Newsflash

A MECHANISM TO STRENGTHEN CAPACITY FOR FOREST MANAGEMENT IN AFRICA AND SOME INITIAL ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT BY THE FORUM

Funded by  the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida)
1.1 The African Forest Estate
1.2 Forest Management
1.3 Contribution from SFM I and SFM II

2. The Proposal
2.1 Initial Operation of the African Forest Forum
2.2 A Programme to Support Forest Management in Africa
2.3 Justification of Specific Activities
3.1 On Poverty linkages
3.2 On Tenure of Land, Forest and Trees
3.3 On Gender in the work of AFF
 5.1 Overall Objective
5.2 Specific Objective/Purpose on Information
5.3 Specific Objective/Purpose on Governance and Fair Trade
5.4 Specific Objective/Purpose on Climate Change
5.5 Specific Objective/Purpose on Forest-Water Relations
5.6 Specific Objective/Purpose on Strengthening Forest Dialogue and Processes in Africa
5.7 Specific Objective/Purpose on Strenthening Management of Forest Plantations
5.8 Specific Objective/Purpose on African-Swedish Collaboration
1. THE CONTEXT
1.1 The African Forest Estate
Forests and woodlands cover an area of about 650 million hectares, or 21.8% of Africa’s land area (FAO, 2001), representing about 17% of the world’s forest area. Almost all forest resources (98.8%) are natural forests with tropical moist (38.4%) and dry forests (53.4%) being the most important formations. The bulk of these forests are found in Central (37%) and Southern (28%) Africa, while West, North and East Africa have 11-13% each. The area of forest plantations is very limited, only 8-9 million ha. In some regions of Africa, there are considerable tree resources on farm and pasture land in various agroforestry or wood lot formations.

The gross productivity of the tropical rain forests is high. These forests are mainly exploited, through concessions, by the private sector. The population density in these forests is low.

Dry forests are found in three out of four sub-Saharan African countries. They are sources of major rivers on the continent and act as a reservoir of land onto which agriculture expands. They are therefore essential to human and animal livelihood support in general. The major river basins of Africa, with the exception of the Congo River, are also found in the dry forests. They are fairly open and of low productivity. They lie in the agricultural belt. The ecozones where dry forests form the natural vegetation support about 500 million people. They also support a lot of the African wildlife, and many important game reserves and animal parks are located in dry forests.

Many big African towns and cities lie within or near dry forest zones. Urbanisation rates in Africa are very high, more than 4% per year. This exerts a lot of pressure on the forests for fuelwood and other products and services. The forests are under immense human and animal pressure for various needs, at the same time as this demand for wood also creates opportunities for income generation and improved forest management.

1.2 Forest management

Despite the glaring lack of information in support of good forest management, there are efforts to manage African forests sustainably, especially those under formal administration. Sustainable forest management (SFM) is a long-term objective for Africa, and is written into most national and regional development plans and strategies.

Developing SFM plans for productive forestry is relatively new. Past experience dealt with management plans for sustained timber yield. It is commendable that Africa has begun to take realistic steps to improve management of its forest and tree resources. The most important steps are in the realm of policy and institutional changes, both within the forest sector, in other sectors, and the economy as a whole. Of particular importance are the following:
 
•    Decentralisation and devolution of administration and increased emphasis on community participation in forest management.
•    Changes in forest administration especially through the establishment of more autonomous boards, authorities and commissions.
•    Increased role for the private sector in forestry production and processing; this has led to privatisation of public-owned commercial  enterprises, including forest industries and plantations in many countries.
•    Increasing role of civil society – especially national and international NGOs - in influencing forest resource management, particularly through their advocacy role and also through direct involvement in forestry initiatives in supporting community participation.
•    A growing awareness and concern about the local and regional roles of forests and trees in fields like poverty alleviation, climate change, energy supply, water availability, and biodiversity conservation.
•    Concerns also about global changes, especially stemming from demands that forests, also in Africa, shall provide global public goods and services, and environmental protection in particular, as reflected in various international arrangements including treaties and conventions.

Given such scenarios, the focus in the present to medium term could be to create the necessary conditions for getting the forest and tree resources under management or, where management exists, strengthen it and make it more responsive to changing needs and challenges.

1.3 Contributions from SFM I and SFM II

As a modest contribution to this effort the African Forest Research Network (AFORNET) at the African Academy of Sciences (AAS), in collaboration with the Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Forestry (KSLA) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, implemented a project on “Lessons Learnt on Sustainable Forest Management in Africa” (SFM I) between 2003 and 2005. The project aimed at discerning positive and negative lessons from forestry activities, programmes and projects that had been implemented in Africa since most countries became independent in the last 40+ years. It also sought to enrich its findings through analysing the relevance to Africa of lessons from Latin America, Asia and Sweden.

Between March 2006 and October 2008, a follow-up project, “Sustainable Forest Management in Africa” (SFM II), is being implemented with the primary purpose of bringing the findings from SFM I to a wider range of  forest stakeholders in Africa and, based on systematic discussions among those, identify priority projects and activities to resolve some of the key problems and issues. In addition, a primary goal of SFM II has been to establish an African Forest Forum that will galvanise the African voice and opinion on many forestry issues as well as mobilise resources and institute mechanisms for their resolution.

The current proposal is for the dual purpose of running the African Forest Forum for an initial period of five years and, through the Forum, to support an improved forest management in Africa by addressing a limited number of key issues and opportunities that need to be first looked upon in a regional context. In addition to the seven specific activities for which funding are requested in the current proposal, there are several others in different stages of development for which funding will be requested from other partners.
 
 
2. THE PROPOSAL
2.1 Initial operation of the African Forest Forum

In the course of implementing the SFM I project 2003-2005, several senior people from all over Africa with expertise on, interest in and responsibility for forestry matters - drawn from civil services, politics, academia, private companies, international institutions, NGOs, etc. - took active part in the programmes. Some were members of the steering committee, some wrote commissioned reports or reviewed them, some where involved with the project’s support to the UNFF process, and many participated in the workshops and seminars organised by the project. The active participation by many of the scientists already connected to the AFORNET network made the number of people thus involved significant. From these very constructive interactions emerged an interest in continuing and strengthening this independent platform of analysis, advocacy and advice. A decision was subsequently taken to make the formation of an African Forest Forum (AFF) an explicit objective for phase II of the SFM project.

In January 2007, the Forum was set up by the members of the Steering Committee of SFM II, acting as Founding Members of the AFF. This followed an in-depth and wide-reaching consultation process among forestry stakeholders within and outside Africa, leading to the formulation and endorsement of a Constitution and accompanying Guidelines for administrative and financial operations for the Forum. These documents formed the basis for acquiring the official legal status of an international Non-Governmental Organisation domiciled in Kenya on December 06, 2007. The interest in the Forum among people involved with forests and trees in a very wide sense is significant, and today (June 2008) there are around 400 registered members within a period of less than two years.

