strategy to
endorsed in the programme inception report. The strategy guides the methods used to identify
targeted support for micro-, small- and medium-sized producers and processors (SMEs) and
complements to the support already identified through the calls for proposals.
Objectives of the Programme’s Private Sector Strategy include:
• Output 3.1: private sector composition, incentives and market dynamics are better understood;
• Output 3.2: private-sector stakeholders understand obligations for legal compliance and the
demands that are influencing markets;
• Output 3.3: policies and legal frameworks are reviewed and revised to promote fair access to
forest resources and increase productive and decent employment in the forest sector as an engine
for poverty reduction;
• Output 3.4: private-sector stakeholders have the skills to comply with legal frameworks and
access markets.
Within this context, it is important to note that the Programme is operating under several explicit
assumptions that require both government and the private sector to actively participate (theory of
change):
• The demand-side incentive will continue to strengthen – i.e. law enforcement of the EUTR, Lacey
Act, Australian Illegal Logging Prohibition Act and additional countries on board including China,
Japan, South Korea will all open business transactions to greater scrutiny, thereby stimulating
private-sector improvements in practices.
• National level public procurement policies can be adopted and law enforcement can work – the
Programme will support this, but governments must be on board.
• Business-side dialogue and resulting agreements will lead to a strong business case for “going
legal”. This also encompasses the assumption that greater involvement of the private sector in
decision-making will result in regulation that companies will adopt.
• Business-to-business communication and private procurement policies will result in greater
uptake than traditional development communication.
• Formalizing the informal sector will improve SFM, revenue capture, job creation and legality at
the national level, and strengthening interaction through federations and associations will provide
a mechanism for reaching this sector.
The desired result is described by outcome three under FAO FLEGT Phase III work: The capacity of the
private sector to participate in the production, marketing and trade of legal timber has increased. In
other words, the Programme seeks to improve the enabling conditions under which the private sector
operates within the timber industry, to promote cultural change within global, regional and national
forest products markets, whereby legal and transparent operation is the norm. Efforts will be focused
on those countries agreed as priorities during the inception period of FAO FLEGT Phase III operations,
18
at both supply and demand side. Programme support to EUTR implementation in EU countries is
primarily conducted through the partnership with the Global Timber Forum (GTF).
The Programme aims to develop activities in the following areas, to increase the benefits accruing to
the private sector from legal production and access to markets for legal products:
• understand trends and increase demand for legal timber in both domestic and international
markets;
• support legal and regulatory reform that does not discriminate against SMEs and enables them to
access legality processes;
• pilot incentives for legal production, such as procurement policies in both the public and private
sectors;
• build trust between the private sector and regulatory bodies to encourage its inputs to the design
of legal reform and verification procedures;
• importantly, develop skills among private-sector actors so they:
➢ are familiar with local and international legal requirements and can comply with these,
including, where applicable, the TLAS,
➢ can form and maintain effective groupings, as needed,
➢ can access market tools, including finance and production training, to remain competitive in
their field.
To this end, the Programme is conducting rapid assessments of the needs and opportunities within
the private sector in targeted countries where the Programme is working, with a focus on the roles
and challenges of SMEs. These rapid assessments are key to generating important in-country
intelligence in a short time frame (2–3 months) to identify areas needing attention and likely strategic
partners and guide FAO FLEGT Programme support in the longer term.
During the current reporting period, rapid assessments began in nine countries, with preliminary
results completed three countries:
• Democratic Republic of the Congo (in process)
• Côte d’Ivoire (in process)
• Cameroon (results under review)
• Ghana (in process)
• Colombia (results under review)
• Guatemala (in process)
• Peru (in process)
• Honduras (in process)
• Philippines (results under review)
Further rapid assessments are scheduled to begin in 2017 in the following six countries: Indonesia,
Liberia, Madagascar, Mozambique, Uganda and Viet Nam.
Assessment findings are being validated by in-country stakeholders and will be made available
publicly. It’s expected they will result in direct-assistance requests and concept notes for future
projects, research and information-sharing activities aligned with the priorities identified through the
assessments. Relationships are being developed in each country through this work with new strategic
partners, such as federations and associations that the Programme has not previously supported,
other donors, and new partners in the area of developing financial products for SMEs and production
training.
19
The rapid assessments of private sector needs in non-VPA countries has been designed to
overlap with start-up of activities so that recommendations are incorporated into country
plans for Programme assistance.
In addition to the countries noted above, EFI Asia in the next 12 months is conducting an extensive,
detailed assessment of SMEs in the forest sector in the following countries of the Mekong subregion:
Lao People’s Democratic Republic; Myanmar; Thailand; Viet Nam.
The FAO FLEGT Programme and EFI intend further coordination throughout 2017 so findings from the
EFI-led study will help to identify where FAO support to country partners will be most effective, and
stimulate corresponding demand.
2.3.2 Results
Preliminary findings from the country-level assessments show the predominance of small- and
medium-sized enterprises in production of timber and forest products, with common difficulties in
accessing legal supply of timber. The training and financial needs associated with moving informal
small enterprises to formal incorporation must be reviewed in each situation, but is widely considered
a significant barrier by both private sector and government stakeholders, and will take time to
overcome. In addition, due to loss of natural forest cover and difficulty in controlling these sources,
forest sectors across all regions are increasingly looking at plantation forest to create alternative long-
term supply of raw material. This focus can be a valuable impetus to incentivize small growers and
rural communities to formalize production, including agro-forestry practices, and create greater
income options. There are also positive indications of interest in strengthening relationships within
the private sector, including creating or joining associations to access training and other resources.
Positive trends within larger timber industry actors include the increased development of traceability
systems, often driven by participation in third-party systems. It is interesting to observe that a number
of governments in non-VPA countries where the Programme is active, are considering national legality
and traceability systems similarly guided by experience with voluntary standards.
While countries face many common issues, each has its own specific needs which are explored in more
detail as findings are validated in-country and reports finalized. The following summarizes country-
level findings, specific to potential FAO FLEGT action during 2017, based on draft final reports or
progress reports where available:
Ghana: Focused support to the private sector is strategically important to keep the implementation
of the VPA on track in 2017. In particular, associations are shown as struggling to maintain relevance
and provide value to their members, particularly SMEs, in a strongly competitive domestic market
with timber prices dropping. Significant recent developments include the creation of a trading
association (DOLTA); a millers association (DOLMAG); and a trade network (DOTTNET), directed at
formalizing this sector through training and market opportunity. An increasing number of informal
chainsaw operators have transitioned to licensed artisanal millers, and pilot cases conducted to
demonstrate how access to legal timber supply can be created. These innovative trends need
thoughtful support.
Cameroon: The range of private-sector operators in Cameroon’s forest sector is highly diversified,
arguably more than in other forested countries of the Congo Basin, ranging from informal micro-
enterprises to large industry exporting to international markets. Almost half of exported timber should
soon be traceable through private chain of custody initiatives. At the other extreme, community
20
enterprises supplying domestic markets have little or no access to guidance for compliance with
management or traceability standards. With limited government support for the VPA at present,
private-sector actors that can demonstrate compliance through third-party systems are eager to
differentiate themselves and maintain market position. FAO FLEGT interventions to support
Cameroon’s private sector in 2017 will be assessed based on this review and ongoing dialogue with
the EC and partners, to identify a route forward in the context of forest governance support as a
whole.
Colombia: The forest sector in Colombia is relatively sophisticated with strong domestic demand for
construction, furniture, plywood and other value-added forest products. Imports play an important
role and affect the competitiveness of domestic production. Access to legal primary material is
increasingly challenging, particularly species and products from natural forests, and is creating
alarming pressure on existing forest resources. As a result of the peace process, population migration
into previously undeveloped forest areas is increasing, while market dynamics developed during the
conflict period result in persistent regions of high risk for illegal activity which are historically and
politically challenging to address. Private sector associations are relatively strong but address only a
small portion of the sector at present. There is potential to bring support to a larger number of SMEs
through the creation of clusters around specific products (i.e. furniture) across the major forest
producing regions, combining efforts to increase the offer of legal products and pilot the creation of
new financial tools for SMEs. In addition, interest exists in pilot efforts to demonstrate the potential
of plantation sources, particularly agroforestry community and small producers, to relieve pressure
on natural forests and formally incorporate rural communities into legal forest production sector.
Philippines: There is a strong furniture and handicraft sector in the Philippines, but availability of raw
material is a significant concern of private sector and government alike. Plantation efforts are plagued
by lack of capacity to monitor their management and production, which contributes to a lack of
transparency in the sector. The country imports a significant proportion of logs (greater than domestic
production) and processed products (similar volume to domestic production), which presents specific
challenges and opportunities for improving legality in the sector. Traceability within the production
chain urgently needs strengthening, with training on standards and practices in development. There
appears to be growing interest in, and market potential for, improving domestic processing which
creates the opportunity for incorporating legal practices in outreach and training efforts by the
government.
In addition to targeted assistance resulting from this information gathering, all calls for proposals in
Phase III are separated into two thematic lots (VPA implementation, and private-sector). This enables
proponents to specify whether their support is directed towards the private sector and was designed
to stimulate greater private-sector response.
To date the Programme is supporting 29 projects with the goal of “support to private sector”, which
can be grouped into general thematic areas (Table 6). The majority of projects address the training
needs of private-sector actors with regards to understanding and complying with legality
requirements, but we anticipate requests in more technical aspects to increase as Phase III is
implemented, due to increased awareness of challenges and opportunities in each country.
21
Table 6. Projects addressing private sector needs by region and thematic area – in implementation
Thematic
area
Regions Co
mm
un
itie
s, in
dig
eno
us
gro
up
s, S
ME
en
gage
men
t
Info
rmat
ion
exc
han
ge,
less
on
s le
arn
ed
Ne
eds
asse
ssm
ent
Par
tner
ship
, co
alit
ion
bu
ildin
g
Po
licy
def
init
ion
, rev
isio
n,
com
plia
nce
Rai
sin
g aw
aren
ess,
cap
acit
y d
evel
op
men
t
Stu
die
s
Trac
eab
ility
Africa 4 1 1 4 5 2
Asia 2 2 1 1
Latin America 3 1
Global initiatives 1 1
Total 29
Global initiatives: The FAO FLEGT Programme began a significant partnership to support private-
sector interests worldwide, with a two-year letter of agreement with the Global Timber Forum (GTF)
in September 2016. The GTF brings together nationally and regionally focused associations
representing the private-sector forest-product trade including producers, processors and consumers
spanning key importing and producing regions. With funding from the Programme, the GTF will
develop its mandate agreed at a meeting of the GTF board in Rome May 2016 and will continue serving
as a global resource for market information and legality compliance. It will deliver communication
training to associations in a minimum of 11 countries, including China, Guatemala, Indonesia,
Myanmar and Peru, and in West and Central Africa.
Through the GTF, business-to-business support is delivered in target countries by developing
institutional partnerships at the national, regional and global levels, and working through federations
or associations which create greater access to the private sector and particularly to SMEs. Private
sector federations have requested regional workshops, to provide the opportunity to share
experience, identify common needs and maximize their collaboration by developing a common
strategy and joint actions. The FAO FLEGT Programme and GTF are currently developing the terms of
reference for such events and anticipate holding them throughout the first half of 2017.
Specific examples of GTF’s work during this reporting period include:
• a trade mission to Ghana to bring businesses together regarding current understanding and
future communication needs in preparation for a FLEGT license; organized in collaboration
with the UK Timber Trade Federation (UKTTF) and EFI;
• further trade missions prioritized for Guatemala, Indonesia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea,
Peru, Liberia and Central Africa in the next 12 months;
• conducting a perception survey with European buyers in response to current challenge to the
legality of timber from Myanmar. The survey will help identify what measures, at both supply
and demand side, would be most effective to restore confidence in future imports from this
country;
• beginning design of SME-specific needs assessments in priority countries and regions, to build
on work to date and ensure support is targeted at private-sector actors who need it most. An
22
anticipated eight surveys to be conducted in 2017, through associations in the priority
countries, and in collaboration with FAO FLEGT and partners WRI;
• convening task forces/temporary technical groups as needed, led by a GTF board member and
independent experts, to identify action on topical issues. Three such tasks forces initiated
during 2016 on aligning data analysis methodology on risk in timber trade flow; strengthening
links to Chinese federations to align industry and government guidance to private sector;
guidance on product quality standards compliance for European markets.
Results by Output area:
Developments have been realized against the five outputs for Outcome 3 as defined in the programme
logical framework: “The capacity of the private sector to participate in the production, marketing and
trade of legal timber has increased”. These developments are summarized below for each of the five
outputs.
Output 3.1: Private-sector composition, incentives and market dynamics are better understood.
The rapid assessments of opportunities and needs of the private sector, initiated in nine countries to
date, directly address this output; they will provide concise information and guidance for the
Programme by the first quarter of 2017. The Programme’s strengthening of its relationships with
partners worldwide, including those built with associations through the GTF, contribute continuously
to this output. The Programme is also involved in discussions on the role of voluntary certification and
ways in which certification requirements can align with legality compliance in countries where this
arises as an opportunity, and will explore options for supporting pilot initiatives in this regard.
Output 3.2: Private-sector stakeholders understand obligations for legal compliance and the demands
that are influencing markets. A significant achievement towards this output to date is the finalization
of the two-year agreement with the GTF, which will facilitate the provision of direct support to private-
sector associations. Through the GTF, and as a result of findings from the rapid assessments, the
Programme will support targeted training for the private sector through appropriate channels in each
country.
In Côte d’Ivoire, AVSI will promote a better participation of SMEs and large scale enterprises in the
VPA negotiation process and will provide trainings on legal obligations and best practices at the
national and international levels.
Output 3.3: Policies and legal frameworks are reviewed and revised to promote fair access to forest
resources and increase productive and decent employment in the forest sector as an engine for
poverty reduction. Most Programme projects include an element concerning understanding and
addressing policy and legal issues that hinder the efficiency of the private sector. For example, several
projects in Ghana are designed to directly address issues in the domestic market; these include
collaborative approaches between government, the private sector and NGOs, and a specific project
that will seek to understand and share lessons on possible changes in procurement policies to ensure
greater demand for demonstrated legal timber in the domestic market. This work is being organized
as a regional approach in Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia.
In Vietnam, a project implemented by IPSARD will look at the importance and legality surrounding
“Scattered Trees”, as a timber source directly related to households and livelihoods. The results of this
project is intended to inform the TLAS development.
23
In Indonesia, Bioma is promoting further expansion of SVLK certification of Village
Community Forestry. This project will look at equitable benefit sharing and lessons learned
will be submitted to the Joint Implementation Committee.
In Cameroon, SAILD is working on the TLAS development by testing the system in the Community
Forest context.
Output 3.4: Private-sector stakeholders have the skills to comply with legal frameworks and access
markets. As noted for output 3.2, the Programme has developed partnerships that will better channel
efforts to provide training directly to the private sector. This has been done in Guyana through an
initiative with the Forest Training Institute, which is providing targeted training to small loggers’
associations in the Upper Berbice region.
In Malaysia, the Sabah Forest Department (SFD) is working on Sabah TLAS compliance and CoC training
for SMEs and developing a communications strategy to enable clear and consistent messages for both
national and international audiences.
In Vietnam, CED will work with five PS associations and Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry
to help prepare SMEs for TLAS implementation and international market requirements.
The union GFBC initiated a project to support pilot enterprises in implementing traceability
requirements included in the TLAS. A bar codes system using smartphone technology will be tested
and the results will be presented to the JIC. A web-based platform will be developed to make the
information on the origin of the products available in the public domain.
Output 3.5: Private-sector stakeholders are empowered to self-organize and to participate in
governance processes. The skills development activities conducted as part of output 3.4 will include
institutional strengthening, as needed. The Programme is also supporting the private sector to
participate more directly in governance dialogues at the national level. In Cameroon, several projects
support a better integration of SMEs and artisans in the VPA discussions and in the legal timber value
chain (ASD, FECAPROBOIS and FFE projects).
2.3.3 Reflections from this reporting period
The FAO FLEGT Programme recognizes the efforts made in developing voluntary initiatives to
demonstrate legality and sustainability, particularly achievement of certification to internationally
recognized standards, such as those of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or the Programme for the
Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). The role of voluntary certification in helping actors in the
forest production value chain to demonstrate legality and to implement national-level TLAS is
increasing coming to the fore - particularly in Africa and Latin America, where voluntary certification
has had most traction to date among countries pursuing VPAs.
Efforts to develop synergies and compatibility between VPA TLASs and voluntary certification were
discussed in a side event during Asia-Pacific Forestry Week in February 2016 on emerging governance
mechanisms in the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). This resulted in the development
of a concept note on possible FAO regional support for improving the compatibility of, and synergies
between, forestry standards and conformance infrastructure in the ASEAN region. The mechanisms
for the possible implementation of this regional support will be fleshed out in coming months in
consultation with the ASEAN Expert Group–Forest Product Development. The Responsible Asia
24
Forestry and Trade Program (RAFT), GIZ and EFI have all expressed interest in supporting or
complementing this initiative.
The following synergies are emerging as priorities:
• Voluntary certification as a tool for streamlining legality verification and promoting private-
sector ownership of efforts to achieve legality compliance while also gaining voluntary market
access.
• Programme support for innovative pilot projects in the areas of:
➢ risk-related verification of legal compliance and the use of voluntary certification tools
to increase private-sector engagement with regulatory processes;
➢ policies on legal timber procurement, at national/sub-national level and within
private sector supply chains, where opportunities arise in 2017; and
➢ development of adequate financial tools for small and medium enterprises – this is
still incipient, but the partnership with GTF may encourage it.
2.4 Challenges encountered
With the implementation of any large programme covering 23 countries challenges arise and need to
be addressed. Duruing 2016, two main challenges have emerged.
GCP Agreements. Periodically FAO reviews and updates the GCP Agreements between projects and
participating countries. Through this dialogue FAO and the governments of Myanmar, Indonesia and
Vietnam have started a process to review and agree on formal operating procedures in the countries.
The host countries have requested a stronger role in the identification of project actions and a greater
understanding of reporting requirements and programme operations. The end result will be finalized
in early 2017, but in the meantime activities such as the review of proposals in the countries have
been put on hold as a courtesy to the governments. It is anticipated that there will be increased
government participation in review of projects (including an eventual no-objection to funding actions)
as well as possibly increased local stakeholder vetting through FLEGT related committees. While this
may temporarily slow down current processes, in the medium to longer term the overall ownership
of the programme in these countries will be strengthened.
Targeting calls for proposals. The primary programme activity is to provide support to stakeholders
through calls for proposals and direct assistance mechanisms. This has worked very well over the
course of the programme. Periodically the steering committee has agreed to review the process and
consider amending the mechanism or refocusing a call for proposals to a specific theme or other
modification. The Expert Panel members noted that overall proposal quality in the last round was
somewhat weaker than previous rounds and the PMU recognized that it is occasionally difficult to get
a small number of proposals to target the specific actions that would move the VPA processes forward
or increase impact. Therefore, the PMU recommends to the Steering Committee that the 2017 Call
for Proposals should be targeted at 2-3 actions defined in each country that would address the specific
needs of the respective VPA processes. For example, the results of a JIC meeting could be reviewed
for several actions that could be developed into individual Lots in the Call for Proposal that would be
advertised in that country (also assuming input from the JIC members, other key stakeholders or
partners, such as EFI).
25
2.5 Communication activities
2.5.1 Strategy
Phase III was launched in May 2016, moving the Programme’s communication efforts from basic
awareness-raising towards lesson-gathering and the collation of best practices. Although Phase III will
continue with activities related to routine information and awareness-raising - particularly with regard
to the private sector - greater emphasis has already been placed on learning lessons and knowledge
generation. Key steps have been taken to address the following four major areas of work identified in
the 2015–2020 work plan: lesson-learning; storytelling; organizing knowledge-sharing fora; media
engagement.
Several communication measures were taken in 2016. This section outlines some of the events,
visibility actions, lesson-learning tools and publications of the past year. Several meetings are
mentioned because they are important for the record, FAO may have only participated or more fully
sponsored these workshops-meetings.
2.5.2 Workshops-Meetings
16th Congo Basin Forest Partnership Meeting of Parties (MoP) 21-26 November 2016; Kigali,
Rwanda
In collaboration with the Association Technique Internationale des Bois Tropicaux (ATIBT) and the
European Commission, the Programme co-organised a thematic side event on sustainable economic
development and the private sector. The event focused on private certification of forest operators,
market challenges in the timber trade, and integrating national political strategies with viable forestry
economies, among other topics. More than 500 representatives from governments, donor bodies,
intergovernmental organizations, NGOs, and the private sector attended the week-long meeting in
Kigali. This meeting also provided an opportunity for the presentation and dissemination of a recent
publication on traceability of timber from forest to consumer.
Fifth sub-Regional Training Workshop on Timber Legality Assurance
The FAO participated in the fifth sub-Regional Training Workshop on Timber Legality Assurance
organized in Indonesia in October 2016 by ASEAN and EFI with objectives including the exchange of
practical experience with Indonesia on its arrangements for VPA implementation as well as
mechanisms and vehicles for taking the timber legality assurance “live”. Other objectives included the
exchange of progress reports with other ASEAN member States (AMS) on ensuring and documenting
timber legality, increasing multi-stakeholder collaboration amongst AMS on forestry issues,
contributing to the development of an ASEAN position on timber legality and associated trade; and to
exchange views and ideas on synergies between timber legality assurance and certification.
The workshop was agreed to by the 15th ASEAN Working Group on a Pan-ASEAN Timber Certification
and the 19th Meeting of ASEAN Senior Officials on Forestry (ASOF) and included Forestry officials from
Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam. Also
included were representatives from the private sector and civil society organizations (CSOs) involved
in VPA processes.
A presentation by FAO’s Bruno Cammaert on “Synergies between ASEAN MS timber legality
approaches and forest certification systems” received positive feedback and raised questions that
26
showed a general lack of detailed understanding of Voluntary Certification mechanisms by
stakeholders involved in developing regulatory Legality Verification.
This event was important because it demonstrates the evolving common perspectives in the
movement towards demonstrating timber legality at the national level as well as moving as a region
towards a common philosophy in demonstrating legality collectively – interestingly, a number of tools
were presented that could support governments move in this direction.
Forest Concessions Initiative, Brazil
FAO, the International Tropical Timber Organization, the Brazilian Forest Service, the Centre de
Coopération International en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (CIRAD) and the Center
for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) last year launched an initiative to:
• explore the future development of tropical forest concessions and their potential as
instruments to mainstream sustainable forest management and to increase forest
contributions to socioeconomic development, biodiversity conservation and carbon
sequestration;
• propose alternative models to (traditional) concession systems that are sensitive to the needs
of local people, allow operators to make reasonable profits, and provide stable and attractive
employment.
This initiative is relevant to a number of ongoing processes, such as strategies and action plans for
Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+), efforts to develop
concession models that facilitate or enable ease of legal compliance, and to leverage private
investments in sustainable forest management.
An intense and productive international workshop held in Porto Velho in the Brazilian Amazon in
September 2016 agreed that next steps in the framework of the Forest Concessions Initiative should
include development of updated guidelines for effective management of public production forests in
tropical countries through forest concessions in the context of Agenda 2030. These guidelines would
be aimed at advising policy makers, forest entrepreneurs and forest communities, with a focus on
forest management, governance, economic, environmental and social aspects of forest concessions,
including good practices and innovative approaches. FAO and partners, including PROFOR, are ready
to work with governments in the development of this product through a consultative process to take
place during 2017.
Participants also agreed on the need for creation of a community of practice or network of
practitioners and policy-makers to regularly share experiences, best practices and specific actions
under the broad theme of concessions, concession compliance and other arrangements for managing
production of public forests. FAO will explore the best instruments to support this continuing
exchange.
Side-event at the 23rd session of the FAO Committee on Forestry: FLEGT & UN-REDD+ working
together to strengthen forest governance and mitigate climate change
FAO FLEGT and UN-REDD programmes jointly presented case studies from Côte d’Ivoire, Honduras
and Viet Nam at this event in July 2016, and considered how forests are integrated successfully into
country climate-action plans through a coordinated approach. Concrete ideas emerged on how the
programmes can join forces to strengthen forest governance and limit the effects of climate change.
Collaboration by stakeholders involved in REDD+ and FLEGT can significantly and sustainably
27
strengthen the mitigation potential of the forest sector and enable effective responses to
the vectors of low forest governance.
Although the session was designed as an opportunity for information exchange, it produced clear
findings that joint FLEGT and REDD+ work can contribute significantly to actions that mitigate climate
change when empowered local communities and indigenous groups bring their strong perspectives
and the capacity to self-inform and provide constructive policy direction. Governments and support
programmes could benefit significantly from further exploring collaborative opportunities to address
higher-level issues, such as climate change.
Second Regional Dialogue on Preventing Illegal Logging and Trade of Siamese Rosewood
At the Second Regional Dialogue on Preventing Illegal Logging and Trade of Siamese Rosewood in April
2016, range countries presented national level actions and commitments to reducing the illegal trade
of Siamese Rosewood and the 2014 action plan was also updated. Sessions included representatives
from inter-government agencies and non-governmental organizations such as ASEAN-WEN, CITES,
EIA, FAO, Freeland, INTERPOL, ITTO, IUCN, TRAFFIC, and WWF.
As the issue of illegal logging and trafficking of Siamese rosewood reaches critical levels, drastic
measures were proposed; for example, host country Thailand suggested measures that would
demand almost all Siamese Rosewood - including semi-finished products and furniture – obtain a
CITES permit for trade (as opposed to only logs, sawn wood and veneer when listed under annotation
5).
Some range countries i.e. Cambodia, China, Vietnam and Thailand also agreed that better cross-border
cooperation and collaboration, capacity building, increased manpower and institutional support are
needed to deal with the complexity of illegal cutting and trading of the species. Countries also pledged
to increase the cooperation between the relevant parties to facilitate intelligence-led investigations
to help identify and interdict major criminals.
In 2017, FAO FLEGT will continue to work with and support DNP to address related issues including
organizing the third Regional Dialogue on Preventing Illegal Logging and Trade of Siamese Rosewood
planned for March 2017.
Launch of Phase II of the PACTO Legale Colombia
The instruments of the new phase of the Pact for Legal Timber were presented in Colombia in April
2016 with the aim of ensuring that harvested, marketed and used timber comes only from legal
sources. The pact is valid for two years, from 2016 to 2018, and its implementation is led by Colombia’s
Ministry of Environment, Housing and Territorial Development. The launch event featured the
participation of Robert Simpson, who visited Colombia to monitor the progress of Programme efforts
on forest governance in the country.
In the new phase of the Pact for Legal Timber, digital applications called “Timber species” and
“Cubimadera” serve as control and surveillance measures. Protocols for tracking and monitoring
forest harvesting, transport and processing will be followed by the administration and management
as part of efforts to achieve sustainable forest management (SFM) in the country. The protocols, which
also aim to ensure that the country exports only legally harvested and processed timber; were
negotiated by a panel of government officials and representatives of the private sector, civil society
and indigenous peoples.
28
Cameroon Regional Forest Governance Forum
Cameroon’s Centre for International Development and Training (CIDT), with co-funding from the
Programme, led the March 2016 forum “Creating space for stakeholder participation in forest
governance.” It recommended continued strengthening of the contribution by non-state actors,
indigenous peoples and local communities towards improving forest governance and SFM in the
Congo Basin and beyond. This should be done through monitoring forest governance and forest land-
use change, informing relevant processes (particularly FLEGT and REDD+), and contributing to
effective responses from law enforcement and policy-making agencies. It also recommended engaging
the private sector and domestic market actors in national processes that directly affect their actions
and the livelihoods of those who depend on forests.
Asia-Pacific Forestry Week
The FAO FLEGT Programme co-organized a side-event at Asia-Pacific Forestry Week in February 2016
under Stream 1, “Pathways to Prosperity: Future Trade and Markets” working with RAFT, the EU FLEGT
Facility, and EFI. Some 75 participants (including 25 women) were involved, representing small forest
enterprises, government institutions, private-sector associations, certification bodies, NGOs,
international organizations and institutions involved in the design and implementation of legality
verification and certification systems and schemes.
The event sought to better understand and communicate challenges faced by small forest enterprises
in participating in the legal and sustainable wood-product trade and to identify potential tools and
models that can empower small forest enterprises to overcome and remove these barriers.
Sessions provided an overview of forest enterprises in the Mekong subregion and Asia in general;
shared experiences and perspectives on smallholder needs and challenges; and viewed opportunities
and potential solutions to challenges faced by small forest enterprises.
A second side event organized by ASEAN, the FSC, the PEFC and the FAO FLEGT Programme considered
“Emerging governance mechanisms in ASEAN: supporting improved standards and conformance
infrastructure” for forest-sector legality and sustainability initiatives. Subsequently, FAO developed a
concept note on possible regional support to improve the compatibility of and synergies between
forestry standards and conformance infrastructure in the ASEAN region.
The ASEAN Senior Officials on Forestry meeting in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic in August
2016 recommended that FAO develop a full proposal to support FLEGT implementation in ASEAN
member states, taking into account the ASEAN Strategic Plan of Action for Food, Agriculture and
Forestry (2016–2025) and the Work Plan for FLEG in ASEAN (2016–2025). The mechanisms for
implementing this regional support will be fleshed out in coming months in consultation with the
ASEAN Expert Group on Forest Product Development. RAFT, GIZ and EFI have expressed interest in
supporting or complementing this initiative.
