The following operational recommendations were formulated by about sixty participants attending deliberations in N’Djamena, including: (1) FAO and partners should consider the possibility of developing a communication component; (2) All Central African countries should establish REDD+ databases in the light of the national system presented by  the Democratic Republic of Congo; (3) The project should value existing expertise in national REDD coordination units throughout its cycle; (4) FAO should train agents in its procedures in order to facilitate financial management by countries or should delegate the project management function to FAO national offices

Please download the final Report of the Workshop (in French only): HERE

N’Djamena, 16 - 17 September 2012 – Holding of the Launching Workshop of FAO-COMIFAC-CBFF Project on “Monitoring and National MNV Systems with a Regional Approach for Congo Basin Countries” The main objective of this workshop was to contribute to a better ownership of the project by key stakeholders.

The workshop aimed more specifically at (i) introducing the project team and beneficiaries/stakeholders; (ii) Presenting the project in details; (iii) sharing experiences in some countries for the development of an R-PP (DRC and CAR) and an S&MNV (DRC) action plan S&MNV; (iv) presenting REDD+ and S&MNV existing activities at national and regional levels; and (v) presenting priority activities in the next 12 months. The expected outcomes included, among other things (i) beneficiaries and stakeholders have a thorough knowledge and understanding of the project and own its objectives and outcomes for a better impact; (ii) the sharing of practical experience on REDD+ and S&MNV preparation experience between countries and COMIFAC is effective; and (iii) country and regional project component/activities to be undertaken within the next twelve months are understood, enriched, and adopted by stakeholders.

About sixty actors attended deliberations which were articulated in three main steps: Official opening by host country authorities, deliberations in proper and the closing ceremony. The choice of participants gave priority to those who have been following the project since its launching, especially REDD+ focal points, COMIFAC coordinators, coordinators of other REDD+ activities and COMIFAC Executive Secretariat (ES).

During the workshop, presentations and discussions laid emphasis on the structure of the project in terms of activities and expected outcomes, the need to gain adherence from all actors in the implementation phase but also to show the timeliness and the challenges of the project in the field in various countries and the possibility of synergies with other ongoing initiatives such as REDD+ BM-GEF-COMIFAC and PACEBCO (support programme for the conservation of ecosystems in the Congo Basin) projects.

In this same line, the African Development Bank (ADB), showed its willingness to perfect cooperation with COMIFAC, as a federative institution in the domain of sustainable development of forest ecosystems after Rio+20.

Following deliberations and work in committees, it was agreed, considering deadlines and challenges and opportunities in the sub-region, to avoid duplications and rather explore synergies and complementarity between other ongoing initiatives by establishing sound relationships with them. This said, everybody would agree that the implementation speed of this project depends on target countries as well as the willingness and good disposition of other key partners, namely FAO and COMIFAC.  The points of interest up to the end of this fast launching phase shall be communication among actors and funding options for phase II, which, as a matter of fact, shall depend on the results of the current phase.

Eventually, after discussing the steps to follow after N’Djamena, a series of recommendations were formulated, including the main ones hereunder:

A.      Recommendations concerning the Content of the Project

1. The establishment of a follow-up committee chaired by COMIFAC ES which shall gather REDD focal points of target countries;
2. The extension of the additional time of 3 weeks in the recruitment process of 4 international consultants in order to better circulate information and encourage national and sub-regional expertises to apply for open positions as recruitment shall abide by FAO standards.

B.      Operational Recommendations

1. FAO and partners should consider the possibility of developing a communication component;
2. all Central African countries should establish REDD+ databases in the light of the national system presented by the DRC;
3. The project should value existing expertise in national coordinations throughout the project cycle;
4. FAO should train agents in its procedures in order to facilitate the financial management of the project by countries or to delegate the project management function to national FAO bureaus.

Available for download:

♦ Workshop Final Report