High level leadership and improved coordination between priority sectors considered key to success of the Investment Plan.

The objective of the CAFI mission to Brazzaville, held 5-7 April 2018, was to continue the dialogue with the Government of the Republic of Congo on:

1. The establishment of a robust and operational steering cell within the Office of the Prime Minister, with at least one or two advisors, who will act as focal points with for the CAFI Executive Board;
2. The participation of key sectoral ministries related to land use, REDD + and climate, at a level of expertise that can directly report to the relevant authorities.

The delegation led by the French Ambassador and the European Union Ambassador, met with Prime Minister Clément Mouamba, as well as the Ministers in charge of Agriculture, Territorial Planning, Forest Economy, Environment, and advisers to the Presidency.

The mission highlighted that CAFI seeks to support the country in its economic diversification efforts by anchoring its trajectory toward a green economy. Combining economic growth and the preservation of forest cover, this vision goes beyond a project approach. The National REDD+ Investment Plan (NIP) provides a first base to expand upon, by integrating the objectives of each of the main sectors concerned.

Once the CAFI’s Executive Board has endorsed the NIP, a partnership will be established in the form of a Letter of Intent that will set out respective commitments.

The French and EU ambassadors stressed the political nature of this letter and the importance of ensuring that it is negotiated and signed by the Prime Minister, with engagement of sectoral ministries. The Prime Minister confirmed the will of the Government to ensure the proper implementation of its future commitments and the importance to set realistic and operational objectives. Beyond financial contributions, the CAFI Board will commit to strengthen efforts to mobilize public and private resources and coordination.

Considering the political nature of the future LOI, the French Ambassador recalled that, in line with the 2015 CAFI Declaration, implementation should be steered by an institution with a cross sectoral mandate. This will ensure that commitments are monitored and choices and trade-offs made if necessary.

Discussions aimed at operationalizing these principles will continue through the Office of the Prime Minister, in collaboration with the Ministry of the Forest Economy, whose capacity to lead sectoral consultations for REDD+ or FLEGT were recalled, as well as in consultation with the CAFI Secretariat and the World Bank as implementing agency for the preparatory grant.

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