The African Forest Forum and its goals, purposes, intended modes of operations, target groups, etc., are described in Appendix 1. A brief presentation of the Founding Members and members of the first Governing Council is given in Appendix 2. The Forum has the explicit or implicit support of several important regional and international organisations and processes, which see it as a potential platform for providing them with independent and high quality analysis and advice on forestry issues of relevance to the continent. Many of these organisations will also be valuable partners to the Forum. Up to now, United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF),  the African Union (AU), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have all actively requested inputs into their policy and negotiating processes from AFF. The list in Appendix 2 speaks for itself in underpinning the strong endorsement that the idea of the Forum has on the continent and beyond.

The medium-term goal is that the AFF will establish a secure funding base that guarantees its operations and independence. For that purpose, the Governing Council has established a Task Force on Resources Mobilisation that is in the process of developing and implementing a fund raising strategy and plan. However, in order to build up its secretariat and governance structure and their modes of operation, and to provide a seamless interface with the activities of the SFM II project, which will expire on 31 October 2008, and start gaining experience by addressing some key issues (below), a secure external funding for a critical minimum level and period of operations will be required.

2.2  A programme to support  forest management in Africa

The seven activities proposed in this document will form part of an initial programme to build the AFF and address some key issues identified as priorities in the SFM I/II process. The overall purpose is to strengthen the capacity for sustainable forest management in Africa so that it can support policies and actions contributing to poverty alleviation and environmental stability. The specific programme and activities in this proposal focus on the following important areas:

1.    Information generation, sharing and uptake.
2.    Good forest governance and law enforcement.
3.    Effects of, and mitigation and adaptation to, climate change.
4.    Forest-water relations and management.
5.    Strengthening Africa in international and regional dialogues on forestry and related areas.
6.    Rehabilitation of public forest plantations.
7.    The potential for collaboration between African and Swedish forest institutions.

Again, it should be stressed that there are fifteen other priority issues that have been identified in the SFM process at the four sub-regional workshops held (in Addis Ababa, Douala, Lusaka and Bamako). These have also been turned into proposals, and the AFF will link up with appropriate national and regional forestry bodies in Africa to search for funding and establish appropriate implementation mechanisms for them. The reasons why the current seven are incorporated in this proposal are that they are either both urgent and continental or sub-regional in context, and thus eminently suitable for a mechanism such as AFF to take the lead on, or, in the case of the potential links between Africa and Sweden, because the request is addressed to Sida and it is envisaged that Swedish forest institutions and expertise can play a positive role in collaboration with African colleagues and sister institutions.

2.3 Justification of specific activities

Africa continues to have serious problems with generating new information and innovations in forestry, accessing externally available information, as well as with analysing and adopting such information and innovation into practical forest management. There are pockets of information in many institutions, networks and individuals. However, a mechanism to systematically collect, collate, synthesise (where necessary) and share the information is lacking. Such information would not only enrich educational establishments, which mould future foresters, agriculturalists, environmentalists and other stakeholders in forestry, but it will also be useful for decision-makers and practitioners in forestry, environmental protection, rural development, and related areas. It will enable monitoring of the compliance of the forestry sector to international conventions, agreements and protocols, the millennium development goals, the non-legally binding forest instrument and national economic plans.

Good forest governance and law enforcement are areas that are acquiring increasing prominence in the global forest arena. Their success will largely depend on overall governance and law enforcement in individual countries. An African Forest Law Enforcement & Governance (AFLEG) initiative is already taking root in the Congo Basin countries. The SFM II project collaborates with other parties (the EAC, AFORNET, the World Bank, and the Finnish Embassy in Nairobi) on introducing FLEG to some Eastern African countries. The Southern African countries have yet to be collectively engaged in a FLEG process. Added to this process is a need to extend it to trade in forest products (FLEGT). These initiatives are crucial to safeguard any achievements in SFM, apart from making more forest resources and incomes available equitably to stakeholders. With good forest governance and law enforcement Africa could, in the short to medium term, put most of its forest resources under some form of good administration, while working on them to achieve SFM in the long term. The planned and promising FLEGT initiatives will need support from both within and outside Africa.

With the possible exception of biodiversity conservation and exploration, where international and regional wildlife and conservation NGOs such as WWF and IUCN are active, the continent has yet to develop effective and efficient ways of taking up and continuously monitor new and emerging issues on environmental impacts, threats and opportunities related to forests. This applies to climate change and carbon trade. There is, for example, no consolidated African forestry response to climate change as the issue is gaining momentum on the international scene – the risk is imminent that strategies and plans related to these issues will be totally dominated by opinions and considerations from outside the continent. The African forestry sector appears to take a back seat in the debate on climate change and how to adapt to it (through species choice and management techniques), mitigate its effects (carbon sequestration), and benefit from emerging potentials (e.g. certification, carbon trade and clean development mechanisms).

The world is increasingly becoming conscious of the growing scarcity of clean water. Forests play crucial roles in assuring water quality and availability. At present, it is obvious that increasingly larger regions on the African continent are affected by water shortages. As mentioned earlier, most important rivers in Africa originate from forest areas (dry, moist and mountain forests), with major river basins of significance to agricultural production found in the African dry forest ecozones. However, little attention is paid to forest-water relations so as to ensure sufficient supplies of quality water to the African people, its animals and plants. Like with climate change, the tendency has been to act at times of crises. Water and climate issues cannot always be fixed in the short term, especially when the situation is relatively bad. In addition, Africa has yet to develop mechanisms to mitigate against adverse effects of external policies that have a potential to impact the forestry sector.

The absence of a collective African opinion on the above and many other forestry and related issues would appear to weaken Africa’s response to them and could jeopardize their containment on the continent. Galvanising the African voice and opinion on forestry issues is an area that is still in its infancy in terms of development. Both SFM I and SFM II gave some limited support to this, specifically with respect to the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF 5-7), where the project mounted a Technical Support Team to the African delegations, a team that operated under the umbrella of the African Union (AU). The “African Group” emerged at UNFF 5, after the collapse of the G77 and China negotiating group, and Africa has since spoken with one voice in UNFF sessions. But that is only one step. There is a need to strengthening the African unity of purpose beyond UNFF negotiations. There is need that such unity be given form and structure. The African Forest Forum has been established with this as one of its many explicit tasks and it needs strong support for contributing to a continued strengthening of the African voice in international and regional forest-related processes and negotiations.