29
2.5.3 Other visibility actions
Website
The new FAO FLEGT Programme website was launched in May 2016, congruent with the launch of
Phase III of the Programme. Six projects from Phase II were highlighted on the site and to complement
the Phase III focus on sharing lessons learned and project successes, the new website will continue to
regularly showcase stories from the field to increase project visibility. The news and events section of
the website is updated weekly to increase search engine optimization and the relevance of the FAO
FLEGT Programme URL. In collaboration with FAO’s Office for Corporate Communication, the website
has been given a refreshed look and user-friendly element.
In collaboration with EFI’s “map of projects” portal, the FAO FLEGT Programme uploaded all of its
Phase II projects to the interactive map. The Programme supported EFI in its launch of the new “social
features” forum on its website by being among the first to participate in posting to their “social wall”
in September 2016.
FLEGT-licensed timber
Several media products were issued in September 2016 to heighten visibility around the world’s first
FLEGT license, which was issued in Indonesia. A press release congratulating the Government of
Indonesia was posted on the FAO corporate website homepage, the FAO FLEGT homepage and the
EFI website on 15 September. Two infographics were produced to provide an overview of the FLEGT
Action Plan; one designed to increase awareness among the general public and the second created
for a more technically informed audience in timber-producing countries. As well, a radio interview was
aired in English, French and Spanish, and an op-ed by Robert Simpson was published in four
international news outlets.
Printed visibility materials
Printed materials (folders, flyers, notebooks, booklets) were displayed and shared with all participants
at the FLEGT and REDD+ side event during the 23rd session of the FAO Committee on Forestry (see
above.) The flyers promoted the launch of Phase III of the FAO FLEGT Programme via key questions
and answers. A booklet explaining synergies between FLEGT and REDD+, and how the two approaches
can work together, was also displayed, and a spiral notebook was given out. A USB stick containing
materials generated by the Programme is in production.
All projects implemented under the Programme are required, by contract, to undertake visibility
actions consistent with the policies of FAO and Programme donors. A summary of project-level
visibility actions will be provided periodically to the Steering Committee.
UN-REDD FLEGT publication
A recent issue of FAO’s forestry journal, Unasylva - which has a wide audience - featured the article
“FLEGT REDD+ synergies: case studies on coordinated climate action” (Unasylva 246, Vol. 67). The
article illustrates these synergies and concludes that both initiatives promote sustainable forest
management, emphasize the essential role of forest governance in their success, and provide
incentive-based mechanisms for reducing forest degradation and loss. REDD+ incentivizes emission
reductions from an agreed baseline level, and FLEGT offers incentives in the form of market access,
which is conditional on inclusive institutional and legal reform processes.
30
REDD+ and FLEGT share a number of work areas that address the underlying causes of forest
degradation and loss, such as (improving) stakeholder participation, capacity-building and awareness-
raising; clarification of tenure rights, review and revision of legal frameworks; and private-sector
engagement. Many of these work areas are also essential parts of national forest policy planning
processes and are vital for long-term investment and growth. In addressing underlying issues, FLEGT
and REDD+ can work together to ensure that a global incentive structure is in place to make SFM an
economically viable and attractive land-use option that helps mitigate climate change and ensures
that forests continue to provide goods and services essential for livelihoods. SFM is championed
consistently through voluntary certification schemes, but it is increasingly clear that no single initiative
can achieve the global impact needed to reduce forest degradation and loss and mitigate climate
change.
Despite the commonalities, few countries have capitalized on the synergies between the REDD+ and
FLEGT mechanisms. True and meaningful recognition of the ways in which REDD+ and FLEGT
complement each other in practice is needed. The Unasylva article looks at various international
initiatives working to mitigate climate change, particularly through forest governance support
(“FLEGT-related”) and climate-change mitigation (“REDD+-related”), and it presents case studies from
Côte d’Ivoire, Honduras and Viet Nam on how forests are being integrated into country climate action
plans through coordinated interventions.
Traceability: a management tool for enterprises and governments
In implementing the FLEGT Action Plan, FAO has supported the development of traceability systems
in several countries at the request of various stakeholders (government agencies, private enterprises,
and local groups.) A sample of these initiatives is presented in this publication, which was launched
at the Congo Basin Partnership meeting in Rwanda in November. This helps to show the advantages
of efficient traceability that takes account of the user’s aim and the environment in which the system
will be operating. It is intended not only for the managers of large-scale enterprises, but also for
managers of community forests and for forest service officers with the task of developing traceability
systems suited to their particular needs.
White paper on traceability
A forthcoming “white paper” led by FAO with significant input from EFI, is moving forward with new
momentum, thanks to renewed interest in traceability systems. This is a positive indication of the
continued relevance of the subject matter.
State of the Timber sector in Cameroon
This report not only presents important information on the timber sector but also represents a critical
step towards improved governance and provides a unique opportunity for greater transparency in the
management of forests in Cameroon. It can also serve as a model of transparency for other countries
seeking to improve their forest management practices.
A joint publication from MINFOF/CIFOR/FAO, it draws on 2015 data related to production, allocations,
management, processing, taxation, and other issues as stipulated in the Annex VII of the VPA. The
report is also meant to be complementary to the database on the VPA Internet site (www.
apvcameroun.cm), providing the reader with a more thorough analysis of the information presented
on the website.
31
The ‘State of the Timber sector 2015’ provides a baseline of important information on the
sector, such as production, allocations, management, processing, and taxation. This
represents a major step towards improved governance and provides a unique opportunity for the
government of Cameroon to better satisfy the pressing demands of national and international public
opinion for greater transparency in the management of its forests.
This initiative will be replicated in CAR, Liberia and Ghana.
The report is also an important tool providing forest managers and politicians access to verified, up-
to-date information that can be used to support decisions. Further, Annex VII can play an important
role in international trade by providing information that facilitates access to rule-bound markets –
increasingly careful about the legal origins of supplies - for Cameroonian timber products.
Learning Agenda
A final report by the Project Management Unit (PMU) on lessons learned in Phase II, which concluded
at the end of October, should be available to the Steering Committee by the end of April. The objective
of the work is to analyze these lessons learned but also include a strong forward-looking component
by developing recommendations for work under Phase III on some key thematic areas. In addition to
the thematic analysis of lessons learned, the report will also analyze where FAO-FLEGT projects have
been the most “transformative” and explain why.
Expected outputs include:
• quantifiable analysis of phase II outputs (along logical framework and key thematic areas)
• evaluation of lessons learned (outcome level);
• policy recommendations for Phase III on key thematic areas;
• final report Phase II (integrating above aspects);
• two to three policy briefs on key thematic areas (to be defined).
The analysis will be comprehensive, looking at all projects of Phase II, and key thematic areas will be
identified to develop policy recommendations for Phase III. These could include: independent
monitoring, traceability, SME support, and multi-stakeholder processes. A Phase II “lessons learned”
event is being considered for May/June 2017 with FAO regional representatives and key stakeholders
(European Commission, Steering Committee members, EFI etc.).
Planning for a global FLEGT Symposium in 2017, aimed at facilitating exchanges among FLEGT
practitioners and disseminating lessons learned among regions, began last year and the concept was
presented to the SC. However, with the EC now planning a similar global event for mid-2017, the FLEGT
Symposium has been put on hold for a future consideration.
2.5.4 Gender
The FAO FLEGT Programme has taken steps towards improving gender elements throughout its work.
These elements include:
• creation of the Programme’s first gender strategy;
• development of four new gender indicators in the monitoring and evaluation framework, a
required gender component in the 2016 call for proposals;
• inclusion of a gender annex in the Programme’s guidelines for submission of a full proposal.
Although a foundation for FLEGT’s gender-related activities has been created, much work remains.
The next steps are designed to move the Programme from theory to practice, by improving overall
32
gender mainstreaming efforts. Three areas will be targeted to bridge this gap: sex-disaggregated data
collection, gender mainstreaming activities, and capacity building.
Sex-Disaggregated Data Collection
The lack of sex-disaggregated data in FLEGT’s work has made it difficult to understand which gender-
sensitive actions would improve existing gender disparities in our projects. Baseline analyses are
necessary to identify entry points and ultimately formulate and implement gender-sensitive activities
in Programme work.
Gender analysis through Survey Monkey (step 1 of 2)
A gender analysis can be challenging for forestry officers to conduct. It requires sufficient time, budget
and a willing attitude if it is to be done properly. A Survey Monkey questionnaire will be designed
specifically for FLEGT and should make the gender analysis process easier. The questionnaire is meant
to generate initial feedback from service providers on challenges and opportunities for entry points
regarding gender issues. Once the data is collected and analyzed, specific steps will be designed for
projects with potential gender entry points.
Gender analysis through Survey Monkey (step 2 of 2)
Once the initial surveys have been completed and gender mainstreaming efforts take effect, a follow-
up survey will be distributed to the participating projects. Service providers will answer questions on
the impact of gender mainstreaming activities they have carried out. This will provide guidance for
gender activity in future projects.
Mainstreaming Gender
Guidelines on how to mainstream gender in FLEGT’s work have been created and are ready to be
tested. These guidelines are designed to be user-friendly for foresters with little to no background on
gender issues. The two-part guidelines first offers suggestions on how to conduct a basic gender
analysis; and second, suggestions on mainstreaming gender in four thematic areas.
Gender-guidelines pilot on projects from the 2016 call for proposals
Projects from the 2016 call for proposals that have clear entry points for gender mainstreaming will
be asked to follow the guidelines from the onset of their project. Additional outputs will be clearly
outlined in the LOA and a budget will be allocated for gender activities.
Action Aid Liberia
The Action Aid Liberia project is the first female-focused FLEGT project and has two gender-focused
objectives: 1) conduct a baseline analysis on the current role of women in the Liberian farmers’ union,
and 2) conduct a gender-sensitive value-chain study for three commodities (to be determined). The
recruitment process will start in January 2017. Periodic missions to Liberia will ensure the successful
completion of this work.
Gender capacity building
Raising overall gender awareness and capacities of FAO FLEGT team members, service providers,
stakeholders involved in project implementation will positively affect gender-related outcomes.
33
Gender training for FAO FLEGT staff
A “Gender and FLEGT” training programme for FAO FLEGT team members will be organized to raise
awareness of the important role that gender elements play in ensuring project success. This training
should lead to a strong commitment to gender issues, an attitude that can be passed on from the FAO
FLEGT team to service providers and stakeholders.
Series of gender trainings at the field level
A training programme will be designed for workshops in the field to teach participants about the
relevance of gender, how to conduct a gender analysis, and how to mainstream gender in specific
project/country contexts. Not only will this exercise serve as an awareness-raising tool, it will increase
the quality of analyses; thus improving quality and quantity of sex disaggregated data.
2.6 Project monitoring
2.6.1 Concept notes and proposal formats
The formats of both concept notes and proposals have been revised to foster stronger links with
Programme priorities using standardized project outputs. A briefing note on gender mainstreaming
was developed with the participation of the FAO Gender Unit and the FAO Forestry Department
gender focal point and made available to all candidates in the application guidelines for the 2016 call
for concept notes. In the 2016 call, the Programme emphasized gender mainstreaming to encourage
applicants to consider the topic at the concept stage, including greater consideration for gender
analysis in the proposals evaluation process.
2.6.2 Due diligence and institutional capacity building
The PMU has designed a due diligence checklist for submissions from all implementing partners with
an endorsed project but no previous experience with the Programme. This has provided more insight
into the institutional background of new partners, ultimately enabling their ad hoc introduction to
Programme requirements and training on project management, as well as specific monitoring
measures. During the reporting period, 30 organizations across the three regions went through this
process. The exercise led to calls for introductions and training on specific reporting topics for all new
actors before projects start, or during inception phases. In total, 30 organizations in 11 countries
benefited from such training in 2016.
On-site training was also organized during the previous reporting period, and will resume in 2017 after
the latest call for proposal results becomes official, based on results from the due diligence exercise,
and targeting countries where greater gaps are identified. Training covers topics ranging from basic
administrative management (e.g. FAO FLEGT Programme reporting requirements, administrative
policies, and financial management) to communication and gender mainstreaming.
2.6.3 Project management tools
The project monitoring package provided to all partner organizations was fully updated in 2016 to
better integrate the Programme’s reporting and communication requirements. In particular, stronger
emphasis was given to gender mainstreaming, with concrete recommendations provided in the
project management guidelines. All Programme partners are asked to increase their efforts in
34
reporting with gender-disaggregated data, integrating gender equality advocacy in project activities,
and building on existing research in the field.
The management unit responsible for letters of agreement in FAO (FAO-CSAP) was engaged during
the revision of these tools to support the streamlining of internal procedures and the alignment of
PMU project monitoring with new FAO standards.
2.6.4 New project database
The new database, launched in January 2016, allows the tracking of projects throughout their
lifespans, from concept note and proposal evaluations to final project evaluations (e.g. achievement
of objectives and deliverables, and financial management); it also improves the management of data
on key results and performance. A new module is being finalized to allow the management of project
data based on standardized results and indicators, ultimately facilitating the integration of project
results into Programme outputs.
2.6.5 Projects financial monitoring
As part of the process of streamlining project monitoring with standard FAO practices, the PMU now
places greater emphasis on accounting documents’ verification. Particular attention is placed on
inception reports, where all accounting documents for project expenditures are systematically
requested, to allow the early detection of issues and rapid correction measures. Further, regular
financial spot-checks are conducted with all projects.
During the reporting period, all closing projects from Phase II have been submitted to financial
verifications (through analysis of samples of accounting documents), and all Phase III project inception
reports have been reviewed for accuracy of accounting and compliance with best practices.
35
2.7 Summary of expenditures
Total commited contributions to date are estimated at USD 31 454 167 based on exchange rates at
the time of signature of the contribution agreements. To date, overall commited expenditures are
USD 10 826 748 from the European Commission, United Kingdom DFID, Swedish SIDA and FAO
contributions (table 7). All expenditures are on track.
Consultant costs. However, total costs of consultants has exceeded the expactations of the
programme to date. There are several reasons for this which were unforeseen at the time of initial
budget development:
1. Consultant costs in some VPA countries has increased where there are a significant number
of projects that require additional local oversight. For example, long term consultants were
hired in Honduras, Ghana and Indonesia to ensure that project activities were coordinated
with other initiatives, appropriate oversight in maintained and to maintain a liaison role
between local stakeholders and the drivers of the VPA processes. These actions could not be
reasonably maintained by regional outposted staff.
2. Consultants costs to ensure coordinated start up of non-VPA country actions and the rapid
private sector assessments has exceeded expections, but has been consistent with the
magnitude of the work expected.
3. Consultant costs for technical backstopping is increasing due to the increased need for
specialist consultants on projects. However, these costs are associated with specific projects,
but not budgeted for under the contracts line – where all project costs are normally allocated
in the case of Letters of Agreements.
4. Additional costs were incurred to ensure specialist imput to the lessons learning processes.
The increases, while exceeding significantly the budget lines allocated, is not significant relative to the
overall programme budget. It is expected that consultant costs will normalize be on average lower per
year during the remaining years of the programme after these initial programme start up cost are
incurred.
Travel costs under information and knowledge sharing. The budget line for travel costs under
information and knowledge sharing activities has exceeded the allocated funds available. This is
mostly due to providing co-funding to a large number of international events during 2016. In addition,
the original umbrella programme budget included a significantly larger budget line for information
and knowledge sharing overall. Since the programme has yet reach its full funding allocation, this line
remained relatively low.
Proposed budget revision. To correct both of these over-expenditures, the PMU will present a draft
budget revision to donors for review and comment following the Steering Committee meeting
36
Table 7. Summary of expenditures – (indicative expenditures report)1
1 Indicative budget and presentation of expenditures. This financial report has not been cleared by the FAO Finance Department because the accounts for 2016 are not yet officially closed.
Budget lines
Contribution
EU + FAO +
MUL
(USD)
Total
expenditure EU+
MUL (USD)
Expenditures
on FAO Budget
(USD)
Remaining funds
(USD)
Programme management systems 5,562,724 703,826 125,331 4,733,567
Programme management salaries 4,720,604 604,659 4,115,945
Programme Manager (P5) 1,185,117 254,471 930,646
Forestry Officer (P4) - Africa 461,242 93,934 367,308
Forestry Officer (P4) - Asia 480,795 38,344 442,451
Forestry Officer (P4) - Latin America 453,614 22,944 430,670
Forestry Officer (P4) - Private Sector 314,163 53,065 261,098
Programme Officer (P2) 201,193 - 201,193
Database Officer (P3) 87,083 1,967 85,116
Communication Officer (P3) 97,591 - 97,591
Associate Professional Officer (P2) 125,331 - 125,331 -
General Service Staff -
Operations Clerk (G5) 594,412 97,458 496,954
Operations Clerk (G3) 424,855 74,625 350,230
Operations Clerks Asia (G3) 197,283 - 197,283
Operations Clerks Latin America (G3) 223,257 - 223,257
Travel 131,489 53,616 77,873
Expendable equipment 52,343 22,424 29,919
Non-expendable equipment 80,661 23,899 56,762
General operating expenses 236,891 31,814 205,077
Programme midterm and final evaluations 340,736 - 340,736
-
Result 1: Support to VPA processes 8,403,078 4,466,480 35,944 3,900,654
Forestry Officer (P4) - Africa 207,089 51,270 155,819
Forestry Officer (P4) - Asia 213,606 63,418 150,188
Forestry Officer (P4) - Latin America 204,546 - 204,546
Forestry Officer (P4) - Private Sector 201,088 20,486 180,602
Contracts (CfP) 6,958,209 3,768,309 35,944 3,153,956
Consultants 312,295 382,125 69,830-
Travel 214,475 137,255 77,220
Training 48,319 37,567 10,752
Technical support services 42,897 6,050 36,847
General operating expenses 555 - 555
-
Result 2: Support to countries outside the
VPA process 6,854,550 1,730,012 - 5,124,538
Forestry Officer (P4) - Africa 207,089 39,851 167,238
Forestry Officer (P4) - Asia 213,605 50,698 162,907
Forestry Officer (P4) - Latin America 204,545 11,419 193,126
Forestry Officer (P4) - Private Sector 207,089 20,486 186,603
Contracts 5,328,483 864,157 4,464,326
Consultants 399,830 519,833 120,003-
Travel 197,030 159,866 37,164
Training 48,316 63,702 15,386-
Technical support services 48,564 - 48,564
General operating expenses - -
-
37
Result 3: Private sector support 7,235,304 2,968,747 - 4,266,557
Forestry Officer (P4) - Africa 207,089 39,492 167,597
Forestry Officer (P4) - Asia 213,606 50,698 162,908
Forestry Officer (P4) - Latin America 204,546 11,419 193,127
Forestry Officer (P4) - Private Sector 207,089 20,486 186,603
Contracts 5,763,345 2,440,061 3,323,284
Consultants 292,825 393,299 100,474-
Travel 197,030 13,072 183,958
Training 101,211 220 100,991
Technical support services 48,564 - 48,564
-
Result 4: Information, knowledge and
media capacity building 1,187,545 421,628 - 765,917
Communication Officer (P3) 226,128 - 226,128
Contracts 476,474 72,256 404,218
Consultants 187,030 170,253 16,777
Publications 115,771 11,020 104,751
Travel 101,459 166,856 65,397-
Training 32,119 1,243 30,876
Technical support services 48,564 - 48,564
General operating expenses - -
-
Visibility activities 153,217 37,300 - 115,917
Publications 80,326 6,157 74,169
Contracts 36,445 1,464 34,981
Consultants 36,446 29,679 6,767
General operating expenses - -
-
Net budget 29,396,418 10,327,993 19,068,425
-
Support Costs (7%) 2,057,749 338,699 - 1,719,050
-
Total budget Contribution 31,454,167 10,666,692 161,275 20,626,200
39
ANNEXES
Annex 1. Invitation and Agenda to the 10th Steering Committee Meeting
Annex 2. Minutes of the 9th Steering Committee Meeting
Annex 3. Expert Panel Report
Annex 4. 2017 work plan
41
Annex 1. Invitation and Agenda to the 10th Steering
Committee Meeting
Annex 1. Invitation and Agenda to the 10th Steering Committee Meeting
43
ANNEX 1
INVITATION
10th STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING
You are invited to attend the Steering Committee meeting of the FAO FLEGT Programme
(GCP/GLO/395/EC) and (GCP/GLO/600/MUL). The meeting will take place on 1 February 2017 from
9:30 to 13:00 at the European Forestry House, 66 Rue de Luxembourg, 1000 Brussels, Belgium.
The Steering Committee will review the programme narrative and financial reports and progress
toward the implementation of the FAO FLEGT Programme (Phase III).
Please confirm your attendance to the Steering Committee meeting to [email protected].
EU FAO FLEGT Steering Committee members:
• EU, DG DEVCO C2, Ms. Florence Van Houtte
• EU, DG DEVCO C2, Mr. Christopher Price
• EU DG ENV E2, Mr. Bojan Grlas
• EU DG ENV E2, Mr. Luca Perez
• DFID UK, FGMC, Ms. Julia Falconer
• SIDA, Sweden, Mr. Erik Petterson
• FAO, Forest Department, Director of FOA, Ms. Eva Muller
Invited observers:
• Representatives from the EU, EU Member States and EFI
• EFI FLEGT Facility, Mr. Jussi Viitanen
EU FAO FLEGT Programme secretariat:
• Robert Simpson, Programme Manager
45
Annex 2. Minutes of the 9th Steering Committee Meeting
Annex 2. Minutes of the 9th Steering Committee Meeting
47
ANNEX 2
MINUTES OF THE 9TH STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING TO THE FAO FLEGT PROGRAMME
Location: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Headquarters, Queen Julian
Room - Viale delle Terme di Caracalla 00153 Rome, Italy
Date: 5 October 2016
Time: 09.45 – 14.00
Steering Committee members:
EU, DG DEVCO C2, Mr. Philippe Mayaux
EU, DG DEVCO C2, Mr. Christopher Price
EU DG ENV E2, Mr. Luca Perez
EU DG ENV E2, Mr. Bojan Grlas
DFID UK, FGMC, Ms. Julia Falconer
SIDA Programme Officer, Mr Erik Petterson
FAO, Director of FOA, Ms. Eva Muller
Steering Committee Secretariat:
FAO FLEGT Programme Manager, Mr. Robert Simpson
Observers:
FAO, Assistant to the DG, FO, Mr. René Castro Salazar (for opening remarks)
EFI FLEGT Facility, Mr. Jussi Viitanen
EFI FLEGT Facility, Mr. Thomas Pichet
EFI FLEGT Facility, Mr. Michel Jambou
DFID FGMC, Mr. Dermot Shields
GIZ, Ms. Nora Krieger
Ministry of Foreign affairs of the Netherlands, Ms. Judith Marinissen
FAO Forest Products and Statistics Team leader, Mr. Mats Nordbergg
FAO FLEGT Programme: Ms. Daphne Hewitt; Mr. Marc Vandenhaute; Mr. Steffen Lackman; Ms.
Cristiana Orlandi; Ms. Nathalia Cardoso; Ms. Taylor Tondelli; Ms. Anni Vuohelainen; Ms. Tania
Abdirizzak; Ms. Anthie Kyriakipoulou and Ms. Sarah Fumey.
Annex 2. Minutes of the 9th Steering Committee Meeting
48
1. FAO ADG opening remarks and selection of the Chair.
Mr. René Castro Salazar, Assistant Director-General, welcomed the Steering Committee (SC)
members. He provided insights on the commitment of the Forestry Department to address climate
change and attract adequate resources to implement current and future activities aimed at fighting
illegal logging and strengthening forest governance. The European Commission (EC) appreciated this
opportunity to share this discussion in the FAO offices.
DFID Representative was selected as the Chair of the meeting. The Chair welcomed the SC and
thanked FAO for hosting the meeting in its headquarters in Rome.
2. Approval of the agenda.
The agenda was approved without any modification.
3. Review of the previous meeting’s minutes.
The Programme Manager (PM) presented the minutes of the previous meeting and gave highlights
on the FLEGT Symposium, the new Global Timber Forum (GTF) partnership and the DFID projects.
The PM gave assurance that all points were going to be addressed with more details throughout the
meeting. The SC members approved the minutes of the previous meeting.
4. Progress Report Phase II.
The PM presented a summary of the January - August 2016 Progress Report, and stressed that it was
meant to be only a summary of actions. A more comprehensive Phase II Final Report including in-
depth analysis of the work conducted, as well as lessons learned, will be presented within the 6
months contractual time frame.
The Phase II of the FLEGT Programme will close on 31st October 2016. 75% of the projects have been
operationally completed, and 25% will come to an end before October 31st. The qualitative
evaluation of the projects will be conducted in the six months following the close of the progamme
and presented in the Phase ll Final Report. The PM announced that a presentation, held in FAO’s
headquarters and attended by the relevant FAO Permanent Representatives of member countries,
will be organised for the closure of Phase ll.
The SC endorsed the Phase ll shortened Narrative Report and made recommendations for the Final
Report on the following issues:
• Disproportionate geographic distribution of projects
The number of programme activities was proportionately larger in African than the other two
regions. The PMU should provide analysis of this in the Final Report. The PM provided several
possible explanations for the fact that most VPA processes take place in Africa. Civil society in Africa
is comparatively more active and mobilized than in Asia, on the contrary, VPA processes are less
dynamic in Asia. One of the reasons for the gap in Asia may be the middle ground of stakeholders
that understand the process, but their proposals are of lower quality or not particularly grounded in
Annex 2. Minutes of the 9th Steering Committee Meeting
49
national processes. Language requirement could also represent a hindrance for Asian would-be
proponents.
• The format of the report
A stronger narrative document with content from the field and more substantial analysis on the
projects’ impact and added value of FAO actions on the ground is expected. Each project should be
linked to the corresponding EU FLEGT Action plan’s action areas. This should be done moving
forward, as it is difficult to retroactively fit old projects into boxes. The PM sought clarification and
eventual agreement between the EU and FAO to identify which of the FLEGT Action Areas can apply
to FAO Programme projects, in order to class them correctly starting from Phase III.
• Project analysis
It would be valuable to analyse the political impacts of the projects on national processes, especially
highlighting key contributions from pivotal (or transformative) projects in terms of positive and/or
negative changes achieved on civil society, private sector, government and in general on the VPA
process.
• Gender
An in-depth reflection on gender would be welcome.
As a general observation, the SC also underlined that it would be useful to identify (together with
EFI) countries that currently have a gap of financial support. This includes a more comprehensive
overview of funding provided (by all EU-MS and donors) to individual countries.
The PM said these recommendations and observations were well received and noted.
5. Presentation of the narrative and expenditure reports – Phase III.
Through the course of his presentation, the PM presented the following topics: overview of
progress, update of VPA country projects and call for concept notes, update on Non-VPA progress
per country, update on private sector work and strategy implementation, options for addressing
Gender issue, the Global FLEGT Symposium, and Lessons Learning.
The Chair praised the PMU for its unique ability to work with different countries and neutrally
engage with stakeholders, by interpreting the needs of local grantees in an unbiased way, more than
representing any national or international view or interest. This is something that actors on the
ground and the SC perceive as the added-value of the Programme.
A Steering Committee member raised a concern regarding non-VPA support; Do VPA countries see it
as unfair because non VPAs don’t undergo the same rigorous process? The PM explained that a VPA
isn’t the best solution for every country, for example an emphasis on the domestic market lowers
the incentive to engage in a VPA.
Following the PM presentation and the above observations, the SC provided recommendations to
the PMU under different points of the agenda:
Annex 2. Minutes of the 9th Steering Committee Meeting
50
Update of VPA country projects
- Consider developing a more precise country strategy, which would guide the Programme in
the projects’ selection and help address the challenge of geographical reach. The dialogue at
the national level should be broaden.
- Reflect on the type and number of projects whose contribution was crucial in sustaining and
significantly advance the VPA process (this recommendation was targeted to the review of
potentially transformative projects under Phase II that could influence selection of projects in
Phase III).
- Reflect on and bring forward examples of projects that have improved momentum where VPA
work in a specific country is halted or slowly progressing.
- Work more closely with EFI to define priority areas of intervention in VPA countries.
July 2016 call for concept notes
- Seek opportunities to strengthen Asia representation in the next call, by fostering
dissemination of information among would-be interested proponents, working closer with EU
Delegations in the field and coordinating actions as much as possible with the Governments.
- Regarding Gabon, the EUD raised concerns about the political conditions and possible impacts
on programme activities. It was clarified FAO has an obligation to remain neutral and engage
equally with all member countries of the United Nations.
Update on Non-VPA progress per country
- The PMU should clearly establish in each of the non-VPA countries that any actions supported
by the EU should not be taken as fulfilling any pre-requisite or leading to the establishment of
any VPA process between the country and the EU, nor represent any official commitment
from the EU.
Update on private sector work and strategy implementation
- Remain neutral with regards to any certification schemes while engaging with private sector
actors. In Asia sometimes initiatives of the Programme have been seen as advocating specific
certification schemes over others.
- Avoid supporting parallel initiatives that entail working or organizing the private sector in a
particular country. DFID stressed the importance of not having parallel process to deal with
the private sector.
- To be aware of different states of play in different countries while conducting the private
sector assessments to ensure that supporting one association over another does not
inadvertently favor one group of stakeholders.
Additional issues
- Circulate an updated concept note on the Global FLEGT Symposium among SC members and
reflect changed context of having a symposium in 2017 instead of 2016 (as initially planned).
