Strengthening the capacity of non-state actors to improve FLEGT-VPA and REDD+ processes in Western Africa
In West Africa, Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) - Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) and Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+) have become main drivers for reforms in forest governance and land-use. Despite progress, considerable challenges have also characterized the evolution of the process. Together with other partners, Tropenbos International is implementing the project “Strengthening the capacity of Non-State Actors to improve FLEGT-VPA and REDD+ processes in Western Africa” to tackle these challenges, better position Non-State Actors (NSAs), increase their participation in both FLEGT-VPA and REDD+ processes.
What the NSA project seeks to do
- Collaborating with state agencies on a common objective or the implementation of a specific component of FLEGT-VPA and REDD+.
- Representing less powerful actors and ensuring that their interests are taken into consideration.
- Monitoring and acting as a watch-dog to achieve transparent, inclusive, and accountable forest governance.
- Enhancing NSAs capacity and sharing information within their network and beyond.
Tropenbos Ghana and Nature & Development Foundation (NDF) are implementing project activities for Ghana; Volunteers to Support International Efforts in Developing Africa (VOSIEDA) for Liberia; and Groupe National de Travail pour la Gestion Durable des Forêts et la Certification Forestière en CI (GNT-CI) for Côte d’Ivoire. These countries are at different stages and making significant progress towards full FLEGT-VPA and REDD+ implementation. This presents a big opportunity for mutual learning.
Intervention logic:
In Ghana, the project is implemented in two regions: Western North and Bono East. The project has over 200 community monitors and 5 verifiers. To consolidate and forge a common front on matters of forest monitoring in Ghana, 8 CSOs have formed a Civil Society-Led Independent Monitoring (CSIFM) platform. The platform has an active network of over 400 community forest monitors across five regions (mainly in the high forest and transitional zones). The platform serves the purposes of harmonizing efforts on forest monitoring, spearhead discussions on independent monitoring of Ghana’s forest and sector reforms, advocacy, and capacity building.
Duration
2017-2020
Objective
Enhanced capacity of Western Africa NSAs to monitor, advocate and engage with State Actors in FLEGT-VPA and REDD+ processes