From the 1950s to the 1980s, substantial areas of forest plantations, mostly of exotic species such as pines, eucalypts and cypresses, were established in many countries of Eastern and Southern Africa with limited natural forest resources. The main purpose of these plantations, most of which were established and run by state forest departments on Government land, were to provide a sufficient supply of timber to sawmills and other wood processing industries, and, through these, affordable forest products to the growing populations. Initially, these plantations, even if many lacked planned integration with the product chain through industry to consumers, were well managed and many countries became more or less self-sufficient with industrial wood from rather modest areas of fast-growing plantations. For example, in Kenya an estate of just over 150,000 ha of plantations provided all industrial wood required in the country. From the late 1980s, however, the plantation estates in most countries went into a period of accelerating decline – due to corruption, land conflicts, external funds moving their focus from industrial plantations to agroforestry and social forestry, weakening forest departments and management capacities, unrealistically low prices charged to sawmillers for timber, etc. Today, the plantations in most countries are in a poor shape and only supply a fraction of national wood needs. At the same time, market and consumer demands for affordable wood products continue to grow exponentially with rapid urbanisation and growing middle classes. There is a rapidly increasing industrial wood deficit in these countries. This therefore calls for an urgent look at innovative ways of improving and accelerating plantation forestry in both public and private sectors, as well as through other means, with a view to match supplies to market requirements and evolution of more appropriate plantation management/tenure models (see Appendix 3).

During the SFM I project, studies were made on the relevance to Africa of Sweden’s experience in the last 100-150 years to become a successful forestry country. Although ecological and economic conditions are obviously different, it was concluded that many Swedish lessons related to the processes and mechanisms of developing and administrating forest policies and legislation, strengthening institutional capacity for supporting mechanisms to SFM, e.g. within areas of research, education/training, resource inventories and statistics, extension services, certification and market intelligence, etc., and in organising and empowering stakeholders in the use, management and conservation of forest and tree resources, could be of relevance, in adapted forms, also to Africa. A proposal for developing a collaborative umbrella programme between African and Swedish forest stakeholders around these aspects was prepared and extensively discussed and endorsed at sub-regional workshops in Eastern and Southern Africa. The current proposal incorporates the 2-year “planning and inception” phase of this programme, and involves studies, workshops and reports leading to concrete recommendations of how to establish and implement collaborative activities between African and Swedish institutions. It will include forest policy-makers, primary producers (farmers, communities and other tree growers/managers), secondary producers (industry and market operators), consumers, and environmental and other groups with special interests in forest resources (see Appendices 3 and 4).
 
3. LINKAGES TO OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES AND CONCERNS

All the areas the project will work on are very much linked to broader societal issues of relevance to the welfare of the African people and the environment they live in. The AFF will, both in general and in specific activities, connect with issues of poverty alleviation, energy, gender equity and forest/tree and land tenure. Through this programme proposed for funding by Sida, as well as through other activities and programmes with other partners, AFF will identify areas of further work so as to provide information that will contribute to the resolution of issues that characterise these four areas.

Below are some brief notes on how AFF intends to deal with these issues, specifically within the confines of the activities in this programme.

3.1 On poverty linkages

The Mission of the AFF, as appearing in its Constitution, states:  “The AFF seeks to contribute to the improvement of the livelihood of the people of Africa and the environment they live in through sustainable management and use of tree and forest resources on the African continent”. AFF is therefore committed to poverty reduction on the continent.

The proposed activities in this project proposal seek to contribute to this mission as follows:

1.    Good Forest Governance: This activity seeks to improve the governance of tree and forest resources in ways that involve all stakeholders, including local communities and poor people, whose needs can be addressed through good management and use of these resources. Local communities depend on these resources for essential products like fuel-wood, medicines, foods, fodder for their animals and the environmental services that contribute to their livelihoods like sustained provision of water.

2.    Climate Change and Forest and Water relations:  These two activities are central to human survival and stability of the environment. Africa will be the worst affected in terms of climate change. This project will contribute to the understanding of the effects of climate change on agriculture and livestock husbandry that form the mainstay of many rural people in Africa. In addition, the project will also highlight how climate change affects tree and forest resources and their capacity to support livelihoods of the rural poor through provision of basic goods and services like fuelwood, water, fodder, foods and medicines.

3.    Strengthening Dialogues in Forestry: Experience shows that Africa has been weak on regional and international dialogues on forestry, especially on key issues like climate change that hold potential to adversely affect the majority of the rural poor and the environment they live in. The project seeks to strengthen the African forestry sector in taking up such important issues and advancing their goals in national plans so that issues of social and economic importance, like poverty reduction, are addressed holistically.

4.    Rehabilitation of Public Forest Plantations: There is an emerging scarcity of industrial wood in many countries in Africa. One of the approaches to contain this problem is the establishment of forest plantations. This project seeks to draw on lessons on public forest plantation development to advance a case for increased local communities’ engagement in outgrower schemes that would eventually expand their sources of income, increase employment and supply of affordable forest and tree products. All these will contribute to the reduction of the level of poverty in rural communities and among poor urban consumers.
 
5.    Improved Information Generation Sharing:  The countries in Africa are at different stages of managing and using their forest resources. For example, community-based and joint forest management are more advanced in the woodlands and dry forests as compared to closed forest or rainforest countries. Exchange of information and experiences between countries through this project will make it possible to upscale best practices in forestry that improve the livelihoods of the rural poor.

The project also will draw on lessons from Swedish long experience in forestry that could be of use to African forestry in addressing poverty.

3.2 On tenure of land, forests and trees

The AFF is fully aware of the importance and complexity of land, forest and tree tenure on the continent, and how tenure interrelates with other essential issues, such as income generation, biodiversity conservation, investments in forestry and tree growing, climate, and gender. Actually, many of the AFF Governing Council (GC) members are very actively involved with these issues in their various professional capacities. In some of the projects developed during SFM I and II, which are not part of this proposal, tenure issues feature very prominently, e.g. in proposals related to community forest management, rainforest logging concessions, and the use of non-wood forest products. Also in many of the projects in this proposal, tenure will be an important consideration, e.g. in the forest law enforcement and governance project and the plantation project.

At the third AFF GC meeting it was decided that a paper highlighting the key issues of tenure and how they affect forestry in the different regions of Africa should be commissioned when implementing this project. The paper should make recommendations which AFF could consider at a seminar/workshop where the position of AFF would be clearly defined. Based on this and the experience coming out of all relevant activities that AFF is or will become involved with, a long term measure will be to formulate a strategy on how to advise regional bodies and governments on how to tackle tenure issues relating to forestry. A panel of experts on land tenure will be established that continuously advise AFF on land tenure issues and trends in the region. These activities will be handled within the currently requested budget for the Secretariat.

3.3 On gender in the work of AFF

Women play major roles in the management and use of forest and tree resources in Africa. Their roles as harvesters and managers of trees at local level are well researched. Their opportunities for gainful economic involvement have been limited to minor forest products and subsistence consumption. With the enactment of new forest laws that encourage inclusive forest resource governance, such opportunities can be enhanced and new ones found.

At professional level, women have had limited influence on forest policy and management for many reasons, including lack of gender-focused programmes, invisibility, few women in the forestry and natural resources fields, policies and governance regimes.   