It was suggested to wait with setting a date and venue at the moment, as this needs to be
aligned with the strategic process of the EC and EU-MS on the future of the FLEGT AP.
- Consider all the above observations and recommendations in the Lessons Learning exercise
that the PMU is embarking on (i.e. geographical outreach, coordination at country level with
all interested institutions, better dissemination of information, clearly matching programme
outputs and areas of intervention with EU FLEGT Action Plan Areas).
Annex 2. Minutes of the 9th Steering Committee Meeting
51
- Provide the donors with clearer reporting on staff activities and time allocation.
6. EU introduction to FAO FLEGT contribution agreement amendment and dialogue
The EC presented the action fiche formalizing the top up contribution to FAO, and the action plan
related. Results 1 to 4 remain the same, and under the FAO FLEGT Programme’s responsibility. Two
new result areas were added and presented:
• Result 5: “the progress, achievement and impacts of the FLEGT action plan are betterunderstood and information is made available through updated, robust and user friendlyinformation system in close coordination with the Commission”.
• Result 6: “The influence of trade and governance on livelihood improvement and on forestcover is better understood.”
After discussion it was agreed that the EC would discuss specific responsibilities for FAO under the two
new result areas before the end of the week. The EC would validate these areas internally and conduct
additional dialogue with the EU MS who would also provide written comments on the Action Fiche.
7. AOB
No other business was identified.
8. Next Steering committee date
The next Steering Committee meeting was proposed for the 3rd week of January 2017. While FAO is
flexible on the dates, the suggested date seems early as the narrative and expenditure reports will
only be indicative.
TBD after EFI’s Steering Committee meeting.
9. Close meeting
The Chair closed the meeting at 2pm.
Summary of actions:
1. Prepare a methodology to review the Phase II projects inclusive of the comments in theseminutes.
2. Support the development of country level understanding for priorities and strategic planning.3. Ensure greater coordination with EFI on VPA country actions.
53
Annex 3. Expert Panel Report
Annex 3. Expert Panel Report
55
ANNEX 3
EXPERT PANEL REPORT Evaluation of proposals from the first call for proposals
VPA Countries
17 February 2017
Drafted by the Programme Management Unit
for the Steering Committee meeting of the FAO FLEGT Programme
Annex 3. Expert Panel Report
56
1. Introduction
The Food and Agriculture Organization Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade Programme
(FAO FLEGT Programme) is a continuation of the ACP FLEGT Support and EU FAO FLEGT Programmes.
The third phase has been established as a multi-donor trust fund (SIDA, EU, DFID and FAO) to continue
to channel support to countries engaged in a Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) and other
developing countries actively involved in FLEGT-related initiatives.
The Programme provides support to governments, civil society and private sector organizations to
implement projects that address FLEGT-related issues. Projects are awarded through a competitive
process initiated by issuing a “call for proposals” through formal FAO and EU Delegation
communication channels.
The Programme supports calls for proposals through three funding lines, the first dedicated to funding
actions in countries engaged in the VPA process, the second is dedicated to other developing countries
that are not engaged in the VPA process and the third one targets private sector initiatives. The
present call for proposals was issued through the first and third funding lines for countries that are
engaged in the VPA process.
Proposals submitted to the Programme were evaluated by an Expert Panel using a standardized set of
criteria and scoring procedure. This report contains background information on the evaluation, a
description of proposals submitted, a summary of the evaluation and results, proposals recommended
for funding, and general comments on the evaluation process.
This final report from the Expert Panel and its recommendations are presented to the Steering
Committee for final evaluation and endorsement.
2. Main characteristics of the call for proposals
Objective: The objective of this call for proposals was to ensure that governmental institutions, civil
society and private sector organizations continue to identify, through a demand driven process, the
highest priority actions to support and participate in the implementation of the VPA process.
Approach: A two-phase approach was adopted to improve the efficiency and speed of the selection
procedure: submission of short concept notes followed by submission of full proposals.
Deadlines: The call for concept notes was announced on 29th July 2016 and was closed on 15th
September 2016. The proponents of concept notes that passed the first selection were invited to
submit a full proposal before 18th December 2016.
Priorities: Applicants were requested to select from and align their proposals with one FAO FLEGT
Programme Logical Framework output and related supported actions. The proposals should fall into
one of the two proposed “lots”:
• Lot 1 ‘’Supporting the private sector participation in the VPA process’’: enhancing the
understanding of and compliance to legal frameworks by small and medium size businesses
and promoting legal production and best management practices throughout the wood
product value chain
• Lot 2 ‘’Supporting the VPA negotiation/implementation process’’: enhancing the support in
the preparation for, negotiation and implementation of Voluntary Partnership Agreements.
Annex 3. Expert Panel Report
57
Proposed funding: The overall indicative amount made available under this call for proposals was approximately EUR 3,000,000.
Grants: Maximum budget allocation per project should not exceed EUR 100 000 (or approximately 110,000 USD) and the maximum implementation period per project is 15 months.
Eligible countries: Only applicants from countries engaged in a VPA with the EU (defined as follow)
were eligible to submit concept notes. VPA countries are countries that have already negotiated or
are in the pre-negotiation/negotiation phase of a Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) with the
European Union. The following 16 countries were concerned:
Countries Acronym
Cameroon CAM
Central African Republic CAR
Côte d’Ivoire CDI
Congo, Democratic Republic of DRC
Congo, Republic of PRC
Gabon GAB
Ghana GHA
Guyana GUY
Honduras HON
Indonesia IND
Lao PDR LAO
Liberia LIB
Malaysia MYS
Myanmar MMR
Thailand THA
Viet Nam VIE
Annex 3. Expert Panel Report
58
3. Evaluation process
The figure below summarises the steps involved in the proposal evaluation and project selection
process.
Call for concept notes (29/07/2016)
Registration of concept notes
Evaluation of concept notes by PMU
Selection of satisfactory concept notes
Call for Full proposals (17/11/2016)
Full proposals submission (18/12/2016)
Registration of full proposals
Evaluation of eligible proposals by
external experts
Panels of experts prepare an evaluation summary report and advice to the Steering
Committee on evaluation of satisfactory proposals
Proponents informed after endorsement
by the SC of proposals suitable for
funding
Proponents informed after
Steering Committee rejection decision
Feedback from EU Delegations / EFI
Feedback from EU Delegations / EFI
Negotiation and drafting of the Letter of Agreement (LOA)
Non objection from FAO Representation
Signature of the LOA
Administrative check on eligibility by PMU
Steering Committee meeting (01/02/2017)
Concept notes submission (15/09/2016)
Guidelines development
Due Diligence Process
(Legal status, Managerial, Administrative and Financial capacity)
Internal quality assurance check
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59
Evaluation of concept notes
After the concept note submission deadline (15/09/2016), the Programme Management Unit (PMU)
conducted the following actions:
1. Registered all concept notes;
2. Completed the administrative screening to verify that proposals meet the eligibility criteria
referred to in the guidelines. The following criteria are rigorously applied and any proposal
found to be ineligible is excluded from further evaluation ;
a. The applicant is registered in an eligible country;
b. The applicant is a government institution , a civil society organization or anorganization/federation of the private sector ;
c. The concept note is complete and follows the required format;
d. The budget does not exceed the maximum limit of EUR 100,000 (approximately USD110,000).
e. Actions should take place in the country where the applicant is based.
3. Completed the technical evaluation with respect to the criteria defined in the guidelines. Each
concept note is evaluated by at least two members of the PMU to attest:
a. Relevance and complementarity to the VPA process
b. Proposed methodology - feasibility
c. Sustainability and partnerships developed
4. Requested the feedback from EU Delegation and EFI FLEGT Facility. The list of all concept
notes that passed the administrative screening is shared with all EU Delegations in VPA
countries and with the EFI FLEGT Facility;
Evaluation of full proposals
In November the PMU has asked successful organizations – whose concept notes met the eligibility
criteria and scored at least 70/100 points – to submit a full proposal by December 18th, 2016, with the
exception of proposals from Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and Viet Nam where the request for
submission of full proposals has momentarily been postponed due to FAO administrative issues,
related to delays in respective governments’ signature of GCP agreements with FAO. As described in
the latest progress report 216, it was mutually agreed that until the agreements will be established
Governments will not be willing to engage in any specific actions. This has in turn delayed the
evaluation of received concept notes from said Countries. However, it is expected that in early 2017
the selection process of these concept notes and ensuing full proposals will move forward, together
with the expert panel revision.
At any rate specific guidelines and an updated template were produced and sent to applicants for the
submission of the full proposals. For monitoring purposes, applicants were requested to link the
objective of their project proposals to one of the outputs presented in the Programme logical
framework.
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An independent panel of external experts was appointed by the PMU to evaluate the quality of those
proposals that fulfilled the concept notes’ eligibility criteria (see below for evaluation criteria). The
tasks of the evaluation panel included (see also Annex 1: Expert Panel Terms of Reference):
• Evaluate each project proposals according to pre-established criteria and provide a score and
observations per criterion and an overall description of the quality of the proposal, including
a summary list of its strengths and weaknesses.
• Provide a list of recommended proposals that should be considered for funding by the
Steering Committee (with justification for the selection of those proposals).
• Contribute to a final Expert Panel Report. The report will give general statistical details on the
proposals received (number, priority themes covered, background of proponents, budget
requested, etc.) and those selected, on the evaluation procedure and on the experts.
The 5-member panel was further divided into three teams based on the experts’ language proficiency
(English, French, and Spanish) and knowledge of the country/region:
Team 1 – Dr. Patrick Hardcastle and Dr. Arthur Blundell evaluated English-written proposals;
Team 2 – Dr. Jürgen Blaser and Mr. Jean-Marie Noiraud evaluated French proposals;
Team 3 – Dr. Jürgen Blaser and Ms. Amparo Van der Zee evaluated Spanish proposals.
The PMU assigned eligible proposals to the different evaluation teams. Each proposal was evaluated
by at least two evaluators. Proposals scoring above 70, out of a maximum of 100 possible points, were
considered for funding. The evaluators scored the proposals using an online database system (FORIS):
the evaluators were able to view and download proposal documents and background information and
score the proposals online, with the ability to insert comments for each proposal, to be shared with
other evaluators.
Each proposal was scored independently using a weighting system based on the five criteria below:
1. Strategy (/40)
2. Sustainability (/15)
3. Innovation and Capitalization of lessons learned (/15)
4. Adequate Scale (/15)
5. Gender (/15).
To enhance transparency of the evaluation process and increase the rate of feedback received, the
PMU circulated all full proposals among relevant EU Delegation, EFI FLEGT Facility and/or FLEGT
Facilitators in the respective countries. The EU Delegations and EFI colleagues in each VPA country
were informed about the proposal evaluation process and invited to score proposals based on the
selection criteria, provide relevant feedback, give their non-objection or simply observe the process.
Of the 12 countries concerned by the evaluation, 10 EU Delegations focal points jointly with EFI
experts, provided general feedbacks. All feedback was shared with the expert panel members. The
support was welcome and in most cases consistent with the findings of the evaluators.
On the basis of the recommendations of the experts and feedback from the EU Delegation and EFI,
the PMU drafted a final list of all proposals that passed the required thresholds, ranked by score. The
advice of the experts and other feedback was fully set out in writing by the PMU at the moment of
preparing the final ranked list to be submitted to the Steering Committee.
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Based on the experts’ panel report, availability of financial resources and the geographical and
thematic balance, the Steering Committee endorses projects suitable for funding.
Proponents are informed of final results by email.
Due diligence and contract negotiation
Before initiating the contracting phase, the PMU will perform due diligence on prospective
beneficiaries. This background review will focus on technical and financial capacities especially for new
service providers. It will lead to a classification of Service Providers according to their capacities and
will determine the effort needed in terms of training and monitoring in the initial stage of project start
up. In case of an agreement is not reached or the due diligence processes results conclude that the
project should not continue, the proponent will be informed in writing.
Based on the proposal, a letter of agreement will be negotiated with the service provider followed by
an internal quality assurance and a non-objection from the local FAO Representation.
4. Results of the evaluation
4.1 Concept notes
A total of 283 concept notes were received and evaluated by the PMU. Concept notes are categorized
as follows:
• Countries: 16 different countries
• Regions: 211 Africa, 43 Asia and 29 Latin America
• Proponent groups: 201 CSO, 20 government, 35 private sector organization, and 25
Education and Research Institutes
Of the 283 concept notes submitted, 45 were selected to submit a full proposal. Only 40 proposals
were successfully received and are categorized as follows:
• Countries: 12 countries;
• Regions: 28 Africa, 4 Asia, and 8 Latin America;
• Proponent groups: 22 Civil Society Organizations, 3 government institutions, 11 private sector
organizations and 4 Education and Research Institutes
The Figure 1, 2 and 3 show the distribution respectively by region, by stakeholder group and by
country. In line with the previous calls for proposals, African countries submitted the large majority of
concept notes (75%) with 3 countries (DRC, Cameroon and Ghana) sending together almost 50% of
the concept notes submitted. Unfortunately, concept notes from Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and
Viet Nam could not be included in these graphs thus resulting in a biased projects’ distribution. Civil
society organizations were the most active to propose projects ideas with 72% of the total number of
concept notes.
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With this call for proposals, we observed a very good sign in terms of Private Sector’s involvement.
While not all submitted concept notes were selected, it shows increased interest and also
opportunities for follow up with the organizations.
Africa 75%
Asia 15%
Latin America10%
FIGURE 1. CONCEPT NOTES DISTRIBUTION BY REGIONS
civil society72%
private sector12%
government7%
education & research
9%
FIGURE 2. CONCEPT NOTES DISTRIBUTION BY STAKEHOLDER GROUPS
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4.2 Full proposals
Of the 45 concept notes requested to send a full proposal, only 40 were submitted.
Table 8 summarizes the results of the evaluation. Based on the review by the Expert Panel, 24
proposals scored above 70/100. Of the 24 proposals, 22 are recommended for funding (see Table 1).
Successful proposals submitted and recommended for funding are equally divided between lot 1
(Private sector, 11 proposals) and lot 2 (VPA, 11 proposals).
In terms of budget, the PMU allocated an indicative USD 3,300,000 for this call for proposals. The total
amount requested in the 22 proposals recommended for funding is USD 2,251,262.
In addition to these proposals, the Programme has also received a request from the Guyana Forestry
Commission to review and evaluate 14 proposals that were channeled through the National Technical
Working Group (NTWG) domestic FLEGT grants mechanisms2. 2 of the proposals were deemed
ineligible because submitted by an individual and a for-profit organization respectively. The
Programme expert panel reviewed them and found them to be consistent with the current Phase of
VPA in Guyana and potentially relevant for the process and aligned with the Programme’s objectives.
For this reason, a scoping mission to Guyana will be highly recommended in the next months to assess
the effective relevance of these proposed actions and potentially ask proponents to reformulate their
projects, according to the real needs identified, and resubmit their proposals to the Programme for
further consideration.
These proposals are not included in the table below but scores and evaluations are available in the
Programme online management database (FORIS).
2 The UK Department for International Development (DFID) and the Government of Norway are making funds
available to support the commitment made by the Government of Guyana to negotiate and implement a Voluntary
Partnership Agreement (VPA) with the European Union (EU).
0
10
20
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40
50
60
70
CAM DRC GHA PRC HON IND CDI LIB CAR GAB VIE LAO GUY MYS MMR THA
FIGURE 3. CONCEPT NOTES DISTRIBTUTION BY COUNTRIES : SUBMITTED VS SELECTED
Submitted Selected
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Table 8: Full proposals evaluation by country
Countries
Number of proposals submitted
Number of Proposals
recommended
Budget of proposals recommended for funding (USD)
Lot 1 Lot 2 Lot 1 Lot 2 Lot 1 Lot 2 TOTAL
CAM 2 2 1 2 109,290 210,000 319,290
CAR 1 1 1 0 110,000 110,000
CDI 1 3 0 1 109,983 109,983
DRC 3 1 3 0 294,490 294,490
PRC 0 2 0 1 110,000 110,000
GAB 0 0 0 0
GHA 3 4 0 3 308,700 308,700
GUY 1 1 0 0
HON 4 2 3 2 302,000 216,528 518,528
IND 0 0 0 0
LAO 1 2 1 0 109,231 109,231
LIB 3 2 2 2 214,110 156,930 371,040
MMR 0 0 0 0
THA 0 1 0 0
VIE 0 0 0 0
TOTAL 19 21 11 11 1,139,121 1,112,141 2,251,262
In terms of priorities, Figure 4 shows that proposals are equally divided among output 3.4 ‘’Private
sector stakeholders have the skills to comply with legal frameworks and access markets’’ for Lot 1 and
output 1.4 ‘’Innovative, effective and inclusive law enforcement processes are developed and tested”
for lot 2.
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65
Table 9 presents the selected proposals divided by lot. For each project, the objective, a general
appreciation and some recommendations are presented. This table shows that many projects will
need adjustments during the negotiation phase of the Letter of Agreement. Some main
recommendations can be highlighted here:
1. A large majority of proposals presented an overinflated budget and will need to be scaled
down, in some cases drastically. The main excessive budget lines are linked to meetings,
travels and DSA. Some costs presented are in some case ineligible, like vehicles purchases.
These lines will need to be carefully scrutinized when contracting with service providers.
2. For some projects, the ambition will need to be revised to achieve more focused and concrete
results in the time frame of 15 months. In some cases, the revision of the logical framework
can even lead to drop some outputs with an automatic budget scale down.
3. Some projects submitted by Governmental agencies or by Private Sector
association/syndicate would be better framed under the Direct Assistance (DA) mechanism
because of their nature (a study, a manual etc.) or because the budget and the duration
presented correspond better of the DA specificities. Those project could be allocated to DA
budget line of the Programme.
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lsFigure 4. Distribution of proposals selected by output
Annex 3. Expert Panel Report
66
Table 9. Proposals recommended for funding
# Country
Service Provider
Proposal Title
Expert observations Strategic Importance
Score
LOT 1: Supporting the private sector participation in the VPA process
1.1
CAR WWF – World Wide Fund For Nature
Renforcement du rôle du secteur privé dans la mise en œuvre de l’APV
Objective: to improve the participation of forest concessions in the post-conflict VPA process relaunch, by strengthening technical capacities of their staffs, conducting internal audits and environmental investments needs assessments.
Recommendations: Capitalization of the capacity building should be done at regional level, e.g. making training material at disposal to other countries in the Congo Basin and West Africa. The recruitment of the consultants will a determining factor of success.
The project is in line with FLEGT priorities, in respect to the forest sector development at national level.
The last Joint implementation Committee underlined the importance for the private sector to enforce the law. Organizing internal audit based on the legality definition and develop an actions plan with a set of corrective actions will certainly help logging companies to be better prepared when the LAS system will be fully operational.
75
1.2
CAM CERAD - Centre de recherche et d'action pour le développement durable en Afrique Centrale
Appui au renforcement des capacités de contrôle de la conformité des titres forestiers valides et opérationnels aux exigences des grilles de légalité de l’APV
Objective : To strengthen the capacities of the forest companies and forest managers, to improve compliance to the VPA legality grid of Cameroon
Recommendations: It would be important to develop from the experience gained in this project, to develop the concrete approaches on bigger scale in a more formal and legal context. Therefore, make sure to work in close collaboration with the MINFOF and the GFBC to anticipate the SIGIF2 implementation.
The initiative is addressing a key element in the VPA verification process by strengthening the capacities of forest companies/checking conformity of valid forest titles with the legality requirements of the VPA-FLEGT process.
To ensure an efficient VPA implementation, the FLEGT action plan evaluators recommend to identify milestones together with material incentives, in order to progressively move towards a nationwide legalization of the production. In light of this, the present project stands as an important milestone on the way towards VPA implementation.
73.5
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# Country
Service Provider
Proposal Title
Expert observations Strategic Importance
Score
1.3
DRC GI-AGRO - Grouped’Initiatives pourl’Agroforesterie enAfrique
Gouvernance locale des galeries forestières et savanes sur le Plateau des Bateke
Objective: Implement a rational and sustainable forest resources management, through a local and participative approach
Recommendations: rescale the project at a more realistic timespan and zone, e.g. by concentrating on one single site to make develop the entire concept (results 1-6) and then consider, in a later stage, how this experience can be used elsewhere. A special effort should be put in the project coordination during the implementation phase, given the complexity of the whole work-plan. The idea of building on the past projects is excellent.
Concrete village-based forest management approaches are important pilot experiences to improve FLEGT implementation at the local level.
73
1.4
DRC FIB - Fédération des Industriels du Bois
Appui au renforcement des compétences des acteurs non étatiques à la législation et réglementations du secteur forestier en RDC
Objective : improve the understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the administration in regard to the timber supply chain, by the forest sector stakeholder, and propose a manual of procedures covering the chain from production to trade
Recommendations: prior to its start, the project needs to be more precise in terms of both, the description of the problem and the methodology, and also on the expected outputs, notably the procedures manual for domestic timber in the DRC and the RBUE passport.
In the current context of the politico-administrative changes in the framework of decentralization, each step that can help to organize procedures is relevant on the way to a fully accountable FLEGT process.
78
1.5
DRC ACEFA - Association Congolaise des Exploitants
Projet de Formation de 40 formateurs en législation forestière et en normes d’exploitation
Objective: constitute a body of trainers, specialized in delivering practical trainings to various types of stakeholders, in both sustainable management and governance of the forest sector.
Recommendations: the project should focus on Kinshasa area. It is necessary to address the issue of timber traceability from the exploitation site to Kinshasa, which is the most risky part. Finally integrating practical activities is absolutely necessary to ensure a high capacity of the future trainers.
This project targets key players of the timber industry, and possibly the main players of the FLEGT process, in an approach that will reinforce capacities towards the FLEGT action plan implementation.
74.5
1.6
HND ANASILH - Asociación
Proyecto de fortalecimiento de lascapacidades
Objective: Strengthen the capacities of ANASILH and its members to promote compliance in the establishment, management,
ANASILH is considered as a national stakeholder with considerable
73.5
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# Country
Service Provider
Proposal Title
Expert observations Strategic Importance
Score
Nacional de Silvicultores de Honduras
del fomento, legalidad, comercio y gobernanza forestal de los reforestadores y MiPymes locales organizados en la Asociación de Silvicultores de Honduras (ANASILH)
use, processing, and marketing of timber and timber products from forest plantations.
Recommendations : The project has a strong potential to rally SMEs in the Honduran VPA process, but will need thorough revision for better formulation, alignment with Programme objectives, and integration of a Gender component
convening power that can mobilize its members behind the idea to reach legal and sustainable management of forests and wood resources. By bringing a good share of its members behind the VPA/FLEGT approach, it can help to create a strong constituency for FLEGT development in Honduras.
1.7
HND CH-CFV - Consejo Hondureño para la Certificación Forestal
Facilitando el proceso AVA-FLEGT, aplicando mecanismos que incentiven a los actores de la cadena forestal al uso responsable del bosque, buscando beneficios económicos, ambientales y sociales
Objective : Promoting responsible consumption of sustainable forest products by government, private sector and consumers in general, with the aim of encouraging responsible forest management and conservation of Honduran forests
Recommendations: The project is carefully drafted and the objectives fully in line with the advancement of FLEGT in the country. It could foster excellent conditions for the implementation phase of the VPA in Honduras.
Very innovative approach with a cross-sectorial vision, which also seeks to capitalize on lessons-learnt from other countries with advanced legal procurement policies
80.5
1.8
HND RETE - Technicians Association for International Cooperation and Solidarity
Implementación de un modelo para la rastreabilidad de madera proveniente de aprovechamientos y fuentes legales
Objective: To create the conditions to implement a sustainable forestry chain of custody and enhance the value of local production under a system of forest certification and participatory planning by indigenous communities.
Recommendations: The project is well focused to deliver on the level of one single cooperation but misses an element to upscale on lessons learnt. It would be important to link the project with broader national processes and closely work out the particular elements and synergies between the legality approach of FLEGT, controlled wood and FM certification. In particular, the project would benefit to link with ICF, currently finalizing its
Honduras has vast FSC certified areas and only few experiences in controlled wood approaches. VPA arrangements and voluntary certification however are two different approaches and this needs to be clearly understood by the stakeholders. Working with a cooperative on such issues is innovative and can bring lessons to other cooperatives in Honduras.
73.5
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# Country
Service Provider
Proposal Title
Expert observations Strategic Importance
Score
traceability system with Programme funds.
1.9
LAO LWPIA –
Lao Wood Processing Industry Association
Enhancing private sector participation in the VPA process in Lao PDR
Objective : To strengthen the role of the private sector in the FLEGT VPA process through better understanding of and compliance with the legal framework and supply chain control by wood processing enterprises (SMEs).
Recommendations: The capitalization of the results and lessons learned could be more clearly stated. The skills transfer events are of adequate duration and have sufficiently small numbers to be effective. Follow up to the training by working with pilot companies should yield useful results for ultimate promulgation. Budget is clear but there are some items notes that seem overly costly, needs some reworking.
As also stated by key stakeholders in the country (EU Del and MS), the proposal can be very important to enhance private sector engagement in the FLEGT process.
73.5
1.10
LBR FDA –
Liberia Forestry Development Authority
Establishment of Comprehensive and Reliable Forest Products and Marketing Information System (FPMKIS) for Effective Policy and Decision Making in Liberia’s Forest Sector
Objective : To enhance the forest sector stakeholder’s capacities to make better-informed decision on timber and timber products prices, production and export volumes, processing facilities, investment, and trade/marketing, employment through relevant, appropriate, correct, timely and accurate data information.
Recommendations: The proposal is perhaps too ambitious for the budget requested and for the complexities of the task ahead. A more sustainable and feasible proposal could be funded firstly through a DA to pilot a project to define the scope and purpose of a FMIS for Liberia and to identify through effective stakeholder engagement and working groups the basic strategy for the system development. Based on the results of this first action then a broader project to develop the actual system could be taken into consideration.
An effective FMIS is a high priority for Liberia both for the VPA process and more in general to promote Sustainable forest management, to enhance transparency and access to information. Therefore strong efforts should be made to move the process forward, also through this proposal.
70.5
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# Country
Service Provider
Proposal Title
Expert observations Strategic Importance
Score
1.11
LBR GAI –
Green Advocates International
Civil society – private sector collaboration in Liberia to promote Legal compliance with the FLEGT VPA Action Plan and the EU Timber Trade
Objective : To strengthen the capacity of the Liberia Timber Association (LTA) through training in order to better understand and comply with the requirements under the FLEGT VPA Action Plan and the EU Timber Trade Regulation.
Recommendations: The proposal needs some reworking to make sure a clear and coherent strategy is laid out to meet the objective. Attention should also be given to the sensitization of stakeholders to ensure long term sustainability of proposed actions. Training of trainers and focal points within LTA members are good concepts but proponents need to properly tailor the skills transfer events to attendees to be effective in building the necessary levels of understanding in the time propose.
Further considerations regarding possible funding for this project should take into account past experiences with this organisation which resulted in mismanagement of funding and a relatively poor implementation of the action.
Increased capacity of the private sector is considered one of the highest priority for Liberia. Within the Liberian context sharing of lessons with different stakeholders through experience sharing tours, regional workshops and a roundtable dialogue is indeed an innovative concept, and cooperation, and mutual learning has clear value added.
The EU Delegation expressed a stong favourable opinion for this activity at the Concept Note level.
70
LOT 2: Supporting the VPA negotiation/implementation process
2.1
CIV AVSI –
AVSI Côte d'Ivoire
Renforcement des capacités et accompagnement à une formalisation durable des acteurs du secteur informel de la filière bois par une approche genre et jeunesse dans les trois quartiers d’Abidjan (Abobo, Treichville et Yopougon),
Objective: gather and organize informal actors of the wood industry in order to improve their representability in the context of the VPA negotiations; and introduce them in the formal value chain through a youth and gender approach.
Recommendations: post training follow up is highly recommended to ensure a sustainable ownership of the skills by the participants. Reflection on the gender aspect can be deepened: the role of women in family businesses has to be taken into account.
The project deals with an important component of the FLEGT process in supporting a smooth development of the national woodworking sector in major urban areas, which is characterized by an ever increasing market for wood in construction, furniture and other uses.
The FLEGT AP evaluation encourage in CIV a support to the organization, structuration and a better control of timber flows, within
77
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# Country
Service Provider
Proposal Title
Expert observations Strategic Importance
Score
les villes de Yamoussoukro, de Bouaké et de San Pédro pour assumer leur rôle dans le processus APV
the illegal value chain. This would positively impact the efforts towards the progressive integration of the domestic market in the VPA. This pilot initiative is perfectly in line with this recommendation.
2.2
CAM CIFOR –
Center for International Forestry Research
Essor des demandes publiques et privées en sciages d’origine légale au Cameroun
Objective: organize legal timber procurement promotion campaigns towards public administrations, construction industry and individual customers, and monitor the evolution of these demands.
Recommendations: a specific monitoring of this project would be of interest with the objective to use lessons-learnt in the context of other African VPA countries.
Public and private demands for legal sawn timber is a key area within the VPA, addressing the legalization of the Cameroon’s domestic timber market.
As highlighted in the FLEGT action plan evaluation section on Cameroon, the implementation of a public procurement policy at the national level, in the context of a dynamic and well established domestic market, is highly relevant. Support to the domestic market through SMEs is essential, favoring its integration into the national and regional economies, and improving the competitiveness of Cameroon’s timber industry.
