Promotion of sustainable management of African forests (ATO/ITTO) Project PD 124/01 Rev.2 (M)

1. Promotion of sustainable management of African forests (ATO/ITTO) Project PD 124/01 Rev.2 (M) Dr François HIOL HIOL Regional Coordinator ATO/ITTO joint project (hiolhiol@yahoo.fr)

2. Background • ITTO and ATO promote sustainable forest • management in member countries • ITTO has put efforts to develop guidelines • and standards for SFM • 1990: development of ITTO guidelines for • sustainable management of natural tropical forests • 1992: ITTO Criteria and Indicators (C&I)for the • sustainable management of natural tropical forests • 1998: ITTO C&I revised • 1996: First draft of ATO PCIs for SFM, revised • many times later

3. Background • 2000: ITTC made a decision to develop • a framework of cooperation between ATO • and ITTO • 2001: Harmonization of ATO PCIs with • ITTO C&I • 2002: Adoption of the harmonized set of PCI • by the ATO conference of Ministers • March 2003: Project agreement between • ATO and ITTO • August 2003: Regional project launched • 2004: second revision of the ITTO C&I

4. Development objective Promote sustainable management of African forests through the application and implementation of the ATO/ITTO PCIs with the support and participation of all stakeholder groups

5. Specific objective 1 • Establish key elements of the adequate capacity • to implement the ATO/ITTO PCIs at national • level in the African Member countries of ITTO • These key elements include: • Nationally applicable PCI • Effective consultative mechanisms • Awareness, • Knowledge and skills among decision-makers • and stakeholder on SFM • Monitoring/auditing arrangements

6. Specific objective 2 • Establish key elements of the adequate capacity for • effective regional-level cooperation through ATO • to support individual member countries to • implement ATO/ITTO PCIs • These key elements include: • Common instruments to develop and implement PCI • and verifiers for SFM at national and FMU levels • Effective consultation and dissemination mechanisms • to share knowledge and coordinate efforts • A pool of regionally trained trainers

7. Project outputs • Ten outputs in two groups • Group 1: National level (Member countries) • in relation with specific objective1 • Group 2: Regional level (ATO) • in relation with specific objective2

8. Group 1: National level 1.1 A national forum/consultative mechanism On SFM established/identified 1.2 National PCI/certification criteria developed 1.3 Improved information through national level periodic reporting on progress towards SFM

9. Group 1: national level (continued) 1.4 Improved national monitoring/auditing frameworks 1.5 Forestry staff and specialists trained on Implementing PCIs and auditing of SFM

10. Group 2: regional level 2.1 Draft harmonized ATO/ITTO adopted by the Ministerial Conference of ATO 2.2 A regional-level consultative forum for the promotion of SFM established 2.3 Auditing framework for African Forest developed and tested

11. Group 2: Regional level (continued) 2.4 Minimum of 60 trainers trained on the development, application, implementation and auditing of the ATO/ITTO PCI at FMU level 2.5 Advisory and dissemination capacity of ATO strengthened

12. Target beneficiaries • Ten participant countries: • African countries which have membership • with ATO and ITTO • 5 countries in Central Africa: Cameroon, CAR, • Congo, Gabon, DRC • 5 countries in West Africa: Ghana, Ivory Coast, • Liberia, Nigeria, Togo • Beneficiaries: • Concession holders, SMEs, Community forests • Forest authorities • NGOs • Regional organizations, projects and programs

13. Project strategy: three phases Phase 1 (three years, two stages) Capacity building at regional and at national level in selected Member countries and development of draft harmonized PCIs Phase 2(initially 1 year; now 2 years, 2 stages of 1 year) Capacity building at national level in other ITTO Member countries and among beneficiaries within selected countries Phase 3(two years) Capacity building among beneficiaries in the other ITTO Member countries

14. Project Organization Project Staff: Regional Project Coordinator (full time - ITTO) ATO Technical Directeur in charge of Forest Policy acting as project coordinator counterpart (part time) ATO Chief of Service in charge of Statistiques and Documentation acting as the Project Coordinator Assistant (part time) ATO Chief of Service in Finance and Administration (part time) ATO Secretary (full time)

15. Budget Total Budget: 4.184.678 $US Phase 1: 1,615,465 Phase 2: 951,070 Phase 3: 1,618,144 Financial contributions: ATO(20%) ITTO(80%)

16. Current status of implementation Phase I started in August 2003 and was Completed in June 2007 Phase II started in Jan. 2008 and is Currently implemented. Phase III will begin in 2010 if funds are Secured by ITTO