A recent desk study by FAO on gender and forestry in Africa shows that whereas there is a positive move towards improving governance of forest resources exhibited by institutional and legislative reforms, policy and legislative provisions on gender have not resulted in equity and equality. Hence, whereas policy statements appear to incorporate gender concerns, specific strategies and action plans that can translate policy intent into practical outcomes are lacking; yet, the key role played by women as managers and users of forest resources is recognised.

The AFF will address gender issues as they relate to the seven areas the project will address. The AFF will also assess how to increase gender representation within its administrative structures including the organs of AFF like the Governing Council. A gender perspective component, in collaboration with Swedish gender experts, could be included in the studies and workshops planned under the Swedish-African collaboration project to be implemented in the first two years.

In the long term the AFF should devise programmes that address gender concerns at all levels of forest production, training, research and management and use of tree and forest resources. The AFF should be able to provide guidance on how to articulate the needs of resource-poor women as well as those of women professionals. Actually, a concept note for a project on “Forestry in Eastern Africa: Mainstreaming gender in institutional policies, programmes and strategies” is under development between the Kenya Forest Research Institute and AFF. Lessons from this project will provide guidance on gender mainstreaming in forestry in the  other sub-regions of the continent.
4. PROGRAMME OBJECTIVE AND PURPOSES (see also LFA)

The overall objective of the programme is:

“To strengthen the basis for improved forest management in Africa through the African Forest Forum”

The specific objectives/purposes are:

1.    To improve generation, sharing and uptake of relevant information by African forestry stakeholders.
2.    To facilitate good governance of forest resources and fair trade in their products.
3.    To facilitate the evolution of an African forest-based response to climate change.
4.    To facilitate dialogue and activities leading to improved forest-water relations.
5.    To facilitate dialogue on forestry issues at sub-regional, regional and global levels.
6.    To facilitate restoration and efficient management of forest plantations
7.    To facilitate collaboration between African and Swedish forestry institutions.
 
5.  PROGRAMME OUTPUTS, ACTIVITIES AND OUTCOMES (see also LFA)

5.1 Overall objective

Activities:

1.    Build up a well functioning Secretariat; recruit staff, establish a physical facility, build up a database and website for AFF work (including communication among members), etc.

2.    Establish the components in the Governance structure; the Members’ Forum, the Governing Council, the Executive Committee, and the Secretariat; including organising initial meetings of these organs.

3.    Mobilise resources for Forum activities; initially for initiating, facilitating, coordinating and/or implementing the activities related to the specific objectives below and for other priority activities identified in SFM I/II: funds, expert working groups, consultants, workshops, advisory panels, etc.

 
Expected results/impact:

•    Sustainable supply of forest-based products and services that have a measurable impact on livelihoods and  the environment
•    A functional African Forest Forum actively supporting improved forest management in Africa

5.2 Specific objective/purpose on information

Outputs:

•    Robust and quality information on forest management.
•    Improved forestry sector compliance with international conventions and agreements.
•    New educational material, improved curricula and training in forestry.
•    Improved networking among forestry-related institutions.

Activities:

1.    Collate and interpret information on new and emerging areas for forestry and related education, like non-wood forest products, climate change, good governance, community based forest management, and forest-water issues.

2.    Liaise with and support relevant institutions and individuals to collect information on compliance of the forestry sector to various forestry and related conventions, international agreements and protocols, the non-legally binding forest instrument, the millennium development goals.

3.    Work with various institutions with a view to orient the curricula of various university programmes on forestry, natural resources, environmental studies, geography and related areas to take up these new issues in education/training; facilitate these institutions to compliment each other and provide a systematic focus on forestry issues.

4.    Liaise with and support relevant institutions, networks and individuals to locate, collect, collate and share data on key aspects of forestry and related areas

5.    Create a website for AFF as well as a web-based “African Forest Portal” with links to relevant web pages with information on forestry, and tree resources

Expected outcomes:

•    Programme results accessible, widely distributed and used
•    Improved networking among forestry related institutions leading to more effective use of information
•    Improved curricula and educational materials leading to graduates with better and more relevant education

5.3 Specific objective/purpose on governance and fair trade

Outputs:

•    Good forest governance and forest law enforcement better understood and possibly subscribed to within a sub-regional context.
•    Fair trade practices in forest products better understood, promoted, and possibly subscribed to within a sub-regional context.

Activities:

1.    Build synergies with other players in good forest governance, especially the FLEG process being established in East Africa, to which SFM II is already a partner.

2.    Explore, with other partners, the state of trade in forest products and services and mechanisms for creating a fair trade approach to the same.

Expected outcomes:

•    Increased participation in FLEGT processes  by stakeholders
•    Good forest governance and law enforcement enhanced and possibly institutionalised.
•    Improved understanding of forest tenure practices.
•    Improved pricing mechanisms initiated for forest/tree products and services


5.4 Specific objective/purpose on climate change

Outputs:

•    Sufficient awareness on influence of climate change on African forests and their productivity created.
•    National and regional forestry related institutions more active and better equipped for tackling climate change issues
•    Information on effects of climate change, carbon trade and market opportunities, lessons from existing climate change related projects, available and widely shared.
•    A body of knowledge/expertise on climate change issues of relevance to Africa created
•    An African response to climate change formulated.
•    A few pilot projects on carbon sequestration initiated with facilitation of AFF
•    Increased African forest stakeholders participation in carbon trade

Activities:

1.    Constitute a think tank/committee on climate change to draft discussion papers on the subject as related to African forests.

2.    Implement several workshops and electronic discussions to identify the approach(es) to climate change that African forestry stakeholders might take.

3.    Work with interested parties to facilitate formulation (and where possible, establishment) of pilot projects on selected priority activities from the workshops and electronic discussions.

Expected outcomes:

•    Increased and improved participation of  African forestry sector and stakeholders in climate change issues and initiatives, including adaptation, mitigation and sharing of possible benefits

5.5 Specific objective/purpose on forest-water relations

Outputs:
 
•    Forest-water relations inventoried, issues better understood, and way forward mapped
•    Measures to give forest-water relationships prominence in development planning

Activities:

1.    Constitute a committee/think tank to examine forest-water relations and propose way forward.

2.    Implement electronic discussions/workshops on selected priority aspects and outputs from no. 1 above.

Expected outcomes:

•    Increased participation of forestry stakeholders in dialogue and activities leading to improved forest-water relations
•    Integrative approaches to implement forest and water programmes initiated

5.6 Specific objective/purpose on strengthening forest dialogue and processes in Africa

Outputs:
 
•    Increased collective input of the African forestry sector to sub-regional, regional and global level discussions, plans and initiatives affecting forestry
•    African forestry sector effectively participating in forestry discourses at various levels
•    Collective approach to mainstreaming decisions and monitoring compliance.
•    Better understanding and involvement of national forestry associations/societies in forestry.