76.5
2.3
CAM FASA –
Faculté d’agronomie et des sciences agricoles
Renforcement des capacités des professionnels (y compris les formateurs)
Objective: contribute to the improvement of forest governance and legality by providing three training offers, within renowned universities, developed in a participatory approach and meeting the needs of both the
Developing FLEGT issues at university level education is an important prerequisite for the long-term sustainability of forest governance.
71
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# Country
Service Provider
Proposal Title
Expert observations Strategic Importance
Score
(FASA), Université de Dschang
et des apprenants des institutions de l’enseignement supérieur dans la mise en œuvre de l’APV
national and international labor market.
Recommendations: the project should be integrated in some wider and longer-term funding. The current time frame and budget are not realistic. Another approach could be to develop needs assessment with clear development of a curricula, tailor-made to the various audiences and eventually develop some seminar type of interventions that could be repeated over 2-3 years. It would make sense to include other educational centers, such as the forestry school in Mbalmaio and others.
In anticipation of an effective Legality Assurance System implementation, strengthening capacities of the future MINFOF agents is fundemental.
2.4
PRC FSC-CBO - Forest Stewardship Council - Congo Basin Office
Multi-level capacity building to improve the safeguarding of rights of Indigenous People and Local Communities (IPLCs) and their true participation in responsible forest management
Objective: support the implementation of the VPA process in targeted countries (Cameroon, CAR, DRC, Gabon and
Republic of Congo) by helping stakeholders to comply with the FLEGT legality matrices related to rights and roles of Indigenous people and local communities (IPLC).
Recommendations: reflect on the sensitive issue of representability of the IPLCs (language and ethnical dimension). The process need careful approaches in the selection of the «experts», the way how they develop their ToR and how they are «trained». This project should be seen as the “kick-off” of a long term process that will be carried through FSC over a longer period of time.
It is important to create a real expert platform on IPLCs rights in the VPA/FLEGT approach, and in particular regarding the application of free, prior and informed consent.
70
2.5
GHA TBI –
Tropenbos
Building and sharing evidence on women’s roles along Ghana’s timber commodity chain and establishing a women’s network for inclusive
Objective: To generate and share empirical information on women’s roles, resources and vulnerabilities along Ghana’s timber value chain and its implications on FLEGT/VPA processes and to organize women and build their capacity to influence dialogue on social safeguards for inclusive FLEGT/VPA implementation.
Recommendations: Much of the success will depend on the individuals recruited to run the
The most valuable element of this proposal is the expected production of clear and needed documentation and information on the current and potential role of women and youth at different stages along the timber commodity chain. This is supposed
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# Country
Service Provider
Proposal Title
Expert observations Strategic Importance
Score
FLEGT/VPA implementation
project and those selected to participate. Attention should be given to proper selection of project management to avoid risks and better definition of implementation strategy. More details on the budget should be required.
to enhance understanding of women role and assess potential economic opportunities for them and encourage their involvement in SFM.
2.6
GHA RUDEYA –
Rural Development and Youth Association
Towards the Establishment of Civil Society/Community led Independent Monitoring Mechanisms in Support of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement Processes
Objective : To develop and implement a Civil Society/Community led independent monitoring (IM) strategy in three pilot forest Districts (FDs) - (Nkawie, Goaso and Dunkwa) in 15 months, contributing to effective VPA implementation
Recommendations: Proponents would need to get in contact with other actors already working on IM in Ghana to make sure a synergic workplan is developed. This proposal is well developed but needs to be more explicit on how it will engage with logging operators as part of the IM process. It is also being spread too thin by working in three regions and should reduce the number of localities and increase the level of resources applied to those remaining.
This proposal can successfully and beneficially complement and maximize the impacts of current IM projects undertaken in Ghana. It enables capitalization of lessons learned and can contribute to the establishment of a functional and pervasive IM system in Ghana.
72
2.7
GHA SOSYWEN - Southern Sector Youth and Women Empowerment Network
Towards an inclusive VPA: mainstreaming women’s and youth’s priorities in legal and sustainable forest management
Objective : To contribute to the successful implementation of Ghana’s FLEGT VPA by ensuring the priorities of marginalized groups, especially women and youth, are represented and mainstreamed in sustainable forest management (SFM) and forest governance through their participation in dialogue, decision-making, implementation and monitoring of the Ghana-EU VPA
Recommendations: This is a worthwhile proposal that deserves support if it is revised and restructured to maintain the overall strategy but make it a more effective one. This requires active inputs to create opportunity for strengthened voices from marginalized groups to be heard as well as strengthening them, so that empowerment is effective. It also
The project is one of the few in this round of CfP that addresses the issue of gender in forest governance. It responds to the FLEGT priority action on gender. The proposal builds on lessons learned and looks into the question of sustainability by developing indicators for monitoring of women and youth to be embedded in current impacts monitoring structure.
72.5
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# Country
Service Provider
Proposal Title
Expert observations Strategic Importance
Score
needs to utilize smaller groups rather than the very large events proposed and to give more resources to the underpinning research and development that will support the whole process.
2.8
HND FDsF - Fundación Democracia sin Fronteras
Construcción de sinergias entre las Plataformas de Gobernanza Ambiental para contribuir a la negociación/implementación del AVA en Honduras
Objective: Improve forest governance and legal timber trade through capacity building for the effective impact of the Olancho Governance Platform in the process of transition from negotiation to implementation of the VPA.
Recommendations: Good proposal from a high profile actor. The project could however benefit from a revision of the workplan for better consistency, and a potential downscale of the budget. The Forest Governance Platforms are vital elements in the VPA negotiation process and potentially help to strengthen the overall aim of improving forest governance and setting priorities in future VPA implementation.
The Forest Governance Platforms are vital elements in the VPA negotiation process and potentially help to strengthen the overall aim of improving forest governance and setting priorities in future VPA implementation
77
2.9
HND FMV - Fundación MaderaVerde
Fortaleciendo la capacidad de incidencia de las Plataformas de Gobernanza en Atlántida y Colon, para lograr un AVA viable para todos
Objective: Strengthen the participatory management and advocacy capacities of the Atlántida and Colon Governance Platforms.
Recommendations: Solid proposal from a stakeholder having demonstrated excellent results with a prior grant.
As mentioned above: Support to the Forest Governance Platforms is important to support national capacities in FLEGT/VPA processes.
82
2.10
LBR FCI - Foundation for community Initiatives
Increasing community capacity in monitoring and active participation in the VPA process
Objective: The objective of the project is to enhance the information base and skills of forest community dwellers especially women, youths, and Community Based Organizations (CBOs) in the implementation of the FLEGT /VPA for the purpose of active participation in monitoring and securing their rights and benefits.
Recommendations: This proposal could be funded provided the proponent is willing to make the clarifications and changes suggested for improvement, in
One of the few projects dealing with marginalized groups in Liberia. It intends to promote
dialogue and better interactions of vulnerable groups such as
women and youth with the local authorities, whereby contributing to their empowerment and increased
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# Country
Service Provider
Proposal Title
Expert observations Strategic Importance
Score
terms of duration and better sequencing of activities, more details on budget and better capitalization and sharing of lessons learned. it needs perhaps to be framed less optimistically and more realistically
representation in decision-making fora.
2.11
LBR ACORD - Association of Community Rights Defenders
Strengthening community governance structures to contribute to independent forest monitoring and oversight of forest operations
Objective : To increase the capacity of the community governance structures known as Community Forestry Development Committees (CFDC) and Community Forestry Management Bodies (CFMB) to conduct independent forest monitoring (IFM), so that these communities are able to effectively monitor and report on logging in their customary forests to improve implementation of the VPA.
Recommendations : Focus is on building capacity within CFDCs and CFMB's about communities and logging companies rights and obligations vis-à-vis each other. This is a good proposal that with some minor modifications is likely to be successful and could be a valuable pilot. Slight budget changes and promoting demonstration visits from other communities would be useful.
ACORD works within the framework of CS-IFM, and is closely connected with other partners in the NGO coalition. Project is continuation of ongoing work, not exactly innovative, but it is a proven concept and has clear added value. Moreover a direct intervention to empower communities might very well lead to sustainable outcomes
74.5
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List of all 40 proposals ranked by score
Country SP Proposal Title Score
HND FMV - Fundación MaderaVerde
Fortaleciendo la capacidad de incidencia de las Plataformas de Gobernanza en Atlántida y Colon, para lograr un AVA viable para todos
82
HND CH-CFV - Consejo Hondureño para la Certificación Forestal
Facilitando el proceso AVA-FLEGT, aplicando mecanismos que incentiven a los actores de la cadena forestal al uso responsable del bosque, buscando beneficios económicos, ambientales y sociales
80.5
DRC FIB - Fédération des Industriels du Bois
Appui au renforcement des compétences des acteurs non étatiques à la législation et réglementations du secteur forestier en RDC
78
CIV AVSI - AVSI Côte d'Ivoire Renforcement des capacités et accompagnement à une formalisation durable des acteurs du secteur informel de la filière bois par une approche genre et jeunesse dans les trois quartiers d’Abidjan (Abobo, Treichville et Yopougon), les villes de Yamoussoukro, de Bouaké et de San Pédro pour assumer leur rôle dans le processus APV
77
HND FDsF - Fundación Democracia sin Fronteras
Construcción de sinergias entre las Plataformas de Gobernanza Ambiental para contribuir a la negociación/implementación del AVA en Honduras
77
CAM CIFOR - Center for International Forestry Research
Essor des demandes publiques et privées en sciages d’origine légale au Cameroun
76.5
CAR WWF Renforcement du rôle du secteur privé dans la mise en œuvre de l’APV-FLEGT RCA-UE
75
DRC ACEFA - Association Congolaise des Exploitants
Projet de Formation de 40 formateurs en législation forestière et en normes d’exploitation
74.5
LBR ACORD - Association of Community Rights Defenders
Strengthening community governance structures to contribute to independent forest monitoring and oversight of forest operations
74.5
CAM CERAD - Centre de recherche et d'action pour le développement durable en Afrique Centrale
Appui au renforcement des capacités de contrôle de la conformité des titres forestiers valides et opérationnels aux exigences des grilles de légalité de l’APV/FLEGT Cameroun
73.5
HND ANASILH - Asociación Nacional de Silvicultores de Honduras
Proyecto de fortalecimiento de las capacidades del fomento, legalidad, comercio y gobernanza forestal de los reforestadores y MiPymes locales organizados en la Asociación de Silvicultores de Honduras (ANASILH)
73.5
HND RETE - Technicians Association for International Cooperation and Solidarity
Implementación de un modelo para la rastreabilidad de madera proveniente de aprovechamientos y fuentes legales
73.5
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Country SP Proposal Title Score
LAO LWPIA - Lao Wood Processing Industry Association
Enhancing private sector participation in the VPA process in Lao PDR
73.5
DRC GI-AGRO - Grouped’Initiatives pour l’Agroforesterie en Afrique
Gouvernance locale des galeries forestières et savanes sur le Plateau des Bateke
73
GHA SOSYWEN - Southern Sector Youth and Women Empowerment Network
Towards an inclusive VPA: mainstreaming women’s and youth’s priorities in legal and sustainable forest management
72.5
GHA TBI - Tropenbos Building and sharing evidence on women’s roles along Ghana’s timber commodity chain and establishing a women’s network for inclusive FLEGT/VPA implementation
72
GHA RUDEYA - Rural Development and Youth Association
Towards the Establishment of Civil Society/Community led Independent Monitoring Mechanisms in Support of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement Processes
72
CAM FASA - Faculté d’agronomie et des sciences agricoles (FASA), Université de Dschang
Renforcement des capacités des professionnels (y compris les formateurs) et des apprenants des institutions de l’enseignement supérieur dans la mise en œuvre du Plan d’Action FLEGT-APV au Cameroun
71
LBR FCI - Foundation for community Initiatives
Increasing community capacity in monitoring and active participation in the VPA process
71
LBR FDA - Liberia Forestry Development Authority
Establishment of Comprehensive and Reliable Forest Products and Marketing Information System (FPMKIS) for Effective Policy and Decision Making in Liberia’s Forest Sector
70.5
COG FSC-CBO - Forest Stewardship Council - Congo Basin Office
Multi-level capacity building to improve the safeguarding of rights of Indigenous People and Local Communities (IPLCs) and their true participation in responsible forest management
70
GHA GTMO - Ghana Timber Millers’ Organization
Building Collaborative Skills and Legality Compliance Capacity of the Formal and the Informal Small and Medium Forest Operators for the Supply of Legal Timber to the Domestic Market
70
GHA KWC - Kumasi Wood Cluster Association
Strengthening awareness of SMFEs on FLEGT licensing in the Transitional and Savannah Zones of Ghana
70
LBR GAI - Green Advocates International
Civil society – private sector collaboration in Liberia to promote Legal compliance with the FLEGT VPA Action Plan and the EU Timber Trade
70
CAM ASD - Action for Sustainable Development
Appui à la certification « Origine Légale du Bois (OLB) » de l’Union des Groupes d’Initiatives Communes de Foresterie Communautaire pour l’obtention des certificats de légalité FLEGT (OLB-FLEGT)
67.5
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Country SP Proposal Title Score
CIV CSCI - Convention de la Société Civile Ivoirienne
Projet d’accompagnement du processus APV – FLEGT en Côte d’Ivoire
67
DRC CA - Christian Aid Préparation de la mise en oeuvre de l’Accord de Partenariat Volontaire (APV) dans la province forestière de la Tshuapa en République Démocratique du Congo (RDC)
66.5
CIV GAMBY - Groupement des Artisans des Métiers du Bois de Yopougon
Promotion de la légalité du bois sur le marché national à travers la mise en place d’une centrale d’achat de bois d’origine légale.
66
HND COLPROFORH - Colegio de Profesionales Forestales de Honduras
Facilitando el conocimiento del AVA-FLEGT y su enlace con las leyes nacionales, y la comprensión del EUTR y normas de comercio relacionadas.
62.5
CAR FDD-JE - Réseau Forêt et Développement Durable-Jeunesse et Environnement
Promouvoir les droits et la participation des femmes rurales du massif forestier du sud-ouest de la RCA dans la mise en oeuvre de l’APV-FLEGT (prefectures de la Lobaye et de la Sangha Mbaéré)
61
GHA GIF - Ghana Institute of Foresters
From Conflict to Cooperation: Towards A Mutually Beneficial Timber Utilization Contract Regime for Effective FLEGT/VPA Implementation in Ghana
61
CIV AOE - Association des ONG de l'Environnement
Mise en œuvre de l’Observation Indépendante Mandatée (OIM) dans les concessions forestières du domaine rural (CFDR) ex Permis d’Exploitation Forestière de la région du Tonkpi en Côte d’Ivoire
58
PRC FGDH - Forum pour la Gouvernance et les Droits de l’Homme
Projet d’amélioration de l’efficacité des rapports de l’OIFLEGT et de renforcement des capacités des CLPA en matière de suivi et de plaidoyer sur les questions de légalité forestière
56.5
GUY GMSA - Guyana Manufacturions and Services Association
Efficiency Assessment & Development of a Costing Model for Secondary Sawmill Processing Facilities
55.5
LBR VOSIEDA - Volunteers To Support International Efforts In Developing Africa
Increasing Private Sector and SMEs Participations and Compliance with VPA in Liberia
46.5
THA FTI - The Federation of Thai Industries
Develop National Standard Chain of Custody/Due Diligence System to fulfil legal gaps in order to conform to FLEGT
40.5
LAO LBA - Lao Biodiversity Association
Creating Capacity for CSO and Forest Communities Participation in FLEGT
37
LAO PADETC - The Participatory Development Training Center
Sustainable use and better management of forest through empowered community to participate in FLEGT and VPA dialogue process
35.5
GHA TIDD - Timber Industry Development Division
Enhancing Stakeholders interest in the Domestic Timber Trade Network (DottNet) Process to meet the demand and supply of legal timber on the Domestic Market in Ghana
34
GUY FTCI - Forestry Training Centre incorporated
Achieving FLEGT VPA compliance through improved human resource accessibility
31
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Expert Panel Terms of Reference
Objective
The FAO FLEGT Programme is seeking project evaluation experts with strong knowledge in forest law
enforcement, governance and trade, and to serve on the Expert Panel responsible for the review of
proposals.
Context
The FAO Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Programme, started in 2015 and
funded through the European Commission (Contribution Agreement GCP/GLO/600/MUL), and other
national Donors (UK DfiD, Swedish SIDA) support eligible country government, civil society and private
sector organizations to implement projects that address FLEGT-related issues. Projects are awarded
through a competitive call for proposals. Submitted proposals are screening for eligibility by the
Programme Management Unit and scoring by the Expert Panel. See programme website for additional
details (http://www.fao.org/forestry/fao-flegt/en/). This Terms of Reference outlines the
requirements of the expert panel members to complete the evaluation of proposals submitted
through the call for proposals.
Responsibilities
Under the supervision of the Programme Manger, the Expert Panel is responsible for the technical
review and evaluation of proposals received under the “call for proposals” and for drafting the Expert
Panel Report.
Tasks
All submitted projects are uploaded in an online database which can be accessed by Expert Panel
members through internet. The database provides for online information about the proposal,
proponent, a copy of the proposal and the budget. All information can be downloaded and reviewed
via this online process. Online scoring forms are available for each proposal. Using this system, each
Expert Panel members will work individually and as a group to complete the following tasks:
1. Evaluate each proposal and provide:a. a score and observations per criterion; andb. an overall description of the quality of the proposal including a summary list of its
strengths and weaknesses.2. Reconcile outlying scores or any issues arising during the evaluation process.3. Finalize scores for each proposal4. Provide a list of recommend proposals that should be considered for funding by the Steering
Committee5. Contribute to a final Expert Panel Report that will contain at least:
a. general overview of the evaluation methodology;b. results and recommendations from the Expert Panel (including a short explanation for
selection of each project recommended for funding);c. comments to the Project Management Unit on the effectiveness and efficiency of the
proposal selection process and recommendations for improvements, as appropriate;and
d. an annex with the scores for all projects, the recommended action regarding eachproposal (recommended for funding – not recommended for funding) andobservations.
6. The Lead Expert Panel member will be responsible for compiling comments and completingthe final Expert Panel Report.
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80
Methodology overview
• All proposals will be uploaded into the online database system by the Programme Management Unit. Each Expert Panel members will receive an access code and password from the Programme Management Unit.
• Each Expert Panel member will be assigned a list of proposals to review by the Programme Manager.
• Each proposal will be reviewed and scored by at least 2 panel members.
• Scores from the two Expert Panel members are automatically compiled and averaged by the database system and a list of proposals scoring 70 or higher will be automatically generated.
• Panel members will work through email, online database and phone calls to complete the tasks assigned in the Terms of Reference.
• The Programme Manager will coordinate online fora as required to facilitate communications with and between Expert Panel members, however all Panel Members are expected to establish communications as required to complete the Terms of Reference.
Contract duration
The Expert Panel member contracts will be based on days worked during a specified period and will
be determined based on the total number of proposals to be evaluated. There is the possibility to
extend the contract for subsequent proposal evaluation cycles.
Work location
Expert Panel members will evaluate proposals from their office and are expected to be available for
conference calls or during other scheduled working sessions. Any required travel during this contract
period will be approved prior to travel and covered through the FAO-FLEGT Support Programme.
Qualifications
1. University degree (MS or PhD) in Forestry, Economics, Anthropology, Social Sciences or related field
2. Demonstrated understanding of small to medium sized project evaluation, development and management
3. Strong analytical and evaluation capacity 4. Knowledge of FLEGT-related issues and experience with implementation of FLEGT-related
initiatives 5. Ability to prepare clear and concise comments on proposals and draft reports 6. Ability to work in English and at least one of the other programme languages (French or
Spanish)
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Expert Panel member biographies
Amparo VanDerZee, a dual national of Colombia and the Netherlands, has a M.Sc. in sustainable rural
development with emphasis in natural resources management. She is a lawyer specialized in Agro-
environmental Law at the Free University of Colombia. Her experience includes work as an agrarian
jurist expert (1993 - 1995) in the Programme for reintegration of war veterans in El Salvador, then as
an agricultural lawyer (1995 - 1999) in Nicaragua, both in the framework of EU-funded Programmes.
Over the past six years, she has worked as a consultant in a programme for the Modernization of the
Forestry Sector of Honduras, financed by the EU and GIZ. At the same time, she led a consultancy on
the characterization of the Dry Corridor of Central America for ACF Spain, and FAO Nicaragua. She has
then acted as facilitator for the VPA negotiation in Honduras. Her role as a facilitator focused on (i)
facilitating the VPA-FLEGT negotiation process with multiple actors in accordance with the work plan
agreed between the government of Honduras and the EU; (Ii) liaise with the EU; And (iii) manage
knowledge-sharing and promotion of exchanges on FLEGT and the VPA negotiation process.
Blaser Jürgen Dr, BA MA PhD, is Professor for International Forestry and Climate Change at the School
for Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences of the Bern University of Applied Sciences and also acts as
the Global Advisor on Forests and Climate Change to the Swiss Agency for Development and
Cooperation. Between 2002 and 2011 he was the head of the Forest and Environment Team and Vice-
Director of Swiss Intercooperation. From 1996 to 2001 he was Senior Forestry Advisor at the World
Bank. Previously, he worked for more than 15 years in international forest development cooperation
with assignments in Latin America, Africa, Asia and Russia. He was chair of the International Tropical
Timber Organisation and led the development of the Status of Tropical Forest Management Reports
2005 and 2011 for ITTO. More recently, he has advised the World Bank on the design of the Forest
Investment Programme, and was a core member of the Technical Advisory Panel for the Forest Carbon
Partnership Facility. He also led the external evaluation of FAO’s work in forests and forestry in 2011-
2012. Jürgen Blaser has previously served on the Boards of CIFOR and Tropenbos, and is currently
serving on the Board of the Tropical Forest Foundation and the Sustainability Panel of Precious Woods.
Blundell Arthur G Dr, PhD (Natural Capital Advisors, LLC) led the UN’s Panel of Experts monitoring
sanctions, including timber, in Liberia for the Security Council in the early 2000s. He currently works
with the Government of Canada and the Indonesian Corruption Eradication Commission on
international best practices in governance of mining, and with Forest Trends on forestry reform post-
conflict/post-transition from military dictatorship. He has worked with the African Development Bank
to incorporate forestry into the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI); with FAO on forest
governance monitoring; with the World Bank's Profor on conflict and forestry; and with Transparency
International on anti-corruption monitoring. He has a PhD from Dartmouth College where he had a
Fulbright Scholarship, conducting research in Kalimantan, Indonesia in the 1990s.
Hardcastle Patrick Dr, BSc (For) MSc MBA FICFor is a British forester with over 40 years’ experience of
forestry worldwide and is a well-known and highly respected figure in international forestry circles
and in many forestry departments around the world. He worked for the Malawi Forestry Department
for 12 years, then spent 10 years teaching at university level at Oxford and at Aberdeen. He has been
an international consultant since 1991 working for a wide range of clients including bilateral and
multilateral donors, commercial enterprises and civil society organizations. His wide experience
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82
encompasses temperate and tropical plantations and natural forest management, economics and
planning, rural development forestry, institutional change, national and international policy and
related processes. He brings clear understanding of the linkages from forest level to policy level as
well as of the place of forestry in wider environmental and national development frameworks and has
recently been increasingly involved in climate change related issues.
He has extensive experience of project and programme M&E and of working on project assessment
panels, including for DFID Forestry Research Programme and Congo Basin Forestry Fund, ITTO, the UK
Darwin Initiative, EU, FAO and the Scottish Government’s International Development Fund. He is
currently overall team leader of the Real-time Evaluation of Norway's International Climate and Forest
Initiative.
Noiraud Jean-Marie is a tropical agronomist engineer and consults as a planning specialist. Mr. Noiraud has worked for 28 years in nine countries of COMIFAC in Central Africa and has lived in Burundi, Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon. Based in Yaoundé, he manages a consulting firm specialized in planning, rural and sustainable development, forestry and agriculture with project and survey teams. He provides planning support to forestry policy development for COMIFAC and member states and various donors to prepare, evaluate, design, monitor forestry and conservation programs and projects. His firm is also contracted to provide technical support to private forest companies on environmental impact surveys and FSC processes, and with conservation and development NGO to plan and draft activities. Recently, in support of FLEGT activities, Mr. Noiraud developed the legality matrix in Cameroon to assist the government prepare for the VPA negotiation process and managed a multitude of meetings and workshops addressing FLEGT, AFLEG, FSC, sustainable forest management policy, strategy and operational planning in Central African countries.
83
Annex 4. 2017 work plan
Annex 4. 2017 work plan
85
ANNEX 4
Overview – annually work plan 2017
Impact
Forest sector stakeholders achieve improved forest governance, legality of timber produced and traded
on domestic, regional and international markets, and more equitable forest management systems
Overview 2017
The 2017 work plan is written in two parts. Part one is organized based on the programme Outcome,
Output and Activity areas defined in the logical framework. The green boxes describe the tasks that the
Programme Management Unit has defined and will undertake in 2017. Part two of the work plan is a
country by country listing of the VPA countries which briefly describes the main actions FAO supported
in previous years, a very basic outline of the PMU’s perspective on priority issues and finally a section
that lists all of the projects that have been endorsed for funding for the respective country. The PMU has
made every effort to eliminate duplication between the parts one and two, but clearly the two are
strongly linked as many of the annual tasks are designed as backstopping or support to the endorsed
projects.
Summary of key tasks
Outcome 1 – Support to VPA countries
- Conduct one call for proposals in VPA countries targeted by priority actions locally identified;
- Continue promoting direct assistance at the country level as this has proven a component of the
programme resulting in significant impacts on target issues;
- Organize / fund 5 country level stakeholder or project coordination meetings based on request
(target countries include Cameroon, Honduras, Central Africa Republic, Vietnam, Thailand and
Ghana);
- Support continued inclusion of indigenous groups and community forestry actions in the VPA
process in Honduras and Cameroon as well as other countries upon request;
- Support learning and experience sharing on independent monitoring and ensure support to
stakeholders in DRC, Ivory Coast and CAR as well as across regions.
- Support law enforcement actions – including develop understanding of and implementation of
CITES decisions, in particular focus on Asia Lower Mekong region and the Congo Basin.
Outcome 2 – Support to non-VPA initiatives
- Complete situational analysis, workshops and strategic documents; provide these for review by
the country-based Executive Committee and programme Steering Committee members;
- Identify and initiate projects;
- Support local platform(s) to maintain the open dialogue on the governance processes;
- Continue building partnerships and cross-sectoral coalition for improved governance work;
- Explore opportunities for and initiate actions on public / private procurement of timber
products.
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86
Overview – annually work plan 2017
Outcome 3 – Private sector support
- Review and finalize country-level private sector assessment findings and recommendations
initiated in 2016 and launch reviews in new countries;
- organize meetings in-country to verify and confirm report findings and prioritize support actions
that can further understanding and build capacity for legal compliance;
- Organize country-level private sector assessments in additional counties;
- Develop a catalogue of private sector organizations operating in FAO FLEGT priority countries
- In partnership with the GTF, IWPA, WRI, EFI and ATIBT, support development of business-to-
business communication resources;
- Support regional private sector workshops.
Outcome 4 – Information and knowledge sharing
- Provide communication and media support as requested for preparation and launch of FLEGT
licensed timber in collaboration with FLEGT partners or for other major planned events;
- Develop a communications and media outreach training module targeted to FLEGT practitioners
and media in VPA countries;
- Evaluate phase II lessons learned and based on this develop recommendations for work under
Phase III;
- Conduct research on developing best mechanisms for integrating FLEGT-related REDD+ actions
in countries moving towards REDD+ piloting or implementation phase;
- Provide support as requested to improve knowledge and understanding between major timber
products markets.
Outcome 5 – Monitoring acheivements and impacts from the FLEGT Action Plan
- Provide information to VPA coordination bodies on available resources; receive proposed
actions and provide support as requested;
- Mobilize FAO knowledge and experience to provide input to the process of developing
indicators, provide data and integrate data collection into FAO systems as appropriate or
feasible;
- Support the completion of the IMM reports for 2015 and 2016 as requested.
Management and Oversight:
0.1 Organize two steering committee meetings
0.2 Ensure staffing based on country priorities and efficient management of programme resources
0.3 Provide inception training and financial and management backstopping to all Service Providers
0.4 Organize annual planning meetings and internal Team meeting to conduct SWOT analyses and
programme evaluation
Annex 4. 2017 work plan
87
Outcome 1
Voluntary Partnership Agreements contribute to improved forest sector governance and timber legality
on domestic and international markets
Overview: Outcome 1 supports governments to lead and stakeholders to participate in the preparation
for, negotiation and implementation of VPAs in countries currently negotiating or implementing a VPA.
Support is targeted directly to governments and the private sector through a Direct Assistance mechanism
for implementation of priority and urgent actions that directly contribute to the VPA process. Further
support to government institutions and civil society organizations is also provided through competitive
calls for proposals issued periodically.
Output 1.1
Stakeholders understand their respective roles in the VPA process
Description of Action: Stakeholders generally understand their respective roles in most VPA countries
based on the themes and number of proposals received from local stakeholders and based on field
observations. However, there are opportunities to increase awareness and understanding by local
stakeholders as countries transition through the different phases of negotiation, development and
implementation. Different types of knowledge and level of understanding are required during the
different phases of the VPA, such knowledge is often acquired through experiential learning. FAO will
ensure that projects that support information and knowledge sharing between stakeholder groups are
prioritized through the promotion and funding of country level learning opportunities and stakeholder
coordination meetings. Several activities have been defined for 2017 based on the overview of the
activities outlined in the Programme’s logical framework. Additional actions under this output will be
defined by stakeholders themselves through demand driven call for proposals.