17. Current status of implementation (Continued) • Main achievements at national level • Nationally applicable C&Iestablished in 5 countries: • (Cameroon, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon and Ghana) • The process is advanced in CAR (validation workshop); • It is in its initial phase in Liberia and DRC • Support was given to 6 countries in the writing of • of their SFM Progress Reports based on Principle 1 of • ATO/ITTO PCIs • 125 people trained in 5 countries in SFM • auditing based on ATO/ITTO PCI

18. Current status of implementation (Continued) • Main achievements at regional level • Development of a set of ATO/ITTO PCI for SM of • Forest plantations • First regional ITTO meeting organized in Brazzaville • (15-16 June 05) for ITTO African member countries. • A regional consultative mechanism for SFM was set • An auditing manual for the implementation of • ATO/ITTO C&I for sustainable management of natural • forests in Africa

19. Current status of implementation (End) • Main achievements: • At regional level • Three regional training sessions to train 60 trainers • in forest management auditing based on ATO/ITTO • C&I : • 2 for French speaking countries in Cameroon • 1 for English speaking countries in Ghana

20. Project Constraints • Budget constraints: • Project and budget were conceived in 2001 with a • very strong US Dollar. The rate of US$ has fallen down • US$ 1.00 = CFA Francs 800.00 = €1.21 • In 2008 US$ 1.00 = CFA Francs400-500 = € 0.61-069 • Project is heavy due increased number of activities • and output to be achieved and its initial six-year planning • This has made it difficult to secure the total funds • of project. A progressive fund raising scheme • ATO is having problems to fulfill its budgetary • engagements. Several country members have not paid • their membership fees for many years. • ATO staff attached to the project are not motivated due • to unpaid arrears

21. The ATO/ITTO joint project in Nigeria • Project designed before Nigeria became a member of • ITTO • No budget for country level activities in Nigeria • A special request from ITTO Executive Secretariat to • work with Nigeria but no increase in budget • Squeeze the budget of activities in some countries where • these activities have not yet been implemented • Eliminate some activities which are considered of low • Priorities or which are covered by other fund sources.

22. The ATO/ITTO joint project in Nigeria Development of Nigeria C&I for SFM (1) • Development of a national set of C&I through a • broad-based participatory process within the framework • of the ATO/ITTO C&I at national and FMU levels. • This will be done through a National Working Group • (NWG) • NWG is an open and balanced representation of all relevant stakeholder groups. • NWG has procedures for democratic decision-making and dispute resolution, and their work is independent from any undue influence (e.g., from funding source)

23. The ATO/ITTO joint project in Nigeria Development of NIGERIA C&I for SFM (2) • The first activity for C&I development will consist of • establishing a NWG. • National consultancy will be provided to • Identify stakeholders and make initial consultations • Identify stakeholder group representatives for the NWG • Make consultations and provide assistance to stakeholder group representatives in the preparation of draft NWG ToR and procedures • Assist in preparation of the first national workshop that will designate members of the technical committee and establish the NWG

24. The ATO/ITTO joint project in Nigeria Development of Nigeria C&I for SFM (3) • The second activity of PCI development will consist of • organizing a six-day C&I formulation workshop for • Nigeria to be attended by the newly established NWG • Technical Committee (TC) • National or regional consultancy will be provided: • Use 2 first days of workshop to train TC members in • The formulation of indicators and verifiers • Facilitate the work of indicator and verifiers • formulation • TC may hold another meeting to complete draft C&I • formulation

25. The ATO/ITTO joint project in Nigeria Development of Nigeria C&I for SFM (4) The third activity of PCI development will consist of disseminating the draft National PCI to stakeholders forpublic review and comments and adjusting the draft national PCI The technical committee of the NWG will be responsible of this activity

26. The ATO/ITTO joint project in Nigeria Development of Nigeria C&I for SFM (5) The fourth activity of PCI development will consist of testing the draft PCIin selected FMUs through pilot audits International and regional consultancy will be provided with collaboration of national consultants A test report is written with suggestions for National C&I adjustments addressed to the technical Committee of the NWG Revision and dissemination of the adjusted national PCI, Finalization of the national PCI Validation by a large stakeholder workshop

27. The ATO/ITTO joint project in Nigeria Other activities • After finalization of Nigeria C&I for SFM by the TC • and endorsement by Forest Administration, the following • activities will be undertaken: • Writing of a national report to assess progress on SFM • Based on Principle 1 of ATO/ITTO PCI • Training of Nigeria auditors for SFM based on Nigeria • set of C&I

28. Thank you