Activities:

1.    Identify issues and forums at sub-regional, regional and international levels that require forestry sector inputs, mobilise relevant actors and resources for such inputs which are suitable for AFF support.

2.    Establish mechanisms for feedback and mainstreaming decisions.

3.    Undertake a study on the state of national forestry associations and societies, ways to strengthen them, establish them where they do not exist, and link them firmly to AFF.

Expected outcomes:

•    Forestry sector effectively represented at relevant forums at all levels and able to promote “African issues”
•    Visibility and favourable positioning of African forestry
•    Measures to improve forest policies and strategies initiated

5.7 Specific objective/purpose on strengthening management of forest plantations

Outputs:

•    Information on the current status, economic viability, and improved governance structures for managing forest plantations in Eastern Africa.
•    Improved plantation management information, and potential for private sector, farmers and communities to invest in plantation forestry
•    Information on demand and supply of industrial round-wood from forest plantation available
•    Better coordination of primary and secondary forest production

Activities:

1.    Examine and analyse current revenue collection systems, licensing/concession procedures, forest tenure and management arrangements and pricing mechanisms for plantation industrial roundwood and industrial forest products.

2.    Estimate potential for income generation and employment creation, and incentives that could favour rapid forest plantation establishment by various stakeholders, including the private sector and local communities.

3.    Provide options for improved management of current public forest plantations

4.    Undertake market surveys to determine supply scenarios and demand projections of plantation wood volumes and trends, including current cost of importing timber and wood products.

5.    Undertake a study of the current situation regarding extent, quality and other features of public plantations in Eastern Africa

Expected outcomes:

•    Better information available for plantation forestry
•    Measures to increase adoption of SFM practices on plantations in place

5.8 Specific objective/purpose on African-Swedish collaboration

Output:

•    A carefully selected number of pilot projects and activities to verify and adapt the usefulness of Swedish SFM experiences under African conditions designed and initiated.
•    Partnerships between African and Swedish bodies for the implementation of the above pilot projects identified and established.
•    Increased collaboration between African and Swedish forestry actors

Activities:

1.    Three background studies undertaken, one in each of the areas forest policies and legislation, institutional capacity for supporting mechanisms to SFM, and organising and empowering stake-holders.

2.    Three workshops with African and Swedish expert participation to discuss the reports and set priorities.

3.    Three reports with the recommendations from the workshops transferred into priority pilot projects.

Expected outcomes:

•    Institutions and individuals from Africa and Sweden collaborating in forestry
•    Opportunities for improved technology and knowledge sharing available
 
 6. MONITORING AND EVALUATION

Internal monitoring and evaluation systems will be put in place to ensure that the stated outputs and outcomes in the LFA are achieved, both in quantitative and qualitative terms. Such systems will be adapted both to the overall achievements of the Forum per se, as well as to the individual activities for which funding is requested.

Appropriate and effective procedures for measuring progress in achieving goals against verifiable indicators of outputs, results and timeframes will be used on a continuing basis by the Secretariat (self-assessment). These will be analysed and summarised annually for presentation to the Governing Council (or its Executive Committee). Based on this, the GC will decide about appropriate management responses to rectify possible non-achievements of goals and/or to reallocate resources for adjusting priorities and timeframes. At the level of individual activities, the same approach will be used by those responsible for the activities in their relation to the Secretariat.

Independent external management and programme evaluations will be jointly commissioned by the donor (Sida) and the Governing Council mid-term through the support and at the end of the five-year period. Financial auditing will be carried out annually by a recognised international auditing company.

Finally, in order to provide independent guidance on relevance and quality of the work of the AFF, a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) of 8-10 senior policy and technical people from the continent will be requested to provide guidance to the implementation of these activities and present an annual assessment to the GC.

The internal self assessment will be funded through the regular management budget, whereas there is a separate budget line for the external evaluations, financial audits and the TAC.

7. PROGRAMME DURATION AND BUDGET.

The activities defined in this concept note are of a long term nature. Good forest governance is an attribute of good forestry practice and will always be there. Climate change is a dynamic activity that will always impact our forests. Information will always be generated, some will become out of date, and sharing will add value to information. The African Forest Forum is a necessity for good forestry on the continent. Therefore the activities outlined in this document can then be construed to be of a fairly long term nature that can be subscribed to by many actors in forestry. The implementation of the activities in this programme is planned for a period of five years.

The budget for 5 years is US$ 4,969,500. Funds already available for the first three years.
 
Annex

 

LOGICAL FRAMEWORK ANALYSIS

 

Narrative summary

 

Expected Results

Performance Measurements

Assumptions/risk indicators

Programme Objective

 

Impact

Performance Indicators

Assumptions -risk indicators

To strengthen the basis for improved forest management in Africa through the African Forest Forum (AFF)

Better supply of forest-based products and services.

 

 

Quantities of and income from forest products and services increased at all levels

 

The rate of unwanted deforestation decreased

 

 

Assumption:

All concerned stakeholders will actively contribute resources to better manage forest resources

 

 

Risk:

Inadequate/lack of  policies, priorities, plans, activities and resources made available for forest development

 

Programme Purposes

 

Outcomes

Performance Indicators

Assumptions -risk indicators

To provide  an enabling forum for independent and objective analysis, advocacy, and advice on all relevant policy and technical issues to achieve sustainable management of Africa’s forests  and tree resources as part of the efforts to reduce poverty, protect the environment and promote economic and social development.

A functional African Forest Forum(AFF)  actively supporting improved forest management in Africa

 

AFF formally established and with a functioning and credible governance structure

 

Assumption:

Relevant stakeholders will cooperate to set up and run the AFF

 

Risk:

Insufficient resources to support AFF

 

To improve generation, sharing and uptake of relevant information by African forestry stakeholders

 

Programme results accessible, widely distributed and used

 

Improved networking among forestry related institutions leading to more effective use of information

 

Improved curricula and educational materials leading to graduates with better and more relevant education

 

Publications, policy briefs, teaching manuals and compendiums, reports on activities/meetings/workshops

 

Stakeholders making use of information

Assumption:

Forest actors willing to implement/participate in relevant tasks and report on the tasks

 

Risks:

Lack of funding and willingness/capacity to use information generated by AFF

 

To facilitate good governance of forest resources and fair trade in their products

Increased participation in FLEGT processes  by stakeholders

 

Good forest governance and law enforcement enhanced and possibly institutionalised.

 

Improved understanding of forest tenure practices

 

Improved pricing mechanisms initiated for forest/tree products and services

 

Number of individuals, institutions and  governments involved in FLEGT activities

 

Assumption:

Forest stakeholders willing to participate and promote FLEGT

 

Risk:

Lack of funding and willingness/capacity to participate in FLEGT processes

 

To facilitate the evolution of an African forest-based response to climate change.