Activities:
1.1.1 - Conduct stock-taking (desk study) of project results through phases 1 and 2 of the Programme to
better target project selection mechanisms and thematic topics in VPA counties
1.1.2 - Country priorities identified through inclusive consensus-based approaches together with
identified actions to meet challenges to improved forest governance
1.1.3 - Differing awareness of roles is clearly defined and followed
1.1.4 - Awareness raising on all aspects of forest governance and FLEGT Action Plan, including stakeholder
rights and responsibilities, through appropriate modalities at all levels
Tasks for 2017:
- 1.1.1. Stocktaking from Phase II is underway; specific actions are defined in Outcome 4;
- 1.1.4. Ensure effective dissemination of lessons learning and of FLEGT related information
resulting from FAO, EFI and other partner organizations within stakeholder groups and fora
organize or co-organized by FAO.
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Output 1.2
Stakeholders have the knowledge, skills and technical information needed to fulfil their role in the VPA
process
Description of action: Stakeholders are equipped with the appropriate skills and necessary information
required in order to effectively contribute and actively participate in the VPA process which consists of
pre-negotiations, negotiations, systems development and implementation phases. Through a demand
driven process or as requested by Government or the private sector through Direct Assistance, the FAO
FLEGT Programme supports training needs assessments and various capacity building development
activities in order to facilitate stakeholder involved in the VPA processes.
Activities:
1.2.1 - Training needs assessments and skills audits for FLEGT VPA at a range of levels undertaken
1.2.2 - Potential alliances across and with stakeholder groups identified and supported through improved
coordination and active creation of alliances
1.2.3 - Conduct training actions that address needs of VPA implementation
Tasks for 2017:
- 1.2.1. Identification of training needs in under-represented stakeholder groups (e.g. women and
youth);
- 1.2.2. Organize / fund 5 country level stakeholder or project coordination meetings based on
request (target countries include Cameroon, Honduras, Central Africa Republic, Vietnam,
Thailand and Ghana);
- 1.2.2. Encourage partnerships between different stakeholder groups (Public-Private-Civil Society
Partnerships) to reinforce capacities at both national or cross countries levels;
- 1.2.3. Continue funding training activities related to the VPA. VPA modules will be introduced in
Forestry Degrees (Cameroon), technical trainings for small operators on site (Ivory Coast),
training civil society on Independent Forest Monitoring (Indonesia) and training consejos
consultivos forestales on Independent Forest Monitoring and chain value (Honduras).
Output 1.3
Priority activities that support the negotiation, development and implementation of the VPAs are
implemented
Description of action: Top priorities for the VPA process are identified, based on the progression of the
process and the roadmap validated during the negotiations. The project selection is done in coordination
with the stakeholders, and ensures the participation of each stakeholder groups
Activities:
1.3.1 - Platforms and mechanisms developed for improved local level forest governance including rights
and tenure issues, conflict resolution and participatory management
1.3.2 - Modalities and communication systems strengthened to enhance effective engagement of
communities and indigenous groups in VPA design and delivery, including community scale logging
activities
1.3.3 – Governments, CSOs and private sector actors are supported to implement key elements of the
VPA or related elements of the FLEGT Action Plan
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Tasks for 2017:
- 1.3.1. / 1.3.2. Support the implementation of the VPA process in the Congo Basin by helping
stakeholders to comply with the FLEGT legality matrices related to rights and roles of Indigenous
People and Local Communities. The Programme will assess tenure systems to help formalise
smallholder and community timber production in Thailand, help promote commercial
Community Forestry by developing the Standard Operating Procedures needed to roll out the
revised Community Forestry Instruction in Myanmar, support SVLK certification of Village
Forests in Indonesia and support the drafting the TLAS Annexes and the corresponding multi-
stakeholder consultations in Thailand. The programme will also help the multi-stakeholder
platform in Honduras to apply the VPA matrices related to labour and tax issues;
- 1.3.3. Conduct one call for proposal in the 2nd Quarter of 2017 that targets specific challenge
areas of the VPA as defined on a country by country basis. A targeted and simplified terms of
reference will be developed for each country targeting 1 – 2 specific themes that require
attention before the VPA can advance;
- 1.3.3. Promote Direct Assistance to VPA country government institutions.
Output 1.4
Innovative, effective and inclusive law enforcement processes are developed and tested
Description of action: Support to develop holistic processes to strengthen law enforcement and legal
verification for export and domestic markets in VPA countries by providing technical assistance to improve
the monitoring of forest activities and helping create consensus and political will around priority reforms.
Activities:
1.4.1 - Develop joint strategies to support law enforcement activities in VPA countries with other UN
Agencies
1.4.2 - Knowledge of and capacity for independent monitoring built, especially within civil society and
community/indigenous groups, including effective collection, exchange and use of information
1.4.3 - Civil society-led independent monitoring of forest resources in connection to the Ghana Voluntary
Partnership Agreement - CSOs actively monitoring the issuing of a transparent, credible and acceptable
FLEGT license
1.4.4 - Strengthen female participation and gender equality in stakeholder discussions, project activities
and governance dialogue through support to woman and community rights to forest management and
governance
1.4.5 - Existing forestry legal frameworks and national strategies analysed and improved to address illegal
logging through broad-based approaches
1.4.6- Monitoring of large scale conversion (Agro-industry, infrastructures), in the forest sector in the
Congo basin
1.4.7 - Support cross-border collaboration to reduce/eliminate opportunities for illegal trade
Tasks for 2017:
- 1.4.1. Through the UN-REDD Programme, FAO will support the design and operationalization of
the Forest Crime or Violation Database which will inform the Company Risk Classification
System of the Vietnam TLAS;
- 1.4.2. /143 Based on Cameroonian experience, the Programme will build capacities of civil
society in DRC, Ivory Coast and CAR to conduct IM missions through official and external
mechanisms. In Indonesia and Guyana, the programme will support efforts to build the capacity
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of civil society-led IM through a combination of trainings and hands on monitoring in the field.
The Programme will also strengthen SVLK implementation by building the capacity of the Anti-
corruption agency, government agencies and Independent Forest Monitors;
- 1.4.4. In Liberia, the Programme will support gender analysis in chainsaw timber, charcoal and
agriculture supply chains. The Programme will contribute to the development of systems to
assess and monitor impacts of gender work within FLEGT initiatives in Liberia and to the inclusion
of gender sensitive issues in the community forestry development in Liberia. Support the
Confederation of “Pueblos Autóctonos de Honduras” in collaboration with UNDP to develop the
FPIC (social safeguard mechanisms) and conflict resolution related to this process;
- 1.4.5. Contribute to the development of implementation regulation of new forest codes in Ivory
Coast and Congo. FAO will support further integration of VPA implementation as one of the
significant Policies and Measures of Vietnam’s National REDD Action Programme;
- 1.4.6. Strengthen the efficiency of involved parties in the monitoring of large-scale investments
in forested areas, in order to reduce the risk of illegal logging - monitor illegal logging and forest
cover change for non-logging investments in the Congo Basin;
- 1.4.7. Support understanding of and implementation of CITES decisions, in particular focus on
Asia Lower Mekong region and the Congo Basin. In particular, the Programme will support the
Thai Government to address the issue of illegal logging and trafficking of Siamese rosewood;
Output 1.5
Government and private sector put in place in VPA countries procurement policies and incentive
structures promoting the use of legal wood products.
Description of action: The majority of activities under the FLEGT Action Plan have focused on developing
actions and strategies to address illegal logging in global markets. However, most VPAs in Central and
West Africa have also added requirements for domestic market coverage under the VPA Legality
Assurance Systems. Research and project results under the first two phases of the FAO FLEGT Programme
have demonstrated that on average 50% or more of timber produced in VPA countries is also consumed
in the domestic markets. These markets are generally informal, poorly organized, and often function
independently from the international markets. To develop both a demand and supply side push for
addressing the domestic markets in VPA countries, FAO will make resources available to local
stakeholders to build greater understanding of the structure of the markets, incentives for increasing legal
timber production and consumption, pilot actions to strengthen legal supply chains and explore options
for developing procurement policies which create favourable environment for legal and ideally
sustainable sources.
Activities:
1.5.1 Conduct an assessment to better understand options for development and application of incentives
which promote increased legality in the forest sector, including preferential purchasing through public
and private procurement policies. The study would cover best practices in countries currently considering
policies as well as seeking case studies
1.5.2 Organize learning events to share experiences and develop best practices for implementing
procurement policies, make information available to stakeholder groups in at least 2 pilot countries.
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Tasks for 2017:
- 1.5.1. Publication of ‘’National demand for sawn wood in Cameroon - A barrier to or an
opportunity for promoting the use of timber resources of legal origin?’’;
- 1.5.2. Promoting timber legally sourced for public purchases, private companies providing
constructions for the public sector, local consumers in order to increase the use of legal timber
on the domestic market. The UN-REDD and FAO FLEGT programmes will help the two main
Private Sector Associations of Vietnam (HAWA and Binh Dinh TA) to develop association level
Due Diligence Systems to help members comply with VNTLAS DD requirements related to the
sourcing domestic and imported timber.
Outcome 2
Initiatives that support legal production and consumption of timber and better forest sector governance
in countries that are not engaged in the VPA process are strengthened
Objective of Outcome 2 is to raise awareness of the key components of the FLEGT Action Plan and initiate
activities under the FLEGT Action Plan which will lead to improved legality of timber products, improved
transparency and better governance in the forest sector, consistent with the priorities of the government
and national stakeholders. By the end of 2017, all of the 7 non-VPA countries engaged through the FAO
FLEGT Programme would have initiated a multi-stakeholder dialogue that identifies priority work areas
for each country (three countries have completed their workshops – Colombia, Peru and Madagascar).
Each country will have initiated at least 5 projects and established at least one partnership with a relevant
initiatives and/or other development agencies to ensure that programme actions are complementary to
wider efforts to improve forest governance in the country.
Output 2.1
A governance strategy is agreed through a multi-stakeholder process
Description of action: FAO FLEGT Programme is implementing multi-stakeholder processes in selected
Non-VPA countries to identify key governance challenges that can be addressed through the programme
funding and which will form road maps for country activities. It is expected that priorities identified
during these planning processes which begins with a Situational Assessment followed by a National
Priority Setting Workshop will also be picked up by other partners who would contribute to addressing
the overall governance challenges. Situational analysis and stakeholder workshops have been conducted
in Columbia, Peru and Madagascar, which have resulted in the identification of key priority areas for the
programme funding.
Activities:
2.1.1 - Conduct stock-taking (desk study) of project results through phases 1 and 2 of the Programme to
better target project selection mechanisms and thematic topics in non- VPA countries
2.1.2 - Organize country-level stakeholder information workshops, coordination meetings and
information sessions with policy makers to raise awareness and understanding on FLEGT/Improved
governance processes
2.1.3 - Inclusive, consensus-based approaches to improved forest governance identified and developed
Tasks for 2017:
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- 2.1.1. Complete the situational analysis through a desk study and local interviews as
foundational information for the subsequent country-level stakeholder workshop in
Mozambique, Guatemala and Uganda;
- 2.1.2. Conduct multi-stakeholder workshop to identify priority governance challenges to be
addressed in the Philippines, Mozambique, Guatemala and Uganda;
- 2.1.2. Share situational analysis with the Steering Committee members with a short summary
of recommendations following the country level workshops;
- 2.1.2. Develop at least one partnership with a relevant initiatives and/or other development
agency in each country in order to ensure that programme actions are complementary to
wider efforts to improve forest governance in the country. In Mozambique and Uganda, the
programme has developed strategies building on a wider initiative by the WB Forest
Investment Program (FIP);
- 2.1.3. Conduct a planning process to define a road map for country activities with the country
stakeholders in the 7 non-VPA countries. After country priority action areas have been defined
in the stakeholder workshops the FAO FLEGT team will meet with relevant stakeholders to
support them with a more detailed planning of the activities.
Output 2.2
Processes to define legal timber production and trade procedures are developed and adopted for
implementation
Description of action: A key component to improving legality in domestic and international timber
markets includes ensuring a common and clear understanding of the legal framework by all actors. This
will also assist in developing sufficient law enforcement mechanisms (whether through the FAO
programme or other initiatives). To date, only the Philippines have specifically requested assistance to
define legal timber production and trade processes. However, it is expected that some level of work will
be developed specifically on this topic in each of the country strategies.
Activities:
2.2.1 - Appropriate timber legality definition developed through transparent processes and agreed by all
relevant stakeholders and actors
2.2.2 - Support development and piloting of national traceability control and verification systems,
including independent and community/ indigenous group monitoring
2.2.3 - Investigate and adapt systems to ensure applicability and facilitate uptake including by small and
medium enterprises and local groups engaged in small-scale logging
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Tasks for 2017:
- 2.2.1. / 2.2.2 / 2.2.3 Activities related to this output will be supported as identified in the
national stakeholder workshops. For example in the Philippines, stakeholders have requested
support to consolidate the Private Sector Code of Conduct or Guideline on Chain of Custody
and Due Diligence, to develop missing elements of the National TLVS and to develop key
elements of the National Certification Scheme. As part of the REDD+ and FLEGT work in PNG,
the FAO FLEGT programme will support a gap analysis of the PNG TLAS.
- 2.2.1. / 2.2.2 / 2.2.3 Updates on the country activities will be presented in the 2017 Steering
Committee progress meeting. These activities will be conducted through calls for proposals,
tender for action or direct assistance requests;
- 2.2.2. In Colombia, the stakeholders have requested support for a national traceability and
control system, while in Peru activities to be supported include indigenous community forest
monitoring.
Output 2.3
Implementation of forest sector governance strategies are inclusive and well-coordinated
Description of action: The programme seeks to ensure effective processes at the country level that
include multi-sector and multi-stakeholder approaches to develop a joint vision for improved forest
governance in these countries. The Programme actions in the country level are anchored into existing
processes and are consistent with the objectives of these. Support will focus on actions that continue to
promote these existing processes and ensure inclusion of diverse stakeholder groups in these processes.
Activities:
2.3.1 Awareness of and information availability on legislation, policies, rights and responsibilities
improved
2.3.2 Transparent and participatory review of relevant legislation and regulations conducted, leading to
revision and adoption of improved forest governance framework
2.3.3 - Coordination with other public sector bodies in addition to forestry (inter alia agriculture, mining,
land use planning, finance) improved, to include broader range of actors in governance strategy
implementation
Task for 2017:
- 2.3.1. Provide support through the identified platforms in non-VPA countries to ensure
continued dialogue on forest governance issues, actions and required next steps;
- 2.3.2. Provide support through direct assistance or projects on a demand driven basis to
ensure review of legislation and regulatory systems that accompany ongoing governance work.
2.3.3. The programme is mindful that forest sector reform must, in addition to being multi-
stakeholder, must also be multi-sector. All programme activities will include information to and
inclusion of relevant line-ministries.
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Output 2.4
Stakeholders are empowered to participate in processes to promote inclusive forest governance and
legal timber production and trade procedures
Description of action: While providing support through improved governance strategy development,
funded projects are expected to have positive impacts on how countries address their overall governance
challenges, it is also noted that stakeholders involved in these processes require additional support to
institutionalize open space for dialogue and exchange, as well as to develop understanding at all
stakeholder group levels. In particular marginalized stakeholders or those that do not always have access
to dialogue platforms required additional targeted support to develop understanding and ensure that
their voices are heard at the national level and that they have the required skills to achieve their
objectives. To these ends, the programme will support through demand driven processes and through
observation during country missions the following activities:
Activities:
2.4.1 - Platforms and mechanisms developed for improved local level forest governance
2.4.2 - Raising awareness and building skills in local /indigenous communities for application of FLEGT to
their logging activities
2.4.3 - Training needs assessments and skills audits at a range of levels undertaken
2.4.4 - Support cross-border collaboration to reduce/eliminate opportunities for illegal trade
Tasks for 2017:
- 2.4.1. /2.4.2. /2.4.3. / 2.4.4. Issue national level tenders for actions defined in the country
strategies. These actions can be addressed through direct assistance to government or private
sector or through targeted tenders for service providers to address defined actions as well as
possible general calls for proposals.
Output 2.5
Government and private sector put in place in non-VPA countries procurement policies and incentive
structures promoting the use of legal wood products.
Description of action: Under this output, FAO will work with governments and private sector associations
to better understand the market structure and opportunities for implementing incentives which can
create a more even supply scenario, in particular the potential of procurement policies (both public and
private sector led). These policies will complement the current improved governance strategies that are
being developed at the national level and will help provide complementary incentives from the demand
side to implement these processes.
Activities:
2.5.1 Research possible incentives, cost/benefit and scenarios for public and private procurement
strategies in 3 test countries.
2.5.2 Organize stakeholder dialogue at the country level to share perspective on procurement policies.
Tasks for 2017:
- 2.5.1. / 2.5.2. Provide support through to projects related to public and private procurement
strategies / policies in countries where procurement issues have been prioritized in national
stakeholder workshops. For example, in Peru, the stakeholders have requested a project that
will pilot private procurement strategies for the “furniture and finishing’s” value chains.
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Similarly, the support for the Pact for Legal Wood in Colombia will include activities related to
public and/or private procurement. Uganda has expressed interest in improving incentives for
domestic market production and legal procurement of timber products as a market incentive
for more efficient and legal local production.
Outcome 3
The capacity of the private sector to participate in the production, marketing and trade of legal timber
has increased
Overview: The primary focus area under Outcome 3 includes support to SMEs to understand
requirements for legal compliance, the demands and opportunities influencing the market and the
promotion of legal and fair access to domestic markets by facilitating dialogue between authorities and
producers – especially where markets are unclear. Activities to support SMEs will be defined based on
the current ongoing work by EFI and FAO to assess and understand the composition and challenges facing
private sector actors in targeted countries. A second focus area under Outcome 3 will be engaging larger
companies which have consistently requested information and support to understand legality
requirements. Under Outcome 3, FAO will continue to collaborate with trade associations that represent
large exporters such as the European Timber Trade Federation (ETTF), the Global Timber Forum (GTF)
(co-initiated by FAO in 2013) and the Association Technique Internationale des Bois Tropicaux (ATIBT) to
ensure coherent and accurate information is available to private sector organizations and the businesses
they represent.
Output 3.1
Private sector composition, incentives and market dynamics are better understood
Description of action: In 2016, FAO and EFI have initiated a number of private sector studies that focus
on SMEs, domestic markets and to a lesser degree larger scale regional and international trade dynamics
impacting the VPA countries. Focus areas in this reporting period include the lower Mekong region (EFI-
led work), Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, DRC, Cameroon, Colombia, Honduras, Peru, Guatemala and the
Philippines (FAO FLEGT programme rapid assessments). The overall objective is to bring greater
understanding of the issues facing forest sector businesses to improve legality compliance and access
markets by country, and the results will help FAO and EFI better target support actions at the individual
country level.
Activities:
3.1.1 - Complete joint learning and stock taking of private sector support actions, assessment what has
stimulated engagement in governance processes, gaps and needed actions
3.1.2 - Commission and/or undertake studies on the wood supply and processing sectors, including
artisanal level, to characterise volumes, values, efficiency, profitability and impact of legality
requirements
3.1.3 - Characterise and document timber flows at local, national and regional levels and identify
intervention points to improve compliance with FLEGT and similar systems
3.1.4 - Undertake studies on barriers and impediments in timber product trade and develop harmonised
parameters and data collection to facilitate compliance checking
Tasks for 2017:
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- 3.1.1. Develop a catalogue of private sector organizations operating in FAO FLEGT priority
countries. This will provide an essential starting point to capture information on organizations
and groupings representing private sector interests, such as associations and federations,
including their constituency and objectives (this is currently being developed in collaboration
with the GTF, EFI, IUCN, WRI and other regional institutions);
- 3.1.2. Review and finalize country-level private sector assessment findings and
recommendations initiated in 2016 (DCR, Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Ghana, Guatemala,
Colombia, Peru, Honduras, and the Philippines) and launch reviews in new countries;
- 3.1.2 Where appropriate, organize meetings in-country to verify and confirm report findings
and prioritize support actions that can further understanding and build capacity for legal
compliance;
- 3.1.2. Design and conduct additional country level assessments in Indonesia, Malaysia,
Ecuador, Madagascar, Mozambique, Liberia, Uganda and Vietnam.
Output 3.2
Private sector stakeholders understand obligations for legal compliance and the demands that are
influencing markets
Description of action: Regarding international markets, private sector associations in producer countries
have consistently reported a lack of understanding for the legal obligations to sell their products on
international markets, while consumer country associations lack access to dialogue with producers at all
levels. Regarding domestic market producers, legal requirements are often unclear or are poorly applied,
often in the case of small scale loggers and micro enterprise there are few incentives to follow the law
or it is rendered difficult due to market forces. Under output 3.2, the programme will seek to promote
greater dialogue and understanding between traders from producer and consumer countries to
understand how best to comply with the diverse sets of regulations, as well as promote greater
understanding of legal requirements at the national level.
Activities:
3.2.1 - Raise awareness on all aspects of FLEGT Action Plan through improved access to information and
enhanced communication within and between private sector actors
3.2.2 - Promote better understanding of EUTR and related trade and certification standards leading to
more cost-effective systems
Tasks for 2017:
- 3.2.1. In partnership with the Global Timber Forum, IWPA, WRI and ATIBT, support
development of business-to-business communication resources which will be adapted with
stakeholders in each country and disseminated by private sector through country-specific
channels, including industry events, fora, trainings etc.;
- 3.2.1. Through support to individual project partners, awareness raising delivered to specific
target audiences in VPA and non-VPA countries based on demand;
- 3.2.2. Support private sector associations, to design and organize regional fora in Africa, Asia
and Latin America, to raise awareness on common challenges and opportunities, develop
regional networks of private sector associations and build coalition to strengthen voices for
“good wood” and legal practices in the sector in partnership with the Global Timber Forum and
possible with ATIBT, other partner organizations.
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Output 3.3
Policies and legal frameworks are reviewed and revised to promote fair access to forest resources and
increase productive and decent employment in the forest sector as an engine for poverty reduction
Description of action: Based on the developed understanding resulting from work under outputs 3.1 and
3.2, the programme will seek to provide additional support to review policies and legal frameworks with
the view to support a stakeholder driven process to improve likelihood of application and increase
market driven incentives to comply (as opposed to strictly deterrence incentives) that favour small
holder – domestic market producers, while at the same time, promote more environmentally sound use
of forest resources and decent employment.
Activities:
3.3.1 - Commission and/or undertake comprehensive reviews of rights and tenure leading to
identification of barriers and providing basis for equitable reform
3.3.2 - Investigate and adapt systems to ensure applicability and facilitate uptake including by small and
medium enterprises and local groups engaged in small-scale logging
3.3.3 - Cost-benefit studies conducted to underpin legal reforms leading to simplified and incentivised
legality compliance processes, including barriers and opportunities around compliance
Tasks for 2017:
- 3.3.1. Through support to individual project partners, policies and frameworks are reviewed by
specific audiences on demand. For example, the assessment of the Liberia Chainsaw milling
regulation;
- 3.3.2. Support development of purchasing policies with public and private entities as demand
and opportunities arise. For example, in Ghana, provide support to private sector actors to
promote and build on the proposed public purchasing policy referencing legal wood currently
under review in parliament; in Peru support artisanal furniture producers to develop
preferential purchasing relationships with US-based furniture buyers; in Cameroon, promote
public and private procurements of legal timber on the domestic market;
- 3.3.3. Value chain assessments in 4 countries to determine (conducted in collaboration with
the Governance and Policy Team in FAO).
Output 3.4
Private sector stakeholders have the skills to comply with legal frameworks and access markets
Description of action: Output 3.4 supports skills development based on demand from stakeholders such
as associations. In additional to needing a legal environment that empowers small holders and micro
enterprise to operate legally in their respective markets, these enterprises require significant skills
training.
Activities:
3.4.1 - Support training and skills building including training of trainers for all aspects of FLEGT Action
Plan, including national legislation and regulations and changed practices such as legality audits
3.4.2 - Undertake training and skills building relating to changed field activities and business
administration that support FLEGT related outcomes
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3.4.3 - Foster responsible forest management and market transformation that increases the supply of
and demand for legal timber – support demand and supply side innovations that promote legal timber
on regional markets
Tasks for 2017:
- 3.4.1. Through the regional private sector association workshops and relationships with
associations in each priority country, identify training needs and appropriate mechanisms for
delivering the support;
- 3.4.1. Support provided based on demand-driven processes and results from the country level
assessments and stakeholder workshops;
- 3.4.1. Support logging concessions and communal forests in complying with the VPA legality
requirements, by following a wildlife management plan and monitoring its enforcement
(Cameroon). Support private sector associations and SMEs to enhance the understanding of
and compliance to the TLAS by increase access to information on legality requirements for local
businesses, provide relevant training and improve their production and marketing capacity
(Vietnam, Lao);
- 3.4.3. Implement innovative timber traceability system with different type of private sector
actors (private concessions, national forests, community forests) in order to improve the forest
management, the compliance to the legality requirements, and the communication capacities
on legally sourced timber (Cameroon).
Output 3.5
Private sector stakeholders are empowered to self-organize and to participate in governance processes
Description of action: Where associations do not exist or do not have access to governance dialogues,
the FAO programme will provide resources on demand to help stakeholders organize and participate in
governance dialogues.
Activities:
3.5.1 - Support effective trade and industry bodies in exchange of knowledge and experience on FLEGT
Action Plan and secure representation in governance discussions in producing and consuming countries
3.5.2 - Support to improve international communication and networking between timber trade
federations - Support private sector organizations to contribute to market reforms that reduce the illegal
use of forest resources and benefit poor people and which promote legal and sustainable industry
3.5.3 - Support the development and test of compliance models for private sector SMEs; support
understanding and implementation of compliance models - Support to assess and support improved
compliance with international best legality standards in the Handicraft and Woodcraft industry
association of Vietnam
3.5.4 - Identify barriers to compliance and seek innovative solutions including access to finance and other
resources that aid and support compliance
Tasks for 2017:
- 3.5.1. Activities will be based on demand from local stakeholders or through the identification
of needs through the regional workshops or country level assessments being conducted. One
example of this work includes support provided in Ghana, DRC, Ivory Coast and Cameroon to
help the coalition of SMEs to organise and access legal timber and markets. In Myanmar, FAO
will conduct an institutional review of the Forest Product Producer Federation to identify
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potential support for improvement of internal governance, policy development, service
delivery and communication;
- 3.5.2. Provide funding and strategic support to associations and private sector platforms such
as ATIBT and the Global Timber Forum to promote the benefits of producing and sourcing legal
timber production. Support will be provided for a series of regional fora to help build greater
regional understanding;
- 3.5.3. Support the Handicraft and Woodworkers Association (HAWA) of Vietnam, forest
concessionaires in CAR and community forests in Cameroon to conduct internal needs
assessment of to compliance with the VPA standards. Support the SMEs associations in
Indonesia to engage and participate in International Furniture and Trade Fairs in order to
promote FLEGT Licensed furniture and crafts and increase market access of these SMEs;
- 3.5.4. Private sector assessments outlined under activity 3.1.2 will also identify some of the
barriers and obstacles for private sector to comply with legality requirements at the specific
country level.
Output 3.6
Synergies between VPA and certification systems promoted by facilitating close coordination of
processes at national level, and alignment of support initiatives at all levels.
Description of action: There are clear synergies between the TLAS developed under a VPA, and initiatives
to demonstrate legality and/or sustainability through certification schemes, which are usually voluntary
and function through operator level compliance verification. There are also a growing number of national
certification systems being developed and implemented, which may be voluntary or regulatory. In a
simple representation, the VPA TLAS serves as a national level system to demonstrate legality, and
certification can play a strong role in helping private sector prepare for meeting these national
requirements in addition to achieving operator-level performance recognition. The majority of the VPAs
signed to date already acknowledge the potential complementarity of certification and are prepared to
recognize dual-compliance following a comparison of standards. This has yet to be fully realised in
practice, but the potential for reduced verification demand for TLAS when operators are already certified
through a private or national scheme is very positive and can facilitate the feasibility of TLAS
implementation. There are also many lessons learnt from over two decades of private, voluntary
certification in the forest sector which will benefit VPA design and implementation. Private sector in
many countries have invested significantly in certification and are keen to avoid duplication. To these
ends, FAO will seek to better understand the linkages and potential synergies between VPAs and public
and private certification schemes, and seek options to promote these initiatives in the context of each
particular VPA.
Activities:
3.6.1 Compile information from studies and reviews of the current uses, benefits and challenges facing
companies employing certification, to inform actions and support in the VPA context.
3.6.2 Collaborate in training and capacity building initiatives with certification and verification service
providers and private sector associations, to ensure coherent and consistent messages regarding legality
compliance, and to reach larger private sector organizations
3.6.3 Align messages with certification and verification service providers to promote market incentives
for legal forest products including public and private procurement policy development
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Tasks for 2017:
- 3.6.1. Support the forest administration in building a collecting and archiving system, for the
documents required to issue legality certificates (Cameroon);
- 3.6.1. Support future compliance to VN TLAS Legality Definition and Supply Chain Control
requirements by testing integrated Chain-of-Custody (CoC)/Due Diligence System (DDS) group
certification of SMEs using FSC and PEFC systems (Vietnam).
- 3.6.1. Explore TLAS compliant national Forest Management (FM) and Chain of Custody (CoC)
certification standards which would facilitate future compliance and perhaps even mutual
recognition of voluntary certified operators under the TLAS (Vietnam).
- 3.6.3. Developing ASEAN level mechanism to promote synergies and compatibility between
VPA TLAS and voluntary certification with key regional partners such as RAFT, GIZ and EFI.
Outcome 4
Stakeholders in both consumer and producer countries demonstrate an improved knowledge of
benefits from legal logging, international trade requirements and of best practices for forest law
enforcement, governance and trade.
Overview: Outcome 4 is cross cutting and will provide support for the communication and information
and knowledge sharing aspects of the Programme. This includes support to the development, analysis
and sharing of information relevant to key governance and market issues identified by Programme
stakeholders. The Programme will build on FAO’s renowned knowledge-sharing and information-
disseminating capacities as well as its role as a neutral and honest broker to increase access to
information and quickly convene stakeholders, which will also be facilitated by the Organization’s global
reach.
Output 4.1
Country-level FLEGT-related stakeholders develop and implement FLEGT-related communication plans.
Description of action: Effective communication, establishing key messages and targeting the appropriate
audience are significant challenges when communicating positive results from implementing aspects of
the FLEGT Action Plan. Under this output of the FAO will work closely with the communication team at
EFI to provide complementary communication support based on demand from country requests
including topics: launch of FLEGT Licensed timber; stakeholder communication training; and media
training.
Activities:
4.1.1 - Assist in developing and implementing country-level communication strategies in association with
the EFI FLEGT Communication Strategy
4.1.2 - Provide fora for national level training and support for media outreach – in partnership with EFI
and other UN Agencies
Tasks for 2017:
- 4.1.1. Provide communication and media support to Ghana as requested for preparation and
launch of FLEGT licensed timber in collaboration with FLEGT partners; support for country level
information dissemination;
- 4.1.2. Develop a communications and media outreach training module targeted to FLEGT
practitioners and media in VPA countries; pilot test stakeholder and media training in three
VPA countries.
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Output 4.2
FLEGT-related information, knowledge and experiences effectively collected, analysed and shared at
national, regional and global level.
Description of action: FLEGT information developed through projects and by local stakeholders is rarely
developed in neat and user-friendly modules. The data must be gleaned from field experiences form a
multitude of countries. The programme will seek to organize both external opportunities to assemble
and share information and lessons learned as well as compile the extensive outputs and lessons from
Phase II of the FAO FLEGT Programme. Information will be made available through workshops, special
events, publications and short news items.
Activities:
4.2.1 - Promote information exchange opportunities on FLEGT leading to national policy changes on
timber procurement, use and trade that incorporate legality requirements
4.2.2 - Support information collection and sharing mechanisms to optimise exchanges of learning and
experience on FLEGT actions
4.2.3 - Conduct regional seminars to provide information, exchange experiences and share knowledge
about existing and emerging issues including FLEGT, REDD+, Illegal forest conversion, forest tenure and
land rights, etc
4.2.4 - Support south-south experience sharing – bringing stakeholders together to exchange
information on technical and policy issues
Tasks for 2017:
- 4.2.1. Organization of a global FLEGT Symposium or contribution to other international events
in order to facilitate exchange among FLEGT practitioners on experience of FLEGT
implementation;
- 4.2.1. Organize a Phase II lessons learning event in Rome to present findings to FLEGT
practitioners and regional permanent representatives of the Food and Agriculture
Organization;
- 4.2.2. Evaluate phase II lessons learned and based on this develop recommendations for work
under Phase III, including:
o Document lessons learned in key thematic areas and programme results in a final
Phase II report
o Organize or contribute to thematic expert meetings on key topics to discuss findings
among key resource persons and enhance understanding for work under Phase III.
Potential topics are “Creating Incentives for SMEs for legal compliance and access to
formal markets”, “Streamline VPA compliance” and “Synergies of FLEGT and Trade
Initiatives to tackle deforestation (deforestation-free supply chains)”
o Include a strong forward-looking component by formulating policy recommendations
and opportunities to build on in Phase III and develop briefing notes on key emerging
issues
Output 4.3
Experience on national timber traceability, control and verification systems consolidated and
communicated especially at regional level
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Description of action: Many of the FAO projects have addressed some aspect of traceability of timber on
domestic and international markets and sought to make systems more reliable and cost effective for the
variety of uses. Furthermore, there has been extensive reflection on the positive impacts of forest sector
governance when multi-stakeholder dialogue on system needs and design precedes development of
traceability systems.
Activity:
4.3.1 Promote exchange of experience and lessons learned on traceability, control and verification
Task for 2017:
- 4.3.1. Publication of a white paper on traceability and its impacts on forest sector governance.
Output 4.4
Relevant studies undertaken that enhance understanding and have wider value-added for FLEGT related
processes
Description of action: FAO FLEGT established in 2014 a “learning agenda” for a number of emerging
FLEGT related. It is expected that annually several learning areas are identified and further
understanding is compiled and made available through relevant channels – communications.
Activities:
4.4.1 - Promote synergies and mutual compliance between legality and certification systems to minimise
duplication and complexity
4.4.2 - Undertake studies that lead to improved knowledge of revenue collection, illegal activities,
licensing, prosecution, etc. and provide a basis for revision of current control systems including
incorporation of artisanal and local production
4.4.3 - Promote operational linkages with other initiatives, to encompass broader range of high-level
actors from other sectors and ensure complementarity of FLEGT related actions (REDD+; poverty
reduction; food security; land use and land tenure, sustainable supply chains, etc.)
Task for 2017:
- Conduct research on developing best mechanisms for integrating FLEGT-related REDD+ actions
in countries moving towards REDD+ piloting or implementation phase (conducted in
collaboration with REDD+ Team) This work will ensure alignment of FLEGT-related elements (in
Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) and non-VPA countries) with national REDD+
strategies and action plans and related investment plans, with a view to enhancing the
effectiveness of REDD+ implementation in 1-2 target countries in the Latin American and
Asia/Pacific regions each.
Output 4.5
Improved multilateral dialogue is facilitated between major timber products markets, notably the EU,
US, Japan, Australia, South Korea, India, Brazil and China on the problem of imports of illegally sourced
wood products.
Description of action: Demand side legislation and initiatives to reduce domestic and foreign sources of
illegal timber have been in place for approximately 8 years and have now been tested through a number
of cases that have been brought to courts and arbitration. These initiatives provide valuable experience
and can build the foundation for wider consumer driven incentives to demonstrate legality in
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international markets. Further, effective demand side initiatives could be a foundational support to
addressing the challenges of global climate change by effectively increasing incentives for improved
forest management in many timber supplying and processing countries around the world. In all
international fora organized recently it has been agreed that legal timber should be the norm and not
something to strive for, and sustainable managed forests should be the higher level objective.
Activities:
4.5.1 Conduct a study to enhance the understanding of global timber trade flows, existing demand side
measures and their effectiveness
4.5.2 Support the European Commission as requested to exchange among major consumer countries
with existing demand side measures
4.5.3 Explore opportunities to provide increased understanding to UN Member countries through
information sharing at multi-lateral fora (such as FAO events and APEC meetings – upon invitation).
Task for 2017:
- Provide support as requested to improve knowledge and understanding between major timber
products markets;
- Provide support as needed to organize multi-lateral dialogue in the forest sector.
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Outcome 5
The progress, achievements and impacts of the FLEGT action plan are better understood and information
is made available through updated, robust and user-friendly information system.
Output 5.1
Robust indicators to monitor the overall impact of the FLEGT action Plan are defined and tested;
monitoring of progress against indicators is conducted at global level.
Description of Action: The last 13 years of effort have resulted in an extensive range of commitments
and documentation of progress and achievements towards improving timber legality and forest
governance. However, to date there are few indicators and formal methods to understand, assess and
concretize objective impacts of the FLEGT Action Plan. The work under Result 5 will be organized
through a coordinated approach between FAO, CIFOR and EFI to ensure the development of robust
indicators to describe achievements and impacts of the FLEGT Action Plan, ensure consistent and
available support for demand driven impact monitoring support to countries working towards a VPA,
and ensure continued reporting under the Independent Market Monitoring programme.
Activity:
5.1.1 Co-support and participate in expert resources meetings to better understand and define the
specific impact areas under the FLEGT Action Plan.
5.1.2 Support the development of methodologies to collect data, provide available data currently
collected through FAO resources, and integrate where possible data collection into current FAO data
collection systems such as FRA and the statistics databases in FAO.
5.1.3 Support the development of user-friendly data management systems to ensure availability of
information to users globally.
Tasks for 2017:
- Tasks to be defined
Output 5.2
Support to national level impact monitoring of VPAs is provided on a demand led.
Description of Action: Each VPA requires systematic monitoring of impacts in a number of common areas.
FAO in collaboration with EFI and CIFOR will provide on demand support to local stakeholders in VPA
countries to understand and develop strategies for impact monitoring. Support could include general
understanding of methods, development of methodologies or targeted support to address data
collection or other aspect of implementing an impact monitoring strategy.
Activity:
5.2.1 Provide information and knowledge sharing between countries on best practices of impact
monitoring systems, country specific processes and possible exchange opportunities between countries
on impact monitoring.
5.2.2 Support development of impact monitoring systems, development of proxy monitoring criteria,
methods to address specific thematic areas of on-going development of impact monitoring systems.
Support the development and testing of components of impact monitoring systems.
5.2.3 Support data collection or consolidation of data for components where data availability is weak or
does not exist.
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Tasks for 2017:
- Tasks to be defined
Output 5.3
Independent monitoring of the international timber market (IMM)
Description of action: The IMM programme had been on hold for an extended period. FAO was requested
to provide support to at least complete the 2015 and 2016 reports.
Activities:
5.3.1 Evaluate and identify gaps in data availability of legally produced timber within global trade
databases and at the country level for priority countries seeking to implement VPAs;
5.3.2 Develop and implement strategies to ensure increased accuracy of data capture at the national
and global level;
5.3.3 Conduct additional research as necessary to understand and develop information for priority trade
corridors and key “indicator” products that could provide greater long-term understanding of market
trends and the impacts of VPAs, other legislative tools or other institutional programmes to ensure legal
timber on open markets;
5.3.4 Ensure availability of market data for communication actions for FLEGT initiatives.
Tasks for 2017:
- Tasks to be defined
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Cross-cutting Gender Issues
Gender Work plan
The limited data on gender in FLEGT’s work has been the biggest challenge in implementing any concrete
gender actions at the project level. To respond to this gap, the FAO FLEGT programme has started
imbedding foundational gender elements throughout its work. Such elements include: the creations of
gender strategy, 4 new gender indicators in the monitoring and evaluation framework, a required gender
component in the 2016 call for proposals, and a gender annex was added to the guidelines to submit full
proposal. Although a foundation for FLEGT’s gender related work has been created, there is still much
work to be done. This work plan will outline the next steps for FLEGT’s gender related work. The actions
are designed to make the leap from theory to practice - specifically targeting the current gap in sex
disaggregated data, as well as improve overall gender mainstreaming efforts.
Action area 1. Sex Disaggregated Data Collection
The lack of sex disaggregated data in FLEGT’s work makes it difficult to understand what gender sensitive
actions will improve gender disparities. Some baseline analyses are necessary in order to formulate
gender sensitive activities in our programmatic work.
• Gender analysis through Monkey Survey (1 of 2)
o A gender analysis can be challenging to conduct for forestry officers. Additionally, they
require adequate time, budget and will to be done properly. A monkey survey will be
designed to make the gender analysis process easier and more straightforward. The
questionnaire is meant to generate initial feedback from service providers on
challenges and opportunities for gender entry points.
o Once the data is collected and analyzed, specific steps will be designed for projects with
potential gender entry points.
• Gender analysis through Monkey Survey (2 of 2)
o Once the initial surveys have been completed and gender mainstreaming efforts have
gone into effect, a follow up survey will be distributed to the participating projects.
o Service providers will answer questions on the impact of gender mainstreaming
activities they have carried out. This will guide us on gender activity “do’s and don’ts” in
future projects.
Action Area 2. Mainstreaming Gender
Guidelines on how to mainstream gender in FLEGT’s work have been created and are ready to be tested.
These easy to use guidelines are designed for foresters with no background on gender. They are broken
into two parts: 1) steps on how to conduct a basic gender analysis; 2) steps on mainstreaming gender into
4 thematic areas.
• Pilot of the guidelines on projects from the 2016 call for proposals
o Projects from the 2016 call for proposals that have clear entry points for gender
mainstreaming will be asked to follow the guidelines from the onset of their project.
o Additional outputs will be clearly outlined in the LOA and budget will be allocated for
gender activities.
• Action Aid Liberia inputs
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o The Action Aid Liberia project is the first ever female focused FLEGT project through
FAO FLEGT. Together with FFF, TORs will be created for a consultant with capacity on
gender and forestry. The objective of this consultant will be to analyze the current state
of women’s role in the Liberian farmers union and conduct a study on the value chain of
specific commodities (to be determined) with a focus on gender. The recruitment
process will start in January.
Action area 3. Gender capacity building
Raising overall gender awareness and capacities of service providers, stakeholders, and anyone else
involved in the implementation of projects will positively affect gender related outcomes. Consistent
gender disparities persist in access to and benefits from technologies, services and inputs across
developing countries with low participation in and benefits from markets. Addressing these disparities
can increase the productivity of agriculture and forestry and improve food security and nutrition.
• Gender training for FAO FLEGT staff
o A short “Gender and FLEGT” training will be conducted for FAO FLEGT team members.
• Series of gender in FLEGT trainings at workshops and field level
o A training will be designed to teach participants the relevance of gender, how to
conduct a gender analysis, and how to mainstream gender in specific project/country
contexts.
o Not only will this exercise serve as an awareness raising tool, it will increase the quality
of analyses therefore improving quality and quantity of sex disaggregated data.
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Country Pages
Country sheets
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Ghana
- Guyana
- Honduras
- Indonesia
- Ivory Coast
- Lao PDR
- Liberia
- Malaysia
- Myanmar
- Republic of Congo
- Thailand
- Vietnam
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Cameroon
Context
Cameroon and the EU signed a VPA in 2010. Since then, some progress has been made, but technical and administrative challenges remain. As well, there are some shortcomings in leadership within the MINFOF, causing major delays in the implementation of the LAS.
Based on these observations, the Programme has targeted actions that may help to unblock the situation. The projects selected through a participative process involving the MINFOF and the UED are being implemented in the following key areas:
• Transparency: improved availability of information (online database and publication of a State of thetimber sector 2015); development of a standardized system for external, independent monitoring(Système Normalisé d’Observation Indépendante Externe – SNOIE), to provide information to therelevant administrators in charge of forest controls;
• Legality Verification System: development of complementary tools to SIGIF2 at a pilot level (fourlogging companies): a bar-code module being tested with a view to gradually replace the paper-basedsystem, opening great potential in terms of communication on legality; support to administrations inexpanding legality verification involving relevant ministries including Environment, Labor, Wildlife);support to the MINFOF to compile all information needed to deliver legality certificates for companiescertified under a recognized certification system;
• Domestic Market: legalization of SMEs’ initiatives together with creation of associations orcooperatives, encouraging partnerships between different actors of the legal chain.
Continued work in 2017
The objective is to continue funding strategic projects, targeting bottlenecks in VPA implementation. More specifically, action will be intensified in the following areas:
- Transparency: increase the intensity of independent monitoring missions and large capacity buildingwith civil society, monitoring of large-scale conversion and agro-industry activities, creation of a forestobservatory;
- Legality Verification System: the bar-code traceability system will be offered to other interestedcompanies; the system will be expanded to span operations from inventory to the Douala harbor,along with an online platform through which those same companies will be able to demonstrate theirlegality;
- Domestic market: development of operational traceability systems for community forests and SMEs,promotion of the CF as a primary source of legal wood for SMEs, encourage CF collective certification,promote legality in public and private procurement policies, and promote the use of new tree species,support for initial certificate issuance for certified companies.
Current projects: there are currently 9 projects endorsed for funding and operational in Cameroon.
Organization: FODER - Forêts et Développement Rural
Title: Mise en œuvre du système normalisé d'observation indépendante externe (SNOIE)
Amount: 122,460 USD
Objective and strategic importance:
This project aims to make the SNOIE fully operational countrywide. This system is an opportunity to mainstream and harmonize all independent monitoring initiatives through common procedures and a common platform. IM is an essential tool to ensure law enforcement, and fight illegality.
Organization: SAILD - Service d’Appui aux Initiatives Locales de Développement
Title: Mise en place d’un Système de Vérification Communautaire de la légalité des bois des Forêts Communautaires au Cameroun
Amount: 99,982 USD
Objective and strategic importance:
The objective is to reduce illegal exploitation in the community forests in Cameroon, by testing a legality verification system at the community scale. This project is also an opportunity to strengthen a federation of 130 forest communities. Improving governance and decision-making mechanisms will help them speak with a common voice to the authorities and the relevant sector actors.
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Organization: FFE-PCS - Food Forestry, Environment Protection and Conservation Society
Title: Integrating carpenters in a legal timber value chain in the South region
Amount: 97,408 USD
Objective and strategic importance:
This project aims to create a legal timber value chain, from the producer (forest communities, UFA) to the customer. Small operators and transporters are also involved. While 90% of the wood produced on the domestic market is illegal, it is essential to develop legality chains, at small scales.
Organization: FECAPROBOIS - Fédération Camerounaise des Associations et Professionnels de la Seconde Transformation du Bois
Title: Appui à l’implication des artisans de la deuxième transformation du bois dans le processus FLEGT et l’organisation du marché intérieur du bois au Cameroun
Amount: 99,985 USD
Objective and strategic importance:
This federation of transformers is promoting legal timber use for secondary wood transformers. More specifically, the project will involve a sensitization campaign, and the creation of business partnerships between the forest communities and the transformers. This pilot project is an opportunity to test the sustainability of these partnerships.
Organization: WCS - Wildlife Conservation Society
Title: Suivi de la Gestion de la Faune dans les concessions forestières au Cameroun
(Phase 2)
Amount: 110,000 USD
Objective and strategic importance:
This project is the second phase of a WCS initiative. The idea is to involve forest concessions in the protection of wildlife. During the first phase, a fauna monitoring application was built and tested. This second phase intends to train forest concessions in the use of this tool, and conduct audits followed by corrective measures. Endangered biodiversity is a serious challenge of sustainable exploitation.
Organization: MINFOF - Ministère des Forêts et de la Faune
Title: Appui à la délivrance des certificats de légalité dans le cadre du régime d’Autorisation FLEGT
Amount: 54,720 USD
Objective and strategic importance:
The project aims to support the administration in issuing the legality certificates and will particularly focus on coordination between the forestry administration and other relevant ministries (environment, labor, social protection, finance), in terms of communication, documents archiving, procedures.
Organization: GFBC - Groupement de la Filière Bois au Cameroun
Title: Projet d’amélioration et de valorisation des systèmes de traçabilité forestière par les technologies mobiles
Amount: 59,949 USD
Objective and strategic importance:
This project’s ambition is to improve a timber traceability system and implement four forest concessions. This system has two objectives: simplify information collection in the log yard and improve sharing of this information with buyers and customers.
Organization: ASD - Action for Sustainable Development
Title: Renforcement de la légalité dans le marché domestique et transfrontalier du bois dans la région forestière de l’Est Cameroun
Amount: 95,665 USD
Objective and strategic importance:
ASD wants to ensure the compliance of small operators with the legislation; that is, help transformers to operate legally. This project is an opportunity to produce an accurate study of the cost of legality for these stakeholders.
Organization: CED - Centre pour l'Environnement et le Développement
Title: Agir sur les défis de l’APV: exploitation illégale et changement du couvert forestier dans le cadre d’investissement non-forestiers
Amount: 607,012 USD
Objective and strategic importance:
This regional, two-year project just began. It is supervised by a Cameroon-based NGO, but will also be implemented in CAR, Gabon and Republic of Congo. At country level, the project aims to monitor changes taking place because of non-forest investments, to avoid illegal exploitation and forest degradation. This will be addressed through independent monitoring
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missions, field research and information sharing, as well as lobbying at a political level.
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Central African republic
Context
CAR and the EU signed a VPA in 2011 and as part of the VPA implementation, the Programme funded several projects in 2010 and 2011. The main focus of these included:
• Legal reform: availability of the legislation in an online database;
• Independent monitoring: capacity building and pilot monitoring missions of civil society organizations, working in close collaboration with the Ministry in charge of forests;
• Legality verification system: legality verification tests in forest concessions;
• Domestic market: assessment of the socio-economic role of the domestic market in Bangui and an action plan for its legalization.
Continued work in 2017
Recent collaborations with stakeholders highlighted several priorities:
• Transparency: support to various information-sharing initiatives as first steps towards transparency building and governance progress; continued updates of the website to display all information described in Annex XI of the VPA; publication of a State of the Forest Sector report as a baseline for monitoring changes.
• Independent monitoring: continue to support independent monitoring initiatives coming from civil society. This can be important to stakeholders in forest governance, in a country where the administration is weakened by political troubles and lack of financial means. In the context of a project, a forest conversion observatory will be implemented.
• Private sector: Support the private sector on the path to legalization by offering internal legality audits and tailored measures to help them comply with the VPA requirements.
Current projects: There are currently 4 projects endorsed for funding and operational in Central African
Republic.
Organization: CIFOR - Center for International Forestry Research
Title: Réalisation et publication d’un Etat du secteur forêts-bois en République Centrafricaine – 2015
Amount: 33,995 USD
Objective and strategic importance:
This project aims to meet the transparency requirement of Annex 11 of the VPA. In close collaboration with the Ministry, CIFOR will collect and analyze data in order to publish a State of the Forest Sector report. Information sharing and transparency initiatives are the first step in the reactivation of the VPA.
Organization: MEDDEFCP - Ministère de l’Environnement, du Développement Durable, des Eaux, Forêts, Chasse et Pêche
Title: Appui à la relance du processus APV en République centrafricaine
Amount: 53,600 USD
Objective and strategic importance:
This project was designed to recreate a VPA dynamic at the national level. The initial work plan was built on two pillars: information sharing and SVL testing. Given the low capacity of the forest administration in terms of legality control, the focus is on the information-sharing objective. This appears as an opportunity to build the administration’s capacity and strengthen the relationship with them. Political will and reliable contact points are essential to the success of the VPA in this particular context.
Organization: CIEDD - Centre pour l’Information Environnementale et le Développement Durable
Title: Appui à la mise en œuvre de la stratégie d’observation indépendante des activités forestières par la société civile (OI-RCA 2)
Objective and strategic importance:
The objective of this project is to build an independent monitoring system. The NGO will be supported by two Cameroonian organizations specializing in this field and will build solid procedures and train staff.
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Amount: 134,930 USD Independent monitoring has a strategic importance as it allows a better enforcement of the regulations.
Organization: CED - Centre pour l'Environnement et le Développement
Title: Agir sur les défis de l’APV: exploitation illégale et changement du couvert forestier dans le cadre d’investissement non-forestiers
Amount: 607,012 USD
Objective and strategic importance:
This two-year regional project began recently. It is supervised by a Cameroon-based NGO, but implementation will take place in CAR, Gabon and Republic of Congo. At country level, the project aims to monitor the changes taking place due to non-forest investments in order to avoid illegal exploitation and forest degradation. This will be addressed through independent monitoring missions, field research and information sharing as well as lobbying at a political level.
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Democratic Republic of the Congo
Context
The EU and DRC started VPA negotiations in 2010. Since then, the Programme has funded projects that aim to improve forest governance. Past initiatives include projects in the following topic areas:
• CITES: Establishing a database for monitoring Pericopsis elata (Afrormosia) harvests and trade within the framework of CITES. The validation of the Non Detriment Findings for Pericopsis elata by the CITES Committee restarted harvests of this species in DRC, with fixed quota ensuring the sustainable management of 1.4 million ha, for annual volumes of almost 25,000 m3;
• Transparency: Improving transparency and accountability in the collection and redistribution of forest tax. This initiative was an opportunity to communicate the amounts paid by the forest concessions, and to inform the local populations about amounts paid at the local level;
• Domestic market: Promoting legal artisanal logging and improving its regulatory frameworks and legislation from the VPA perspective. This involves raising awareness among the local populations and informal private-sector actors about the legislation, supporting legalization efforts by small operators, encouraging the key role of artisanal operator cooperatives in promoting legality and profitability.
Continued work in 2017
Work will focus in two areas : - Private sector initiatives: development of procedures and norms for forest use, to facilitate
understanding of different regional legislation; trainings for SMEs and artisanal actors; - Forest communities: support the creation of forest communities, development of simple
management plans through local development committees; - Independent monitoring: continue to support independent monitoring in collaboration with the
administration, as well as publication of public reports on forest use; - CITES: As Bubinga (Guibourtia tessmannii) is now in Annex 2 of CITES, support to develop non-
detrimental findings for this species is planned, using the SURVOL (quota control) database; - Domestic market: legalization of small domestic market operators to create legal value chains,
support of sustainable partnerships between small-scale producers and operators.
Current projects: There are currently 3 projects endorsed for funding and operational in Democratic
Republic of the Congo
Organization: TBI - Tropenbos International RDC
Title: Exploitation et transformation du bois artisanal : appui à la création de petites entreprises formelles et légales
Amount: 133,020 USD
Objective and strategic importance:
This project intends to support small operators on their way to legalization. They will receive several practical training sessions on the legislation and management. Domestic local market legalization is a large part of the sector’s governance.
Organization: ACS-RDC - Association de Coopération et Solidarité en RDC
Title: Projet pilote d’appui au secteur forestier à l’est de la RDC (Provinces du Nord Kivu et de l’Ituri) pour favoriser l’exploitation légale du bois
Amount: 127,065 USD
Objective and strategic importance:
ACS-RDC is exploring the possibility of implementing sustainable business partnerships between industrial use and small operators. In theory, there is a great potential for legal wood which exporters could be interested in. This project is strategically essential: it is a relevant pilot experience to better understand how to create linkages and develop win-win partnerships within the private sector.
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Organization: OCEAN - Organisation Congolaise des Ecologistes et Amis de la Nature
Title: Consolidation de l’observation indépendante mandatée en matière d’exploitation artisanale de bois dans les provinces de la Tshopo, du Haut Uele et de l’Ituri
Amount: 113,390 USD
Objective and strategic importance:
The independent forest monitoring initiatives will be strengthened and extended in close partnership with the local administration. Such mechanisms are important as they involve a large part of the control process to ensure implementation of laws and good governance practices.
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Ghana
Context
Past projects in Ghana have focused on specific action areas required to move the VPA forward. There is consistent and significant correlation between the outcomes of the JMRM meetings and the themes and topics of the proposals received and projects eventually funded. Past initiatives include projects in the following topic areas:
• Information and knowledge support to SMEs regarding the GHLAS and its requirements on operators
• Capacity building in SMEs and private sector in general, support for business to understand requirements of GHLAS and operations within the context of a changing domestic market;
• Establishing forest management plans;
• Development and promotion of a public procurement policy; • Improving social agreements as required under the VPA;
• Support to the Timber Validation Department to improve understanding and coordination between government institutions to implement the GHLAS and test training to a cross-section of the private sector on wood traceability, verification and control systems;
• Support for aspects of impact monitoring; and
• Improving understanding and methods to manage off-reserve logging under the VPA context. All of these projects have added value, knowledge and progress towards the completion of VPA preparations as well as strengthening and broadening the dialogue on improving governance in the forest sector.
Continued work in 2017
FAO will organize one targeted country level call for proposals to address 2-3 areas that will both address core areas required to complete FLEGT Licensing and contribute to the overall forest governance objectives in Ghana. While the final core work areas will be defined through local dialogue and inputs through the JMRM, proposed areas including:
• Supporting stakeholder to finalize a domestic market strategy – based on the private sector rapid assessment initiated in late 2016, FAO will support the completion of the assessment and stakeholder dialogue that will result in a locally developed strategy to address domestic market issues including sustainable sourcing, movement monitoring and legality verification. Resources through the call for proposals will be channeled to key areas of the strategy.
• Support private sector training on GHLAS /WTS – it will be channeled directly to private sector organizations and government bodies to ensure common understanding of the procedures.
• Developing independent monitoring mechanisms – As part of the VPA, independent forest monitoring in Ghana has been weak relative to countries in Central Africa. Support to NGOs will be increased to ensure this component of the VPA is reinforced.
• Implementation of the procurement policy – The Government of Ghana continues to prioritize the procurement policy that is currently in draft form. FAO will provide resources to continue exploration of feasible means to implement the strategy prior to adoption of the strategy.
• Support emerging issues – FAO will support emerging issues through Direct Assistance request from both Government and Private Sector Organizations.
Current projects: There are currently 8 projects endorsed for funding and operational in Ghana
Organization: TIDD - Timber Industry Development Division
Title: Upscaling Artisanal Milling (ATM) to improve the supply of legal lumber to the domestic market
Amount: 63,325 USD
Objective and strategic importance:
Artisanal millers (ATMs) in Ghana highly contribute to fostering illegal supply of timber in the domestic market. ATMs’ access to resources is not regulated and their operation are often outside of legally recognized markets. Artisanal millers’ production, if regulated, can greatly enhance Ghana legal domestic supply. The Ghana Forestry Commission, through TIDD is trying to make ATMs legal by grouping them in a
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registered association (DOLMAG), offering legality training and providing a platform (DOTTNET: domestic timber trading network) where ATMs can link up with legal buyers association (DOLTA).