 

Increased and improved participation of  African forestry sector and stakeholders in climate change issues and initiatives, including adaptation, mitigation and sharing of possible benefits

Reports of and papers from activities/meetings/workshops on climate change.

Assumption:

Forest stakeholders willing to participate in climate change activities

 

Risks:

Lack of funding and willingness/capacity to participate in climate change activities

 

To facilitate dialogue and activities leading to improved forest-water relations.

Increased participation of forestry stakeholders in dialogue and activities leading to improved forest-water relations

 

Integrative approaches to implement forest and water programmes identified and possibly initiated

Reports of and papers from meetings/workshops on forest water relations

Assumption:

Forest stakeholders interested in forest-water relationships

 

Risks:

Lack of funding and willingness/capacity to implement these activities

 

To facilitate dialogue on forestry issues at sub-regional, regional and global levels.

Forestry sector effectively  represented at relevant forums at all levels and able to promote “African forestry  issues”

 

Visibility and favourable positioning of African forestry

 

Measures to improve forest policies and strategies identified and possibly  initiated

Reports from relevant meetings

 

Inputs from facilitated groups into the results of the negotiations

Assumption:

Forest stakeholders willing to actively and jointly participate in forest-related negotiations and improve practices

 

Risks:

Lack of funding and willingness to collaborate in negotiations  and mainstreaming outcomes of negotiations into national plans

 

To facilitate restoration and efficient management of forest plantations

Better information available for plantation forestry

 

Measures to increase adoption of SFM practices on plantations in place

Reports from consultancies and  forest departments on plantations and from relevant workshops

Assumptions:

Forest plantation actors willing to share information on their practises and reform plantation management

 

Risk:

Lack of funding

 

To facilitate collaboration between African and Swedish forestry institutions.

Institutions and individuals from Africa and Sweden collaborating in forestry

 

Opportunities for improved technology and knowledge sharing available

Reports from consultancy work and relevant workshops.

 

Joint activities .identified

Assumptions:

Willingness by both parties to share experiences and work together.

 

Risks:

Lack of funding and interest

 

Components

 

Outputs

Performance indicators

Assumptions -risk indicators

Component X
Objective: To strengthen the capacity of the African Forest Forum(AFF)   to better serve its  vision, purpose and objectives as stated in its constitution

 

An operational and independent African Forest Forum

A “membership” of about 400 African forest actors

 

Functioning Secretariat and organs of AFF

 

Activities undertaken by and in collaboration with the AFF

 

 

Assumption:

Actors  from politics, research, education,  government and non-government services, and from consulting and private  sector backgrounds are willing to become members of the AFF.

 

Risk:

Funding to make AFF operational and implement its programmes/activities

Activities:

Establish a Task Force on Resources Mobilisation to develop and implement a fund raising strategy and plan

Funding strategy and plan  developed for the resource mobilisation required to successfully operate the AFF

 

Funds secured from different potential sources, without jeopardizing the independence of AFF

Document detailing the plan and strategy

 

Concept notes and project proposals written and submitted to donors

 

Funds and/or contracts for funding secured

Assumptions:

Members of AFF  willing to perform this task with minimal financial incentives.

 

Risk:

Donors willing to fund AFF activities

Strengthen the Technical Support Team (TST) for international and regional negotiations

Increased African capacity to participate in regional and international forest fora and influence the agenda and results

Proceedings, reports and other relevant information from meetings within and on processes.

 

Strategy to guide African delegates to negotiations related to forestry.

 

Reports on AFF’s  active engagement with African economic and other groupings like ECOWAS, SADC, COMESA, EAC and COMIFAC in forestry and related processes and issues

Assumptions:

African delegates able to fund their participation in regional and inter-national fora

 

Members of AFF  willing to perform this task with minimal financial incentives

 

Risk:

Acceptance, by African delegates and institutions,  of the role of AFF in regional and international negotiations and other forestry related issues

Strengthen the Working Group on Climate Change

An African forestry sector response to climate change developed and components of it implemented by AFF.

 

Increased awareness by forestry sector of climate change

 

 

Document on the approach  AFF will pursue in relation to climate change.

 

 

 

Reports from meetings/workshops and seminars

Assumption:

Members of AFF  willing to perform this task with minimal financial incentives.

 

Risk:

Availability of funding

Strengthen the Working Group on Forestry in the African Union’s Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP)

The forestry component in CAADP is better articulated.

 

An MoU with the African Union developed to regulate collaboration on forestry.

Forestry chapter in CAADP

 

 

Signed MoU or any other form of documentation to regulate collaboration between AU and AFF.

Assumption:

Members of AFF  willing to perform this task with minimal financial incentives

 

Risk:

African Union willing to increase its collaboration with AFF

Strengthen the administrative organs of AFF, i.e. the Governing Council, Executive Committee,  Members Forum, the Secretariat and any other committees, chapters and liaison offices the Governing Council will set up

The tasks for these organs performed as stipulated in the Constitution of AFF and in their individual terms of reference

Records of meetings and decisions made by the organs and implemented

Assumptions:

Members of AFF  willing to perform the tasks with minimal financial incentives

 

Risk:

Funding available to strengthen AFF.

Component 1
Objective: To improve generation, sharing and uptake of relevant information by African forestry stakeholders

 

 

An information management system  created by AFF.

 

 

Data base at and website operated by Secretariat of AFF

 

Assumptions:

Relevant information available

 

Risk:

Funding available to strengthen AFF.

Activities:

Collate and interpret information on new and emerging areas for forestry and related education, like non-wood forest products, climate change, good forest governance, community based forest management, and forest-water issues.

 

Robust and quality information on forest management.

 

 

New educational material, improved curricula and training in forestry

Relevant information located, collected and collated on key aspects of forestry and related areas.

 

Relevant education/training material like teaching compendiums, papers, reports and other writings.

 

AFF website that facilitates exchanges among interested stakeholders

 

Assumptions:

Relevant institutions and networks willing to share information

 

Risks:

Non-availability of reliable and sufficient information.

 

Liaise with and support relevant institutions and individuals to collect information on compliance of the forestry sector to various forestry and related conventions, international agreements and protocols, the non-legally binding forest instrument, the millennium development goals.

 

Improved forestry sector compliance with international conventions and agreements.

Mechanisms for monitoring developed.

 

Information on  compliance collated

 

Reports on compliance by governments and other stakeholders.

Assumptions:

Relevant institutions and networks willing to share information and to comply with international conventions and agreements

 

Risks:

Non-availability of reliable and sufficient information

 

Work with various institutions with a view to orient the curricula of various university programmes on forestry, natural resources, environmental studies, geography and related areas to take up these new issues in education/training; facilitate these institutions to compliment each other and provide a systematic focus on forestry issues.

 

New educational material, improved curricula and training in forestry.

 

 

Information on new and emerging

areas in forestry collated and re-packaged as teaching compendia. Other reading material written and promoted.