Organization: RMSC - Resource Management Support Centre
Title: Strengthening Regulatory Mechanism on Overland Timber Trade for Enhanced FLEGT/VPA Implementation
Amount: 65,060 USD
Objective and strategic importance:
Ghana experiences inadequate availability of legal timber for the domestic market. According to Tropenbos (TBI unpublished study) almost 70% of domestic timber production is leaving Ghana through unregulated overland timber trade and this is a major driver of illegal logging in Ghana. There is a need for more information regarding volume and direction of trade, especially for decision-makers and revenue collectors. RMSC will collaborate with TBI to improve data availability on trade, both from timber markets and at national borders and will strengthen collaboration with and capacity of Ghana Revenue Authority (Customs) and the Police to effectively monitor these trade, enforce the wood tracking system at the borders and be able to collect more revenue from OTT.
Organization: NDF - Nature and DevelopmentFoundation
Title: Innovation for improved forest governance in West Africa; Demand and Supply side solutions in a changing landscape
Amount: 625,240 USD
Objective and strategic importance:
The NDF project is targeting private sector capacity and information needs concerning specific VPA requirements. It will also contribute to keep up the momentum and increase advocacy for the adoption of the timber public procurement policy, which will crucially enhance the demand for legal timber and spur supply in the country and is currently awaiting passage at the Cabinet. The regional lessons-sharing approach will also promote business-to-business dialogue and thus coordination and efficacy of the private sector at the national and regional level.
Organization: GTMO - Ghana Timber Millers’ Organization
Title: Strengthening the operational capacity of timber operators for effective compliance of FLEGT VPA
Amount: 69,880 USD
Objective and strategic importance:
GTMO, one of the biggest timber private sector association, targets through this project loggers, millers and wood exporters enabling them to acquire adequate knowledge and understanding of their roles and responsibilities in the VPA and equipping them with the necessary skills to comply with the Wood Tracking System (WTS) requirements. A properly functioning WTS is an absolute pillar of the VPA and compliance with it is necessary to get timber FLEGT licenses.
Organization: RMSC - Resource Management Support Centre
Title: Building the capacity of the Coalition on Domestic Lumber Supply in Ghana for the Supply and Production of Legal Timber in the Wood Product Value Chain for a functional VPA
Amount: 63,230 USD
Objective and strategic importance:
Recognizing the important role that SMEs should play in the Ghana VPA process but also for economic development, in September 2015 RMSC and DOLTA managed to bring 13 associations of SMEs together in the Coalition of Small and Medium Timber Associations, to give them a common body and a common voice. The coalition, still in its embryonal stage, needs to be strengthen in terms of physical endowment and technical capacities. RMSC vision for the coalition is to serve as a policy advocacy
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organization of SMEs, able to collaborate with the other key VPA stakeholders, establish their own programs and strategy for advocacy and information sharing.
Organization: KWC - Kumasi Wood Cluster Association
Title: Empowering Small-Medium Forest Enterprises (SMFEs) through training and supervision for their effective compliance and active participation in VPA/FLEGT implementation in Ghana
Amount: 107,575.50 USD
Objective and strategic importance:
This is another project targeting capacity of SMEs to effectively comply with the WTS and pilot end-to-end verification of a company internal legality verification and reporting process. Private companies, including SMEs must successfully follow all the WTS requirement to obtain Licenses for their timber. This project will closely cooperate with other ongoing projects (NDF and GTMO) to develop a common training package for SMEs. This will favor synergies among activities funded by the Programme in Ghana, promote lessons sharing building upon what has already been produced by other projects previously funded in Phase II.
Organization: RMSC - Resource Management Support Centre
Title: Promoting Forest Governance through Stakeholder Consultations for Ten Production Forest Reserves in Ghana
Amount: 55,015 USD
Objective and strategic importance:
In order to get to FLEGT licensing the Government of Ghana needs to produce forest management plans for selected production forests. As part of this exercise forest stakeholders consultations must be carried out. RMSC is tasked with this assignment. The Programme is providing funds to RMSC to support with logistics and organization of these consultations.
Organization: Civic Response
Title: Civil Society-led Independent Forest Monitoring in Ghana (CSIFM)
Amount: 308,908 USD
Objective and strategic importance:
The Ghana VPA establishes CSOs involvement in the process, it however fell short of clearly defining their specific roles. CSOs involvement can be crucial in independent monitoring. This project is filling this gap in a twofold way. Firstly by enabling CSOs and other non-state actors to monitor compliance with GhLAS, through the creation of a web-interface of the WTS. This will allow CSOs and international private sector alike to access information contained in the system. Secondly by training CSOs to become observers and accompany TVD personnel in their auditing missions. This will greatly enhance VPA transparency and CSOs active involvement in the process, as prescribed by the Agreement.
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Guyana
Context In the past, the FAO FLEGT programme has focused support to the Guyana Forest Commission (GFC) to successfully launch the first few rounds of VPA negotiations in 2013 and 2014 and develop effective structures for multi-stakeholder consultation in order to continue progress in this phase. Guyana’s objective is to sign the VPA before the end of 2017. As stakeholders became more aware of the VPA the programme has provided support in the following areas, following priorities identified by the National Technical Working Group (NTWG) : • Consultation strategy and implementation • Awareness building among all groups • Training of small loggers associations • Training private sector operators • Indigenous people focus for capacity building and monitoring VPA development and negotiation in Guyana now has significantly more support with the start of a DFID-funded small grants programme managed by the NTWG launched in 2014. This is beneficial to FAO FLEGT objectives as well and the programmes coordinate closely. The last negotiation (4th round) took place in March 2016, with a following round expected for later in the year. However, this was postponed to 2017, due to challenges in bringing new government appointees following national elections, up to speed on the VPA. This delay resulted in insufficient preparation and agreement on key VPA documents to enable the original target of 2016 to be met – the next round of negotiations (5th round) will be scheduled in early 2017. Challenges to VPA development were experienced in 2016 due to institutional changes within GFC as a result of the national elections and change of government the previous year. Time had to be invested in bringing new individuals up to date and in agreement with the VPA, and new leadership styles disrupted former communication channels between the main bi-lateral actors in GFC and EC. By the end of 2016 momentum appears to have picked up again and the next round of negotiations are anticipated within the first half of 2017.
Continued work in 2017
Capacity to respond effectively to calls for proposals in Guyana, and to implement projects, has been limited to date, beyond the GFC. Project management at this level is new to many civil society and particularly to private sector organizations. Capacity building by the DFID small grants programme has improved this scenario. In 2017 FAO will organize one targeted country level call for proposals to address 2-3 areas that will both address core areas required to complete VPA negotiations, and will coordinate with national actors to provide adequate preparation for response.
Guyana is working towards achieving implementation status by 2018. Motivation for this target is also created by the need to demonstrate control of deforestation in order to facilitate moving onto the next phase of the Guyana-Norway agreement on REDD+ in the country. High on Guyana’s agenda is the urgent need to change its image globally through advocacy by the Government, the private sector and civil society in communicating details regarding forest management practices in Guyana and to demonstrate that management is sustainable. In particular, the Government seeks to actively pursue the resolution of the current impasse with the UK Environment Agency with regard to their non-acceptance of Guyana’s greenheart in their procurement. In moving towards VPA implementation, Guyana also needs to actively follow up on the outstanding activities as identified in the no-cost extension of the Guyana-Norway agreement on climate change mitigation, which will have a direct impact on the timelines for achieving FLEGT licensing. Other follow up steps include capacity building, field testing of the Legality Definition and GTLAS, and keeping abreast with the constantly changing market based legislation within the timber sector. Finally, in preparation for FLEGT licensing, Guyana will need to improve the level of efficiency, quality and reliability within the timber sector and be very proactive in market promotion at both the local level and at the level of the EU.
Current projects: There are currently 2 projects endorsed for funding and operational in Guyana.
Organization: APA - Amerindian Peoples Association
Objective and strategic importance:
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Title: Promoting community-based monitoring of timber trade legality in Guyana
Amount: 70,090 USD
The early months of 2015 saw a positive move towards dialogue between indigenous villages and the NTWG and the Guyana Forestry Commission. The increased dialogue, however, is yet to be translated into substantial changes in the VPA annexes, including the legality definition, to reflect the calls from indigenous communities for the VPA to ensure recognition of customary land rights and to require the free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) of indigenous communities to be obtained before the allocation of any forest concession on their land.
A core obstacle for good forest governance in Guyana is that the land rights of many indigenous communities remain unclear or insecure. A majority of Amerindian communities find that only parts of their customary lands and territories are covered by a nationally recognized legal title. In many cases this lack of clarity result in encroachment on indigenous land by logging interests and other interests, and consequently poses a serious problem to ensuring legality in the forestry sector and the VPA. The project will address the problem by supporting indigenous communities to design, develop and test systems for community forest monitoring; including protecting indigenous rights and ensuring FPIC protocols are developed and tested.
Organization: FPA - Forest Products Association of Guyana
Title: Building the awareness and capacity of private sector operators to participate in the VPA process in Guyana
Amount: 108,000 USD
Objective and strategic importance:
FPA’s discussions with a number of saw millers, chainsaw operators, State Forest Permit holders and Wood Cutting Licensees (WCLs), revealed a serious knowledge and capacity gap. They do not understand the VPA objectives, what is required of them, and what the potential benefits may be and have not effectively participated in the VPA process. This proposal supports communication, awareness building, and capacity development targeted towards small forest operators: saw millers, chainsaw operators, State Forest Permit holders and holders of Wood Cutting Licensees (WCLs) and Timber Sales Agreements (TSA) and exporters.
The objective of this project is to increase the knowledge of private sector operators in the forestry sector about the technical content of the Annexes of the Guyana VPA and therefore fostering greater participation in the VPA process in Guyana.
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Honduras
Context Honduras and the EU are in the final stages of VPA negotiations, with an official signing planned for February 2017. There is optimism on the part of VPA stakeholders for the improvement of the key indicators of forest governance, as they report an effective and inclusive participatory process. Among the achievements in the negotiation process are:
• the VPA in Honduras tackles crucial governance issues such as: 1) legal security of land tenure, 2)respect and specific protection of the rights of indigenous and Afro-Honduran peoples (PIAH); and(3) prevention of illegal logging and corruption;
• social capital has been built up, and environmental governance articulated beyond FLEGT;
• the consultation on the FPIC Law proposal is a concrete result of the VPA;
• the legitimacy of the multi-stakeholders platforms / forums, which were strengthened during thenegotiation process, is recognized;
• the formulation of the VPA annexes will ensure improvements in governance as a prerequisite forthe sustainable management of forests and timber trade.
FAO FLEGT-funded projects were specifically focused on supporting these achievements at different regional and national levels, also supporting national process initiatives and leveraging and complementing activities with strategic allies such as GIZ, EFI and IUCN.
As Honduras is a VPA country, there is a direct correlation between the projects funded and Outcome 1 of the FAO FLEGT Programme, demonstrating a successful FLEGT initiative contributing to the improvement of forest governance and legal timber In the domestic and international markets. The projects implemented have been strategic, contributing to the improvement of governance and strengthening of the VPA process. They include the following relevant topics:
• promotion of Participatory Forest Management through the strengthening and creation of forestgovernance platforms / forums and the training of stakeholders in the sector, achieving their activeparticipation and influence in defining the content of the VPA;
• ensuring the full participation of indigenous and Afro-Honduran peoples’ representatives in theframework of the FLEGT Action Plan, in the construction, socialization and consolidation of the Free,Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC - ILO Convention 169) in addition to other agreements with respectto the legality tables and additional measures for the prevention of illegal logging;
• capacity building for the negotiation of the VPA through a process of awareness-raising on forestgovernance, legal timber definition and list of products to be incorporated in the agreement, throughinformative workshops and meetings;
• contribution to the improvement of forest governance and transparency issues, generatingknowledge on the legal instruments that govern the forest sector, including the rights andresponsibilities of stakeholders, promoting interaction between different actors of the sector andgeneration of alliances among them; and
• development of a computerized system for traceability, monitoring and verification at the nationallevel.
The projects funded by the FAO FLEGT Programme have been strategically aligned and focused on contributing to the VPA roadmap, thus making an important contribution to the development of knowledge and progress of the different dialogue and consensus forums to move forward in the negotiation and improve indicators of governance in the forest sector.
Continued work in 2017 Honduras continues to show great interest in obtaining support from the FAO FLEGT Programme to achieve a robust and viable VPA, and strong proposals were submitted during the last call to support the transition (ratification) and implementation phases of the VPA after signature in 2017. Currently, seven endorsed pilot projects are being implemented and include the following objectives:
• Support for private-sector participation in the VPA process: this category of projects seeks to consolidate knowledge and compliance with legal frameworks by small and medium-sizedenterprises and to promote legal production and best practices throughout the value chain.
• Support for the negotiation/implementation processes of the VPA: This category of projects seeksto support stakeholders in understanding and fulfilling their role in the VPA, defining priority
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activities that will be mainly implemented by stakeholder groups, especially by communities and Indigenous groups, and small and medium-sized enterprises, in developing and implementing innovative, effective and inclusive laws.
Current projects: There are currently 8 projects endorsed for funding and operational in Honduras
Organization: ALIANZAVERDE - Alianza Sustentabilidad Ecológica y Justicia Social
Title:Promoción de derechos colectivos, gobernanza territorial y participación de los pueblos indígenas en los procesos de AVA-FLEGT en Honduras
Amount: 101,375 USD
Objective and strategic importance:
Capacity building and information sharing with indigenous people leaders and Afro-Honduran communities on issues related to indigenous rights and the objectives of the VPA process.
Organization: ICF - Instituto Nacional de Conservación, Desarrollo Forestal, Áreas Protegidas y Vida Silvestre
Title: Incorporando actores locales mediante la socialización y consulta de los documentos AVA en el marco de la VI Ronda de Negociaciones Honduras-UE
Amount: 49 220 USD
Objective and strategic importance:
Legitimize the VPA negotiation process at national and international level, by validating Annexes I (List of products), II (Legality tables), V (Legality Assurance system) and IX (complementary measures).
Organization: CONADEH - Comisionado Nacional de los Derechos Humanos de Honduras
Title: Apoyo de CONADEH al ICF incorporando el enfoque de derechos humanos integrales y el derecho a un ambiente sano, en particular, y un mejor conocimiento con los actores locales del proceso AVA FLEGT en Honduras
Amount: 55 000 USD
Objective and strategic importance:
Support the National Institute for Forest Conservation and Development, Protected Areas and Wildlife (ICF), in the development of annexes V (Legality Assurance system), VI (Independent Audit), VII (Evaluation criteria for LAS) and XI (Joint Implementation Committee) of the VPA, and the consultation processes and citizen participation with territorial actors towards the 6th round of negotiations.
Organization: FEHCAFOR - Federación Hondureña de Cooperativas Agroforestales
Title: Apoyando el desarrollo de un sistema nacional de rastreabilidad, control y verificación de la madera que sea equitativo y viable para las pequeñas cooperativas que conforman el sector comunitario del país
Amount: 95 503.51 USD
Objective and strategic importance:
Strengthening FEHCAFOR's participation in the VPA process with the objective of assisting in the construction and implementation of a National Traceability System that is equitable and viable for the cooperatives that make up the country's community forestry sector.
Organization: ICF - Instituto Nacional de Conservación, Desarrollo Forestal, Áreas Protegidas y Vida Silvestre
Title: Organización y Capacitación de Pequeños y Medianos Propietarios de Bosque Privado en Honduras
Amount: 50 000 USD - DUE TO BE SIGNED EARLY 2017
Objective and strategic importance:
Strengthening of small and medium private forest owners through training to improve forest governance and the legal supply chain of timber products.
Organization: FDsF - Fundación Democracia sin Fronteras
Title: Generación de mayor contribución a las negociaciones AVA FLEGT en Honduras a través de sinergias entre plataformas de Gobernanza Forestal
Amount: 85 000 USD
Objective and strategic importance:
Strenghtening of the Olancho Environmental Governance Platform to promote greater stakeholder participation, facilitate synergies with other platforms and contribute to proposals in the VPA negotiations for the improvement of forest governance and legal timber trade in Honduras.
Organization: ICF - Instituto Nacional de Conservación, Desarrollo Forestal, Áreas Protegidas y Vida Silvestre
Improve the communication channels between the forestry industry and SIRMA, through the design of information exchange modules.
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Title: Implementación del módulo de Industria Forestal en el Sistema Informático de Rastreabilidad de la Madera (SIRMA)
Amount: 55 000 USD
Title: Estudio de mercado de los productos forestales en Honduras: Oferta, demanda, barreras y plan para incrementar el uso de madera legal
Organization: Fundación Vida - Fundación Hondureña de Ambiente y Desarrollo (Fundación Vida)
Amount: 70 000 USD
Objective and strategic importance:
Analyze trade and flows of timber products including supply and demand, as well as the barriers that discourage the economic activity of suppliers and the use of legal timber by buyers to establish a participation plan from the private sector and the Government.
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Indonesia
Context At the Joint Implementation Committee (JIC) meeting on 15 September 2016, Indonesia and the EU concluded that Indonesia was ready to issue FLEGT licences and that the first FLEGT licenced shipment would leave Indonesia on 15 November 2016. Indonesia became the first country in the world to issue FLEGT licenses. The FAO FLEGT Programme’s support to Indonesia started in 2014, after the conclusion of the VPA negotiations. Past support to Indonesia has therefore largely focused on the roll out of SVLK, in particular SVLK readiness among SMEs and Community Forest producers. Initial support to Indonesia was channelled via the following two projects:
• The Indonesian Furniture Industry and Handicraft Association (ASMINDO): FAO FLEGT supported preparation and certification of four SME groups comprised of 26 SMEs in the Jepara and Pasuruan districts in Java and Bali. FAO FLEGT also supported three multi-stakeholder forums to discuss and identify key constraints for small furniture producers in getting SVLK certified.
• Yayasan Bioma: FAO FLEGT support to BIOMA focussed on community development in East Kalimantan to promote SVLK implementation by formalising timber production from community forests in Kutai Kartanegara District. During the implementation of the project, a gap in the SVLK was identified – none of the SVLK Legality Standards at that time could be applied to communities which owned and managed forests outside non-state forest. The case was brought to the attention of the Ministry and a national multi-stakeholder workshop was organised in 2015 to assess the case and propose necessary amendments to the SVLK regulations. The revision was enacted in 2016 and now opens the door to SVLK certification of Community or Village Forests in natural forest areas across the country that are not owned by the state.
Continued work in 2017 FAO’s support will be closely coordinated with the DFID funded MFP3 project and will be guided by the Joint EU-Indonesia Actions for the Implementation of the FLEGT-VPA in 2017. Continued work will include:
• Ongoing roll-out of the SVLK including promotion of SVLK, data update and development of an integrated national data management system and the analysis of supply chain data
• Regular documentation of non-compliances, follow-up on the reports including law enforcement actions, and reporting back to the Joint Implementation Committee (JIC) on actions taken (number and cases)
• Ensuring effectiveness of the Independent Monitoring (IM) function - IM organizations to regularly document their IM activities - IM and CABs to document time until complaints are resolved - MoEF and IM to develop a concept note which includes the next steps and creation of
sustainable funding
• Ensuring consistency between the SVLK regulations and VPA requirements
• Conducting Periodic Evaluation, VPA impact monitoring and Independent Market Monitoring - Indonesia conducting the first periodic evaluation in the first quarter of 2017 and publish main
results - Indonesia establishing VPA Impact Monitoring baseline - EU reporting of progress on Independent Market Monitoring (IMM) and regularly gather,
analyse and report data on importation of Indonesian FLEGT-Licensed products at all EU port-destinations
- Regular EU updates on the progress of the EUTR implementation
• Maintaining technical structure under the JIC such as the JEM and technical exchanges and the joint JIC secretariat
• Continuation of Multi-stakeholder processes to maintain SVLK credibility
Based on past engagement and the current project pipeline, FAO FLEGT will support SVLK roll-out (Action 1) with a focus on Community Forestry and SMEs, and Independent Monitoring (Action 3) activities. FAO FLEGT also anticipates at least four requests for Direct Assistance (three government and one private sector). The requests include; implementing activities related to SVLK Impact Monitoring, accelerating SVLK certification in Forest Management Unit (FMUs), real time forest monitoring and control, and holding a High Level Market Dialogue to discuss the experiences and impact of FLEGT licencing in Indonesia and on international markets– all of which correspond to key elements of the Joint EU-IDN Action Plan for 2017 above.
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Current projects: There are currently 4 projects endorsed for funding and are operational in Indonesia
Organization: Yayasan Institut Sumber Daya Dunia (World Resources Institute - WRI)
Title: Supporting Implementation of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement and FLEGT Action Plan by Strengthening Capacities to Detect and Supress Forestry Sector Corruption
Amount: USD 80,000
Objective and strategic importance:
This project aims to strengthen the implementation and credibility of the SVLK system and the VPA process by increasing the capacity of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), relevant enforcement authorities and civil society. These efforts will help to expose and combat corruption, and other irregularities in the forestry sector. By providing support and capacity building to the KPK and NGOs working on addressing forest sector corruption (a root cause of illegal logging) the proposed project will fill a strategic gap in broader efforts to reduce illegal logging in Indonesia. The project will also create proper conditions to trade legally-harvested wood products and export them as FLEGT-licensed timber.
Organization: JURnaL Celebes
Title: Strengthening Indonesia Independent Forestry Monitoring Network to Ensure a Credible Timber Legality Verification System (SVLK) and Effective VPA Implementation
Amount: USD 80,000
Objective and strategic importance:
Independent Forest Monitoring by civil society organisations, communities and individuals is an important element of Indonesia’s SVLK. It is an integral part of SVLK verification and contributes to its credibility. Jurnal Celebes, a member of the Indonesia Independent Forest Monitoring Network (Jaringan Pemantau Independen Kehutanan - JPIK) , will build the capacity of Independent Monitors through hands on - field based training and monitoring activities in Papua. This project will also monitor SVLK implementation at key ports in Papua, Sulawesi (Makassar) and Java (Surabaya). The results will be used to update the National SVLK information platform for Independent Forest Monitoring. Papua is considered a high risk area for illegality and the SVLK roll out is still limited. The IM activities and potential lessons learned should contribute to strengthening SVLK implementation and inform the potential formalisation of timber exploitation by communities or forest owners in Papua.
Organization: Yayasan BIOMA
Title: Scaling up SVLK timber supply from Community Forest in East-Kalimantan – Indonesia
Amount: USD 110,000
Objective and strategic importance:
The aim of the project is to expand (based on the results of phase 1) community forests located outside State Forest land in Kutai Kartanegara and Mahakam Ulu districts and to help communities prepare for SVLK certification. The possibility for SVLK certification of natural community managed forests in non-state land has only recently been made possible thanks to the Revision of the SVLK regulation. This project aims to increase such community owned and managed natural forests while simultaneously addressing the lack of legal or SVLK certified timber supply made available from these districts. This proposed project will carry out activities which could improve community forest management, formalisation of timber harvesting through community forestry, and provide technical assistance to communities in order to achieve SVLK certification. This project will establish three new Community Forestry areas in East Kalimantan. The up scaling of this approach will allow the project to
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explore the possibility of saving costs and improve efficiency through SVLK group certification.
Organization: ASMINDO
Title: Strengthening the participation and compliance of Small and Medium Furniture and Handicraft makers in legal production and trade in Indonesia
Amount: USD 100,000
Objective and strategic importance:
ASMINDO has over 2,000 members throughout Indonesia which largely consist of micro and small procession units. ASMINDO is considered a key timber product association in the roll out of the SVLK. ASMINDO will also help mitigate the negative impact the VPA could potentially have on its members. In the past 6 months, the association went through internal restructuring with the merger and subsequent breakoff of a sister handcraft association in Indonesia (AMKRI). One of the objectives of the new FAO assistance to ASMINDO is therefore to strengthen the association and improve support and assistance to its members. This support will give members the ability to comply with VPA requirements in order to continue producing legal products for more demanding but also rewarding markets such as the EU. This project will also raise the awareness of ASMINDO members about the importance of SVLK implementation and the opportunities it provides. One of the key project activities will be to prepare at least 50 small and medium furniture makers for SVLK certification.
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Côte d'Ivoire
Context In Ivory Coast over the past 30 years, the forest cover has suffered from drastic losses. In this context, negotiations on a VPA have continued since 2013. Past initiatives are in line with the negotiation dynamic, and include projects in the following topic areas:
• Legal reform: In collaboration with the UN-REDD Programme, support was given to the « SecrétariatTechnique Permanent » to develop implementing legislation for the recent Forest Law; the legalitygrid was tested in the field and recommendations for its improvement have been formulated;
• VPA negotiation: Strengthening the capacities of multi-stakeholders VPA consultation platforms;FLEGT process capacity -building for civil society stakeholders;
• Domestic market: Developing reflections on the domestic timber market, with support in identifyingstrategic options to include or not include the domestic market in the VPA;
• Independent monitoring: Independent monitoring by civil society in collaboration with SODEFOR inthe ‘’Forêts Classées’’; developing an independent control strategy for forest management in a classified forest with civil society and communities as a pilot initiative in the FLEGT process.
Continued work in 2017 The Programme’s work in 2017 will focus on several areas:
• Legal reform: Continuing collaboration with the REDD+ initiative, the objective is to pursue theclarification of the legislative framework by adopting new legislation and preserving coherence at amulti-sectorial level.
• Domestic market: Consolidate the capacities of SMEs (both in terms of forest management andlegality compliance) with the final objective of building a sustainable legal value chain.
• Independent monitoring: Strengthen the existing monitoring system in order to stop illegalexploitation in the protected area; test a timber traceability system for classified forests.
Current projects: There are currently 3 projects endorsed for funding and operational in Côte d'Ivoire
Organization: MINEF - Ministère des Eaux et Forêts
Title: Appui à la rédaction des textes d’application du Code Forestier nécessaires à la mise en œuvre des processus FLEGT et REDD+ et renforcement des capacités des deux coordinations en matière de contrôle de la chaine d’approvisionnement
Amount: 50,000 USD
Objective and strategic importance:
This project is a cornerstone of the forest sector reform ongoing in the country. It is a good opportunity to include FLEGT aspects in the new legislation. The Programme offered high-quality legal expertise but also a methodological support to conduct the multi-stakeholders consultation.
Organization: WCF - Wild Chimpanzee Foundation
Title: Réplication de l’Observation Indépendante Mandatée (OIM), révision des normes d’aménagement, renforcement des capacités et création de synergies entre les opérateurs forestiers, les agents de la Société de Développement des Forêts (SODEFOR) et l’OIM pour une gestion durable des forêts classées
Amount: 215,579.82 USD
Objective and strategic importance:
This project has different components that address the Programme’s main objectives. One is the replication and strengthening of the forest monitoring in close partnership with the SODEFOR, an administrative entity. The project seeks as well to improve the norms related to the forest management plans. Last, a study on traceability will be conducted as a pilot research project that will probably help build further actions in this regard.
Organization: AVSI - AVSI Côte d'Ivoire
Title: Promotion de la légalité et des bonnes pratiques en matière de gestion durable par la mise en place d'un cadre d'échange et formation entre les clients de l'UE, les exportateurs et les Petites et Moyennes Entreprises ivoiriennes
Amount: 99,815 USD
Objective and strategic importance:
This project is exploring an important area of work in the context of the VPA: legality improvement on both the domestic and the international markets, through training and good practices exchange. It is fundamental to improve the capacity of the private-sector operators from the perspective of better governance.
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Lao PDR
Context The VPA negotiations in Lao PDR officially began in April 2012. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (via the FLEGT Standing Office under the supervision of the Department of Forest Inspection) leads the FLEGT process, partnering closely with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, as well as other government agencies, civil society organisations, academia, the timber processing industry, and other stakeholders. At its meeting on 15 December 2016, the FLEGT Technical Working Group finalized key parts of the draft Timber Legality definition, to be submitted to the European Union by end of 2016. Six standards cover the different timber sources: 1) Production forest, 2) Conversion forest, 3) Plantation, 4) Village use forest, 5) Confiscated timber, and 6) Imported wood. Three additional standards address cross-cutting issues: 7) Wood processing requirements, 8) Occupational safety and health, and 9) Export procedures. Furthermore the National Steering Committee has approved the scope of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA): all export markets and the domestic market, the main timber sources: 1) Production forest, 2) Conversion forest, 3) Plantation, 4) Village use forest, and a wide product scope. This submission is crucial in anticipation of the first face-to-face negotiation between the Government of Lao PDR and the EU scheduled for February 2017.
FAO FLEGT’s involvement so far has been limited to the support of a local NGO ‘Rural Research and Development Promoting Knowledge Association (RRDPA)’. This project, which ended in October 2016, aimed at increasing awareness of Provincial (Khamouane), District and Community level stakeholders about the forestry sectors’ legal framework and the FLEGT initiative. The project was also an opportunity to expose NGO staff to the realities of law enforcement, governance and trade at the grassroots level and to enable them to reflect on the issues to be addressed and opportunities provided during the VPA process. Two key activities of the project were: i) a Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and Capacity Building Needs Assessment (CBNA) to identify major knowledge gaps in the area of forest governance and legal framework and to identify capacity building needs potentially leading to better forest governance and management by local communities; and ii) an assessment of the existing timber supply chain controls from the villages (especially Village Forest Units) to wood processing factories in the Mahaxai District. Findings (e.g. use of timber payments for village and district infrastructure projects) from the project and proposed recommendations were presented during the FLEGT Quarterly Monitoring Meeting in order to inform the Timber Legality Definition (TLD) development and future VPA negotiations in Lao PDR.
Continued work in 2017 Current understanding of VPA and TLAS concepts and the opportunities the VPA processes provide is still low. There is a considerable gap between the legal and regulatory framework and legal compliance or law enforcement practices on the ground. There is a need to document current informal practices, limitations of verification processes and the challenges and barriers facing smallholders, communities and SME in legality compliance. Ongoing FAO FLEGT projects include practical activities which should inform the development of robust yet realistic legality standards and their verification. FAO support should contribute to strengthening the technical capacity of key agencies, such as enforcement agencies, and help develop support mechanisms allowing SMeWEs to remain relevant and competitive in local and international markets.
Anticipated support should contribute to more effective engagement of the Lao CSO network and key Private Sector associations in the VPA process.
Current projects: There are currently 2 projects endorsed for funding and are operational in Lao PDR
Organization: Faculty of Forestry (FoF), National University of Laos (NUoL)
Title: Building Capacity for Timber Species Identification to Strengthen the Timber Legality Assurance System in Lao PDR
Amount: USD 66,610
Objective and strategic importance:
The capacity to correctly identify commercial and protected timber species is an essential precondition to any Timber Legality Assurance System (TLAS). This project aims to build the knowledge basis for wood anatomy-based identification of species at the National University of Laos (NUOL). This project will contribute to better control of timber supply chains in Laos by increasing the capacity of government enforcement agents to identify key commercial and
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protected timber species in trade. The project will also review the legal and regulatory framework in order to clarify species specific requirements and restrictions. This project will work closely with the GIZ ProFLEGT project and the World Research Institute (WRI). Both partners will provide technical support to this project and will help facilitate the establishment of listing linkages between the NUoL and other regional timber species laboratories.
Organization: Environment Conservation and Community Development Association (ECCDA)
Title: Support the production of legal timber and timber products through improved competitiveness of small and medium businesses in Lao PDR
Amount: USD 105,683
Objective and strategic importance:
Building on some of the supply chain data collected by the RRPDA project, the project aims to improve the competitiveness of Small and Medium Wood Enterprises (SMeWEs) by increasing the compliance to legality requirements and improving their production and marketing capacity. The project will help develop, implement and monitor SMeWE specific action plans and will inform the VPA process and the development of realistic and practical verification requirements. Project experiences will also provide guidance to the development of future support to SMeWEs.
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Liberia
Context Liberia has made some progress in the VPA Process. All the necessary structures exist to move the VPA forward, but a more robust plan is needed to guide all the different actors involved in the process. Based on the results of the third and fourth JIC meeting, a rapid assessment of the domestic market and options for the implementation and review of the chainsaw milling regulation were to be conducted. FAO is supporting work in this direction based on requests from the Liberia Forest Development Authority.
Continued work in 2017 In line with the FDA and JIC recommendations, the Programme will continue supporting projects that concretely align with strategic VPA priorities. An institutional assessment of the Liberia Chainsaw and Timber Dealers Union is currently in its final stage. In addition to this, during the second semester of 2016, the Programme signed two letters of agreement that will contribute to the development of the VPA impacts monitoring baseline study and effective inclusion of chainsaw milling into the Liberian VPA. These projects will be implemented in 2017 in a participatory fashion - collaborating with other FAO Programmes, local VPA partners and international experts. One particular example of this is the ActionAid project on gender mainstreaming in forest governance, the Programme’s first flagship project on gender. The Programme objective for 2017 is to continue strengthening Liberian forest governance institutions and stakeholders, and provide all the support needed to advance the VPA process in the Country. At the same time the Programme will strive to better understand the dynamics and opportunities for private sector associations and companies active in the domestic market across various value chains.
Current projects: There are currently 4 projects endorsed for funding in Liberia
Organization: LICSATDUN - Liberia Chainsaw and Timber Dealers Union
Title: Institutional and capacity development support to the Liberia Chainsaw and Timber Dealers Union (LICSATDUN)
Amount: 29,000 USD
Objective and strategic importance:
The Programme is supporting an institutional assessment and capacity development plan of the Liberia Chainsaw and Timber Dealers Union (LICSATDUN). The Union was formally invited to participate in the VPA negotiations in Liberia to represent the national chainsaw operators and timber dealers. However fulfilling this role has proven particularly difficult due to lack of capacity and governance deficiencies. The final report will highlight those constraints and propose concrete recommendations for further developing capacity and further strengthening the Union.
Organization: CIFOR - Center for International Forestry Research
Title: A study to inform the review of the Chainsaw Milling Regulation #115-11 in view of the effective regulation of chainsaw milling and its inclusion into the Timber Legality Assurance system of Liberia
Amount: 44,504 USD
Objective and strategic importance:
The FDA requested support in order to review the Chainsaw Milling Regulation #115-11. The overall objective is to have a better understanding of the sector’s dynamics and including integrating chainsaw millers in the Liberian VPA Legality Assurance and the Chain of Custody systems. CIFOR has been tasked with the assessment of the Regulation and its coherence with other relevant legal texts, such as the Community Rights Laws and its regulation. The project will highlight sector constraints and weaknesses and propose technical recommendations for its legal inclusion into the COC and harmonization with the LAS.
Organization: FDA - Liberia Forestry Development Authority
Title: Strengthening the capacity of Wood-based energy producing communities to ensure that
Objective and strategic importance:
Due to its economic and environmental relevance the charcoal value chain is one of the most interesting forest products that the FDA is trying to regulate within the legality system. This request has been
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productions are in compliance with the Regulation on Sustainable Wood-based Biomass energy production and marketing
Amount: 109,398 USD
approved by the Programme Steering Committee and in the pipeline for the past year. Further discussion with the FDA in the beginning of 2017 will help the Programme define and prioritize its intervention around the charcoal value chain, based on FDA needs and request.
Organization: AAL - Action Aid Liberia
Title: Promoting Women and Community Rights in Forest Governance and Management in Liberia
Amount: 28,967 USD
Objective and strategic importance:
This is the Programme’s first flagship project on gender. The overall objective is to integrate gender into the VPA process; thus promoting more inclusive decision-making in forest governance and improving the understanding of women’s access to resources, especially with regard to land tenure and use rights. The project will also contribute to increasing income opportunities for women by integrating them into a “legal production system” in selected value chains and encourage their role and active involvement in monitoring VPA implementation.
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Malaysia
Context Malaysia started negotiating a VPA with the EU in 2007 and the process came to a halt in May 2014. The VPA process in Malaysia is still stalled - however, since May 2014, much has happened in Malaysia in the area of FLEGT as a result of the VPA process. This includes the operationalization of the Malaysia Timber Legality Assurance System (MYTLAS) in Peninsular Malaysia (approximately 33,000 MYTLAS Licences issued in 2015 and a further 8,200 issued in 2016) and the development and roll out of the Sabah TLAS which has undergone two rounds of Compliance Audits. Sarawak has also progressed and developed its own TLAS (Sarawak Timber Legality Verification System -TLVS) which awaits field testing.
The FAO FLEGT Programme support to Malaysia began in 2014 with the “Sabah TLAS Outreach and Capacity Building Project” implemented by the Sabah Forestry Department (SFD). The objective of the project was to improve VPA readiness of the Sabah timber industry, particularly SMEs, by preparing operators for Sabah TLAS (principle 5 and 6) and supply chain control compliance audits. This project ended in October 2016 with positive results and feedback from the timber industry.
A total of 31 SMEs were trained and prepared for Sabah TLAS (5 & 6) audits which includes new CoC requirements under the Sabah TLAS. These SMEs received training on how to create a CoC SOP to suit their particular operational needs. Two sets of Generic CoC SOP, tailored to suit upstream and downstream industries in Sabah, were developed with these companies. A total of 15 Sabah Forestry Department staff were also trained on how to conduct legality and supply chain verification / control in view of the new CoC requirements in the Sabah TLAS
Continued work in 2017 FAO FLEGT will continue to support Malaysia in strengthening TLAS development within the framework of a national VPA process. Areas of particular importance for Malaysia will be how to ensure legality of imported timber, a gap in both Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia’s TLAS which needs addressing.
FAO FLEGT will also be carrying out a rapid country assessment to identify opportunities for a more targeted and relevant support to the private sector. This rapid private sector assessment will aim to assess opportunities and challenges faced by the private sector, in particular SMEs. Possible support will be designed in a way that will not undermine the VPA process but rather strengthen it. The rapid assessment will take into consideration the results of the “Stock-taking” exercise commissioned by EFI. The objective of this exercise, which should be completed by the end of 2016, is to better understand Malaysia’s FLEGT related progress since 2014 and to inform / advise the EU accordingly.
Current projects: There are no FAO FLEGT supported projects currently operational or endorsed for
funding.
FAO FLEGT anticipates continued support to the Sabah Forestry Department (SFD) in 2017. SFD has submitted a concept note requesting Direct Assistance (DA) support to develop a due diligence system for timber manufacturers and importers importing timber from outside Sabah (this includes timber from Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia) timber in order to control risks of illegal timber entering Sabah’s legal timber supply chains (this includes timber from Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia). Addressing risks of illegal timber entering Sabah’s legal timber supply chains will close a major gap in the current Sabah TLAS.
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Myanmar
Context The Myanmar Government’s FLEGT engagement with the European Union started in late 2013. By October 2014, the Government had agreed to launch a pre-negotiation phased of preparatory activities which would lead towards the development of a Voluntary Partnership Agreement. The VPA preparations are ongoing under the guidance of multi-stakeholder Interim Task Force (ITF) formed following the VPA Inception Workshop which was held in January 2015. The IFT comprises of representatives from the government, private sector and civil society, and represents a possible foundation for a Multi-stakeholder Group, a formal body critical to the development and oversight of the VPA. An initial VPA preparation phase work plan was developed by the multi-stakeholder ITF and is currently being implementation.
FAO FLEGT contributed to the VPA preparatory phase by providing interim senior advisory support to the Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry (MoECAF) and secretarial support to MoECAF and the ITF. This interim support was provided in coordination with EFI in anticipation of the DFID FLEGT support programme which is now in place. FAO FLEGT also supported Conflict Management training for ITF members, as per ITF work plan. Training was delivered through the NGOs RECOFTC and International Alert.
Initial FAO FLEGT support also included the “Improved Legality, Governance and Trade for Community and Smallholder Timber in Myanmar” project implemented by Fauna and Flora International (FFI). The assessment of the CF related legal framework, the development of technical guidelines and the piloting of commercial CF activities by FFI did inform the revision of the Community Forestry Instruction (CFI) undertaken by the CF National Working Group (CFNWG). The new CFI (approved but not yet launched due to pending revision of the actual Forest Law) include provisions of the commercialisation of timber by CF User Groups and paves the way for CF to become an increasingly important source of timber for domestic and hopefully international markets.
Ongoing FAO support includes an expert-led participatory gap analysis of the current national Myanmar Legality Verification Standard (MTLAS) which was developed in 2013 in response to market integration objectives. The MTLAS developed by the Myanmar Forest Certification Committee (MFCC) is based on Myanmar’s’ existing laws and regulations but was developed based on the ASEAN Principles and Criteria for timber legality. The government’s intention is to use the MTLAS and the Gap Analysis as a starting point in the VPA process
Continued work in 2017 FAO FLEGT will support Myanmar, through a follow up project by FFI, to update and develop a full set of Standard Operating Procedures to roll out the new CFI. This work will be coordinated by the CFNWG and should inform the initial development of a Legality Definition for CF timber.
Support will also be provided to enhance the Private Sector engagement in the upcoming VPA process and to build the capacity of the Myanmar Forest Products Merchants Federation (MFPMF) to represents its members and to help them to respond to market requirements and policy change. An initial institutional review of the MFPMF will identify possible actions for the improvement of internal governance and service delivery.
Additional support to CSO engagement in the VPA process can be anticipated as current EU support will come to an end in 2017. FAO FLEGT is also anticipating Direct Assistance (DA) requests for a follow up in the MTLAS Gap Analysis project, to support the implementation of the preparatory phase work plan and to facilitate the development and implementation of FLEGT related policy reform (e.g. reform of Myanmar Timber Enterprise). Close coordination with DFID, EFI and RAFT will ensure effective support to all stakeholder groups in Myanmar.
Current projects: There are currently 3 projects endorsed for funding and are operational in Myanmar
Organization: Myanmar Forest Certification Committee (MFCC)
Title: Strengthening the development of the Myanmar Timber Legality Assurance System (MTLAS)
Amount: USD 130,000
Objective and strategic importance:
The objective of this project is to develop an in depth understanding of the FLEGT VPA TLAS requirements and its implications for Myanmar. The project is supporting an expert-led participatory gap analysis of the current national Myanmar Legality Assurance System (MTLAS) as well as targeted awareness raising, training, field visits and international exchanges for key organizations and stakeholders to be engaged in the VPA process.
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The MTLAS Gap Analysis and corresponding field work has now been completed and confirms that the current MTLAS legality standard remains incomplete and only covers timber originating from government FMUs. Important sources such as plantation, smallholder, CF, confiscated, conversion and imported timber are currently not covered under the MTLAS legality standard. Mayor elements of the assurance “system” such as verification, supply chain controls, oversight and monitoring are yet to be developed, described or completed. Findings of the MTLAS Gap Analysis and possible next steps will be presented and discussed during the project closure planned for mid-February 2017. Results of the MTLAS Gap Analysis will likely inform the initial stages of the VPA process as well as interim measures to be taken to improve the current level of legality assurance during the VPA negotiations.
Organization: Myanmar Forest Products Merchants Federation (MFPMF)
Title: “To strengthen the institutional capacity of the private sector in Myanmar”
Amount: USD 110,000
Objective and strategic importance:
This project is building on the findings and recommendations of the DFID funded MFPMF project “Identifying Needs to Improve Private Sector Engagement in the EU FLEGT-VPA Process” implemented by the Global Timber Forum (GTF). The overall objective of the FAO follow up support is to enhance the Private Sector engagement in the upcoming VPA process.
Recent changes in MFPMF staffing, limited capacity and evolving EFI and DFID support to the Private Sector (stakeholder mapping and communication) have prompted the development of a phased approach to FAO project implementation. During phase 1 of the project an expert team will conduct an institutional review covering MFPMF’s current policy framework, internal governance, membership, outreach, services and activities. This institutional review will inform the design of phase 2 aimed at improving MFPMF’s internal governance, service delivery and capacity to represent the Private Sector during VPA negotiations.
Organization: Fauna and Flora a International-Myanmar (FFI)
Title: FLEGT preparedness for community timber producers In Myanmar
Amount: USD 110,000
Objective and strategic importance:
The objective of the project is to empower CF User Groups and local Forestry Department personnel to devise and test practical Standard Operational Procedures for the roll out of the new CFI which allow timber to be harvested and traded legally from licensed CF forests.
The project will be implemented under the overall guidance of the CF National Working Group (CFNWG) created to provide policy advice (i.e., the revision of the CFI but also upcoming discussion on related VPA Legality Definition and national certification standard development) and regular updates will be shared through the CF Practitioners Network (CFPN) to ensure coordination and sharing of experiences with other CF related projects and initiatives.
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Republic of Congo
Context The EU and the Republic of Congo signed a VPA in 2010. Over the past years, the Programme supported several initiatives in the following topic areas:
• Private sector: capacity building in SMEs’ professional associations; improving their collaborationwith government agencies in the implementation of VPA; organizing an international multi-stakeholder forum on sustainable development of the wood industry in the Congo Basin;
• Legality verification: developing and validating a national manual of procedures for the non-compliance to the legality requirements cases; consolidation of an online monitoring platform ofVPA legality indicators (Forest Transparency Initiative);
• Legislation implementation: strengthening the dynamics of independent monitoring.
Continued work in 2017 In 2017, the priority is to support legality verification and issuance of FLEGT licenses. Work with the administration will continue in this regard and other stakeholders’ involvement will be explored.
• VPA implementation: Support implementation of the VPA process by helping stakeholders to complywith the FLEGT legality matrices related to rights and roles of Indigenous People and local communities (IPLCs)
• Legal reform: support the ministry in charge of forests, in the development of implementinglegislation for the new Forest Law
• Independent Monitoring: implementation of an online database about forest conversion
Current projects: There is currently 1 project endorsed for funding and operational in Congo.
Organization: CLFT - Cellule de la Légalité Forestière et de la Traçabilité
Title: Développement d'un manuel consensuel de procédures pour la gestion des cas de non-respect de la grille de légalité APV-FLEGT en République du Congo
Amount: 50,000 USD
Objective and strategic importance:
This project has been designed to support the administration in the implementation of the legality verification system; more specifically, the development of a procedure manual for the treatment of non-compliance.
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Thailand
Context The VPA negotiations in Thailand officially began on 11 September 2013 with the Royal Forest Department (RFD) as the main coordinating agency on FLEGT in Thailand. In 2013, RFD established the Thai-EU FLEGT Secretariat Office (TEFSO) which reports directly to the Director-General of RFD and coordinates national level FLEGT activities in preparation for VPA negotiations. It is anticipated that the first round of negotiations between the EU and Thailand will happen in 2017 which is a positive step in driving the political process forward. FAO FLEGT’s support to Thailand has largely been towards the strengthening of TEFSO and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in preparation for the VPA negotiations. This support was channelled through RFD’s TEFSO and the Thailand Programme of the Regional Community Forestry Training Centre for Asia and the Pacific (RECOFTC) through the following projects:
1. Support to TEFSO-RFD began in 2014 to strengthen the capacity of TEFSO to effectively prepare forthe VPA negotiations (TEFSO 1). This included the set-up of a strong technical and administrativesupport team and the creation of effective communications channels under TEFSO. The second grant(TEFSO 2) covered the Legality Definition (LD) national multi-stakeholder consultation processsupport. FAO FLEGT supported TEFSO under two other consecutive grants to provide continuedtechnical and administrative assistance and to support TEFSO’s operational costs (TEFSO 3 and 4).
2. Support to RECOFTC - Thailand began in April 2015 and aimed at strengthening civil societyorganizations (CSOs) and community forest (CF) networks’ participation in the FLEGT VPA processthrough the institutionalization of the CSOs’ FLEGT Network. During the 18 month project, RECOFTCsuccessfully institutionalised the CSO’ FLEGT Network, developed knowledge / training material onFLEGT, carried out 4 regional and 2 national level training programmes on FLEGT and organised theNational FLEGT Forum for CSO to better understand as well as document CSO and CF groupsknowledge gaps on FLEGT and their expectations in the VPA process.
Continued work in 2017 The FAO FLEGT Programme has agreed to continue funding TEFSO through two new Direct Assistance (DA) grants (TEFSO 5 and TEFSO 6). Both DAs will begin on the 1 January 2017 allowing TEFSO to maintain its current level of support to the VPA process and move into the first round of negotiations with the EU. This relatively small but critical FAO support to TEFSO has been endorsed by the EU Delegation. It is considered important in the absence of a larger bi-lateral support. It also complements the increasing VPA related investment by the Thai Government which was the condition to the continued FAO FLEGT support. The 2017 support to TEFSO already covers technical inputs for the development of TLAS and other technical VPA annexes but additional DA could be envisaged.
FAO FLEGT will also continue to support RECOFTC-Thailand and the CSO FLEGT Network to enable this stakeholder group to represent the interest of smallholder farmers and communities, to actively contribute to the VPA negotiations and to propose legal reform in support of smallholder or community timber production on private and public land.
In 2017, FAO FLEGT is also considering support to Private Sector stakeholders (The Federation of Thai Industries and the Private Plantation Cooperative) to help simplify legal requirements (Forest Act) for restricted species on private land and to assess the use voluntary risk-based CoC/DD certification to compensate for the lack of legal verification requirements for species (e.g. rubber) not included in the Plantation Act annex (see VPA Gap/Issues paper).
Current projects: There are currently 3 projects endorsed for funding and are operational in Thailand.
Organization: RECOFTC - Thailand
Title: Enhancing smallholders' accessibility to timber legality and trade for effective implementation of VPA process in Thailand
Amount: USD 114,983
Objective and strategic importance:
This project aims to develop informed and consolidated legality recommendations to effectively address the legal and tenure challenges faced by smallholder timber producers participating in legal timber trade. Recognizing the opportunities arising from the VPA negotiations and the many challenges facing smallholders from making a sustainable living
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from their forests and trees - it is vital that the barriers facing this stakeholder group are effectively addressed and that the participation in the VPA process of this stakeholder group is ensured. To achieve this, the project will carry out detailed documentation of the barriers, and provide recommendations on how to simplify legal compliance and promote effective smallholder timber logging. The project will also address gaps in the lack of understanding and confidence of the private sector and government regarding the capacity of smallholders in formally producing good quality and legal / sustainable timber.
Organization: Royal Forestry Department (RFD)
Title: Strengthening TEFSO’s support to the FLEGT VPA negotiation – Phase 4
Amount: USD 65,991
Objective and strategic importance:
The objective of this project is to facilitate participatory discussion among stakeholders through FLEGT processes, to ensure that relevant information and documents are prepared for negotiation and to increase the understanding and transparency of the VPA process by disseminating relevant FLEGT information to the different stakeholder groups. This DA to RFD is a continued support towards the TEFSO’s human resource cost in order to provide the necessary local expertise and personnel support needed in preparing Thai stakeholders for the VPA engagements and consultations as well as official negotiations with the EU.
Organization: Royal Forestry Department (RFD)
Title: Strengthening multi-stakeholder engagement and participation in the FLEGT process in Thailand.
Amount: USD 53,625
Objective and strategic importance:
The objective of this project is to plan and implement key activities in preparations for the first negotiations with the EU. These include the organisation of Ad-Hoc Working Group meetings, various technical meetings, and the field testing of the LD. Through this project, the LD for timber in Thailand will be finalised and ready for negotiations. The project will also support drafting the Thai Timber Legality Assurance System (TLAS) Annexes and the corresponding multi-stakeholder consultations on these annexes. This project will therefore provide the opportunity for RFD to prepare stakeholders and to discuss issues related to forest governance and ways to improve forest law enforcement processes in Thailand with these stakeholders prior to the 1st negotiations. This project will also document these various activities to ensure effective and smooth negotiation between Thailand and EU.
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Viet Nam
Context Negotiations started on this VPA in October 2010, and it is the EU’s second VPA with an Asian country. After nearly six years of negotiations, Viet Nam and the EU agreed in principle on a Voluntary Partnership Agreement, which is expected to be ratified in 2017. To implement the agreement, Viet Nam will need to revise and/or issue new legislation to realise the commitments of the agreement. Before the VPA enters into force key elements of the interim arrangements have been agreed.
Past FAO support included Direct Assistance for the development of a first draft TLAS. The programme also supported multi-stakeholder consultations for both the initial draft TLAS and overall VPA text prior to 2015 negotiation rounds. In 2016, the FAO FLEGT Programme provided technical oversight for TLAS related support by the UN-REDD Programme in Viet Nam. This support included the initial design of a Forest Crime/Violation Database. Ongoing UN-REDD support includes the participatory development of the Organisation Classification System (OCS), a central element to the VNTLAS, and the Species Risk Categories, one of the 3 risk-based verification filters for the verification of imported timber. The FAO FLEGT programme also contributed to the mainstreaming of the VPA implementation into the National REDD+ Action Programme (NRAP) of Viet Nam currently under revision. The NRAP will guide the use of REDD+ investments and results based payments for the roll out and continuous VPA implementation.
Past FAO grants included 1) support to the VNGO (SRD) network for the development of a VPA related Livelihood Impact Monitoring methodology and initial monitoring baseline, 2) support to PS (via (CED) VPA related awareness for enhanced participation and preparedness. These early projects, like a number of other FLEGT related projects in Viet Nam, suffered from the lack of clarity on key elements of the VPA (2014-15) and the slow pace of negotiations. Despite the recent conclusion of the VPA, non-governmental stakeholder involvement in TLAS implementation, monitoring and oversight remain unclear or uncertain.
Continued work in 2017 The programme will (directly or indirectly through the UN-REDD programme) continue to support legislative and regulatory development resulting from the 2016 VPA agreement. FAO will also support, in close coordination with GIZ, actions needed to prepare for VPA implementation.
Ongoing support to TLAS compliant group CoC and Due Diligence FSC/PEFC certification for SMES (SFMI) and planned support to the development of association level Due Diligence Systems (HAWA for FAO FLEGT and Binh Dinh Timber Association for UN-REDD) should contribute to improved legality compliance and VNTLAS preparedness as well as inform further TLAS development (e.g. Due Diligence requirements recognition of voluntary certification). These ongoing projects together with the support to the development of TLAS compliant National Certification Standards (FM and CoC) lead by VAFS, should also contribute to future integration and recognition of voluntary certification in the VNTLAS.’
The FAO FLEGT programme will also support Civil Society to strengthen their role in impact monitoring and the possible independent monitoring of OCS implementation.
Current projects: There are currently 5 projects endorsed for funding and are operational in Viet Nam
Organization: Research Institute for Sustainable Forest Management (SFMI)
Title: Preparing SMEs for VN TLAS implementation through testing voluntary group certification of integrated Chain-of Custody and Due Diligence System
Amount: USD 124,750
Objective and strategic importance:
The objective of the project is to support future compliance to VN TLAS Legality Definition and Supply Chain Control requirements by testing integrated Chain-of-Custody (CoC)/Due Diligence System (DDS) group certification of SMEs using FSC and PEFC systems. The project should result in the following benefits: 1) promote VNTLAS (LD and supply chain control requirements) compliance and therefore preparedness of small holder farmers and SMEs, 2) achieve internationally recognised PEFC and FSC certification creating immediate market incentives for participating SMEs and the larger corporate client companies they supply, 3) inform further VNTLAS development and implementation.
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Organization: The Center for Education and Development (CED)
Title: “Promoting private sector engagement in the VPA process”
Amount: USD 109,797
Objective and strategic importance:
The project is building on a previous CED FAO FLEGT grant as well as the EU-Del grant to SFMI-NEPCON and is designed to enhance the understanding of and compliance to VNTLAS and legal market requirements, to promote legal production and best management practices throughout the timber product value chain in Viet Nam, and to strengthen public-private dialogues to advance the VPA process in Viet Nam. Feedback from beneficiaries will be used to identify which laws and regulations impact timber processing businesses the most and where changes to the legal framework and law enforcement is needed to ensure better compliance. The project will also facilitate public – private dialogues to identify measures to facilitate and accelerate successful VPA implementation.
Organization: Vietnamese Academy of Forest Sciences (VAFS)
Title: Improving the compatibility between the VPA and the National Standards for the Viet Nam Forest Certification Scheme
Amount: USD 60,000
Objective and strategic importance:
The objective of this support is to develop VNTLAS compliant Forest Management (FM) and Chain of Custody (CoC) certification standards for the Viet Nam Forest Certification Scheme (VFCS). The current Viet Nam TLAS (VNTLAS) requirements will be incorporated into the VFCS standards, facilitating future compliance and hopefully recognition of certified operators under the VNTLAS.
Recommendations on how to strengthen synergies and mutual recognition between the VNTLAS and the National Certification Scheme will be discussed and developed for formal submission to MARD.
Organization: Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development (IPSARD)
Title: Scattered Timber Sources in Viet Nam and Potential Development under the FLEGT VPA with European Union
Amount: USD 50,000
Objective and strategic importance:
Scattered Timber Sources (STS) are considered a very important source of cash income for rural households and communities and are commonly perceived as an important source of domestic raw material for the wood processing industry. The project objective is to better understand the extent to which STS contribute to the wood processing industry in Viet Nam. The project will help better define scattered trees based on evidence of types and quantities being harvested, processed and traded. Scattered trees are the only timber source for which land use right verifiers (LD) are not required. A better understanding of ownership issues and risk of illegality should help identify evidence-based improvements to existing legal framework and practical verification methods to be reflected in the VNTLAS.
Organization: Handicraft and Wood Industry Association of Ho Chi Minh City (HAWA)
Title: “Consultation workshops on Establishing HAWA Due Diligence System (HAWA DDS)”
(Phase 1 of HAWA Due Diligence System or HAWA DDS project)
Amount: USD 25,000 (out of overall USD 498,000 allocation for)
Objective and strategic importance:
FAO will support the initial phase of the HAWA Due Diligence System development project. During this preparatory phase, HAWA will present the current HAWA DDS concept to members and non-members (other associations, VNFOREST, CSOs, etc.) in order to confirm interest and to seek feedback on the design and cost-effectiveness of the proposed system as the most adequate response to current market and future VNTLAS requirements.”
Annex 4. 2017 work plan
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An initial stakeholder consultation will inform the HAWA DDS development or second phase of the overall HAWA DDS project. UN-REDD will support the Binh Ding Timber Association (TA) to conduct a similar consultation among its members. It is expected that a similar association based DDS system will be established by the Binh Dinh TA. HAWA and Binh Dinh TA members represent over 70 percent of Viet Nam’s timber sector exports.
This activity is funded by the Swedish International Cooperation Agency, the United Kingdom
Department for International Development and the European Union. The views expressed herein can in
no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the Swedish International Cooperation Agency, the
United Kingdom Department for International Development or the European Union.