 

Improved curricula

Assumptions:

Willingness of teaching institutions to update and/or take up new information in training

 

Risk:

Lack of funding

Liaise with and support relevant institutions, networks and individuals to locate, collect, collate and share data on key aspects of forestry and related areas.

 

Create a website for AFF as well as a web-based “African Forest Portal” with links to relevant web pages with information on forestry and tree resources.

 

Improved networking among forestry-related institutions.

An operational AFF website and a web-based African Forest Portal with links to relevant websites.

 

People on listserv

Assumptions:

Willingness of interested people to interact and share information

 

Risk:

Lack of funding

Component 2
Objective: To facilitate good governance of forest resources and fair trade in their products

Good forest governance and forest law enforcement better understood, appreciated, and possibly activities towards them implemented by relevant stakeholders

Reports and papers on involvement of relevant stakeholders in FLEG issues promoted by AFF

 

Reports on actions taken by interested stakeholders on FLEG.

Assumptions:

Willingness of various stakeholders to participate in and implement FLEG

 

Risk:

Availability of funding

Activities:

Build synergies with other players in good forest governance, especially the FLEG process being established in East Africa, to which SFM II is already a partner.

 

 

Good forest governance and forest law enforcement enhanced and possibly institutionalised within a sub-regional context.

 

Joint FLEG activities with partners in East Africa and later in southern Africa

 

Reports on and papers from relevant activities, meetings and workshops

 

Assumption:

Desire by relevant institutions and national governments to enhance good forest governance in East and Southern Africa

 

Risk:

Lack of willingness by relevant stakeholders to collaborate

 

Explore, with other partners, the state of trade in forest products and services and mechanisms for creating a fair trade approach to the same.

 

Fair trade practices in forest products better understood, promoted and possibly institutionalised within a sub-regional context.

Joint FLEGT activities with partners in East Africa and later in southern Africa

 

Reports on and papers from relevant activities, meetings and workshops

Assumption:

Desire by relevant institutions and national governments to enhance good forest governance in East and Southern Africa

 

Risk:

Lack of willingness by relevant stakeholders to collaborate

 

Component 3
Objective:To facilitate the evolution of an African forest-based response to climate change.

 

An approach developed by AFF to guide its work  on climate change  and initial activities implemented.

 

 

 

Document on the approach to guide AFF in climate change work.

 

Reports on initial activities of AFF on climate change

 

Assumptions:

African stakeholders willing to work with AFF on this.

 

Risk:

Funding availability.

 

Activities:
Constitute a think tank/committee on climate change to draft discussion papers on the subject as related to African forests.

 

 

Sufficient awareness on influence of climate change on African forests and their long term productivity created

 

National and regional forestry related institutions  more active in and better equipped for tackling climate change issues

 

 

Activities initiated by national and regional institutions related to climate change

 

Reports on and papers from relevant activities, meetings and workshops

Assumptions:

Willingness of relevant institutions and national governments to address climate change and its effects on livelihoods

 

Risk:

Lack of willingness by relevant stakeholders to collaborate

 

Implement several workshops and electronic discussions to identify the approach(es) to climate change that African forestry stakeholders might take.

Information on  effects of climate change, carbon trade and market opportunities,  lessons from existing climate change related projects, available and widely shared

 

A body of knowledge/expertise on climate change issues of relevance to Africa created

 

An African response to climate change formulated

 

Activities initiated by national and regional institutions related to climate change

 

Reports on and papers from relevant meetings/workshops and think-tanks produced, available on website and widely  distributed.

 

 

Assumptions:

Willingness of interested people to interact and share such information

 

Ability to develop and agree on relevant issues.

 

Risk:

Lack of collaboration among stakeholders

Work with interested parties to facilitate formulation (and where possible, establishment) of pilot projects on selected priority activities from the workshops and electronic discussions

A few pilot projects on carbon sequestration identified and possibly initiated with facilitation of AFF

 

Increased African forestry stakeholders’ participation in carbon trade

 

Number of pilot projects formulated and/or on the ground

 

Number of new stakeholders in carbon trade

Assumptions:

Willingness and capacity of potential stakeholders to collaborate

 

Risk:

Lack of funding for pilot  activities

 

Component 4

Objective: To facilitate dialogue and activities leading to improved forest-water relations.

 

Forest-water relations better understood and appreciated by relevant stakeholders.

 

Initial activities on forest-water relations identified and concept notes prepared

 

Reports from workshops/meetings

 

Written concept notes on initial activities

Assumptions:

Forest-water relations are seen as  important and interest in them is growing.

 

Risk:

Availability of funding


Activities:

Constitute a committee/think tank to examine forest-water relations and propose way forward

 

Implement electronic discussions/workshops on selected priority aspects and outputs from point above.

 

 

 

Forest-water relations issues evaluated, reported and way forward mapped

 

Measures to give forest-water relations prominence in development planning identified

 

 

Number of institutions taking action on water issues in their forestry plans

 

Reports on and papers from relevant activities, meetings and workshops and think tanks

 

 

Assumption:

Willingness by relevant institutions and national governments to take forest-water relations seriously

 

Risk:

Lack of funding

Component 5
Objective: To facilitate dialogue on forestry issues at sub-regional, regional and global levels

 

An active TST supporting Africa in sub-regional, regional and international negotiations relevant to forestry.

 

Documents on strategy/approach to support African delegates in these negotiations

 

Reports on activities of TST in supporting such negotiations

 

Assumptions:

African delegates are willing to work with AFF

 

Risks:

Availability of funding to both AFF and African delegates to participate in these events.

Activities:

Identify issues and forums at regional and international levels that require forestry sector inputs, mobilise relevant actors and resources for such inputs which are suitable for AFF support.

 

 

Increased collective input of African forestry sector to sub-regional, regional and global level discussions, plans and initiatives affecting forestry

 

African forestry sector effectively participating in forestry discourses at various levels

 

 

Reports on relevant meetings and workshops

 

Assumptions:

Willingness of forestry actors to collaborate and act in unison

 

Risks:

Lack of funding

Lack of government support for national participation in regional and global discussions

 

Establish mechanisms for feedback and mainstreaming decisions.

 

Collective approach to mainstream decisions and to monitor compliance.

Guidelines to mainstream and monitor compliance to inter-national agreements/ conventions into national forestry plans; 

 

Mechanisms for reporting in place

 

Reports on relevant meetings and workshops and compliance levels.

 

Assumptions:

Willingness of forestry actors to collaborate and act in unison

 

Risks:

Lack of funding and government support for national participation in sub-regional, regional and global discussions

Undertake a study on the state of national forestry associations and societies, ways to strengthen them, possibly facilitate how to establish them where they do not exist, and link them firmly to the African Forest Forum.

Better understanding and involvement of national forestry associations/societies in forestry

Number of national forestry associations/ societies collaborating with the Forum

 

Reports and papers on relevant activities, meetings and workshops.

Assumptions:

Interest and willingness of professional forestry associations and societies to collaborate

 

Risk:

Lack of funding

Component 6
Objective: To facilitate restoration and efficient management of forest plantations

 

Better information and strategies available  for containing emerging industrial roundwood deficit through forest plantations

 

Documents on status and future with plantation forestry in the sub-region.

 

Reports from workshops and seminars

 

Assumptions:

The role of plantation forestry is appreciated and growing

 

Risks:

Availability of required information

Availability of funding

Activities:

Examine and analyse current revenue collection systems, licensing/concession procedures, forest tenure and management arrangements and pricing mechanisms for roundwood and industrial forest products.

 

Estimate potential for income generation and employment creation, and incentives that could favour rapid forest plantation establishment.

 

Provide options for improved management of current public forest plantations.

 

 

Information on the current status, economic viability, and  improved governance structures for managing forest plantations in Eastern Africa

 

Improved plantation management information, and potential for private sector, farmers and communities to invest in plantation forestry

 

Reports and papers on relevant activities, meetings and workshops.

 

 

Assumptions:

Willingness of various parties to address the impending industrial roundwood and other wood products shortages in East Africa.

 

Risks:

Continued low priority by governments and funding agencies given to plantation forestry

Undertake market surveys to determine supply scenarios and demand projections of plantation wood volumes and trends, including current cost of importing timber and wood products.

 

Undertake a study of the current situation regarding extent, quality and other features of public plantations in Eastern Africa.

 

Information on demand and supply of industrial round-wood from forest plantation available

 

Better coordination of primary and secondary forestry production

Reports and papers on relevant meetings and workshops.

Assumptions:

Willingness of various parties to address the impending industrial roundwood and other wood products shortages in East Africa.

 

Risks:

Continued low priority by governments and funding agencies given to plantation forestry

Component 7
Objective: To facilitate collaboration between African and Swedish forestry institutions

 

An approach to guide collaboration between African and Swedish institutions and individuals available.

 

Document detailing why and how African and Swedish  forestry actors can collaborate.

 

Reports from related workshops and meetings

 

Assumptions:

Collaboration between African and Swedish actors is relevant and growing

 

Risks:

Availability of funding

Activities:
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Three background studies undertaken, one in each of the areas forest policies and legislation, institutional capacity for supporting mechanisms to SFM, and organising and empowering stake-holders.

 

Three workshops with African and Swedish expert participation to discuss the reports and set priorities.

 

Three reports with the recommendations from the workshops transferred into priority pilot projects.

 

 

 

A carefully selected number of pilot projects and activities to verify and adapt the usefulness of Swedish SFM experiences under African conditions designed and initiated

 

 

Partnerships between African and Swedish bodies for implementing the above pilot projects identified and established

 

Increased collaboration between African and Swedish forestry actors

 

 

Reports and papers on relevant meetings and workshops

 

Number of joint pilot projects identified

 

Assumptions:

Willingness and capacity for African and Swedish stakeholders in forestry to collaborate

 

Risk:

Lack of funding

 

 

 
 
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About The African Forest Forum

What is the African Forest Forum?

The African Forestry Forum (AFF) is an association of individuals who share the quest for and commitment to the sustainable management, use and conservation of the forest and tree resources of Africa for socio-economic wellbeing of its peoples and for the stability and improvement of its environment.

Why the Forum?

The purpose of the Forum is to provide a platform and create an enabling environment for independent and objective analysis, advocacy and advice on relevant policy and technical issues pertaining to achieving sustainable management, use and conservation of Africa’s forest and tree resources as part of efforts to reduce poverty and  promote  economic and social development.

What is its goal?

The goal of the Forum is to galvanise the African voice and opinion, and mobilise resources on forestry and related issues that cut across countries and regions with a view of enhancing the relevance and contribution of forestry to the people of Africa and their environment.

How will it achieve its goal?

The Forum will facilitate:
1. Networking among the many and varied stakeholders in forestry in Africa.
2. Development of specific programmes, projects and activities that address priority issues and opportunities and facilitate their funding.
3. Advocacy activities that have a potential to raise the profile of forestry, highlight threats to forest resources and the environment, and champion better management of African forests.

For whom is the Forum?

The potential beneficiaries of the activities of the Forum are national, regional and international policy- and decision-makers, farmers and rural communities, the private industry and trade sector, the research and education community, consumers of forest/tree-derived products, government institutions, NGOs with forest, environment, social and other foci of work, individuals, and others. 

 

Who are members of the Forum?

The members of the AFF are individuals with a commitment to the purpose and goal of the Forum.  The Forum also has observers from key organisations.

How will the Forum work?

The Forum works through its members and Secretariat. Networking through electronic media is  the main mechanism for exchanging information, ideas and views. The Members Forum, the Governing Council, the Executive Committee, and the Secretariat are the key organs of the Forum. The Forum is organised into five sub-regions and chapters. It  has regular mechanisms for information exchange, decision-making and interactions. The Governing Council  holds electronic and virtual meetings as the situation and agenda may require.


What will the Forum do?

The Forum will, among other activities, :
1. Constitute permanent and ad hoc task forces, think tanks and committees from among its membership to analyse and give advice on specific issues, problems and potentials.
2. Commission experts and institutions to carry out studies and research tasks to generate knowledge in general or for specific institutions and organizations on request.
3. Organise workshops, seminars and conferences as and when appropriate.
4. Be represented at relevant international and regional meetings on forests.
5. Initiate and implement pilot projects, normally in collaboration with African and/or other partner institutions.
6. Issue reports, publications and other relevant material emanating from its work.
7. Provide a systematic information base on forests and trees in Africa, and a monitoring and evaluation mechanism for developments relevant to these resources.

Partners of the Forum

The Forum works with a variety of partnerships, formal and informal, within and outside the continent, and with forestry and non-forestry bodies including

  • African Development Bank (ADB),
  • Food and Agriculture Organisation of  the United Nations (FAO), 
  • African Forestry and Wildlife Commission (AFWC), 
  • African Forest Research Network (AFORNET) at the African Academy of Sciences (AAS), 
  • United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF),  
  • African Union (AU), 
  • New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) 
  • United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) 
  • World Conservation Union (IUCN)-Eastern Africa Regional Office, 
  • Forest Stewardship Council-African Regional Office, 
  • Commision des Forêts d’ Afrique Centrale (COMIFAC), 
  • African forestry research, education and development institutions and networks,
  • The Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Forestry (KSLA)

The Founder Members established the Forum on January 26, 2007. On December 06, 2007, the Kenyan Non-Governmental Organizations Registration Board approved registration of AFF as a not-for-profit international NGO based in Nairobi, Kenya.

For further information please click here for contacts
  
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 20 January 2010 )
 
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