For further information on the CDO, you may read the Final communiqué (available in French only): " 1^ère réunion du comité de décision et d’orientation (CDO) du Programme PPECF"

July 31 – August 1, 2013 in Yaoundé (Cameroon) First meeting of the decision and orientation board (CDO) of the PPECF Program whose main role is to determine the orientations of the PPECF program management and ensure its good performance.

This framework meeting of the PPECF program was attended by about ten participants representing, forest administrations, including the Cameroonian Directorate of Forestry, the Congolese Directorate General of Forest Economy, the Central-African Directorate General of Forestry and the Directorate of Forestry of the DRC; sub-regional organizations such as the CBFP, CEFDHAC and COMIFAC, and the private sector such as ALPICAM. Also attending the meeting as observers were the representative of the GFBC (Groupement de la Filière Bois du Cameroun) and representatives of forest concessionaires (PALLISCO, ROUGIER).

Under the chairmanship of Mr. Tadoum Martin, the Deputy Executive Secretary, the meeting revolved around two major points.

The Opening Ceremony

On this occasion, a single address by the Deputy Executive Secretary, who started by recalling the genesis of the PPECF (a result of the COMIFAC’s will to support the development of forest certification in the sub-region in response to a priority of its Convergence Plan); he went on to express his sincere gratitude to the COMIFAC and the KFW for their interest in the certification of timber from Central Africa; this explains their multifaceted support to the implementation of the PPECF which is in line with the priorities of COMIFAC’s Convergence Plan.

In his address, he highlighted the pivotal role the CDO must play in this program. This was intended to help participants come up with constructive inputs. In this regard, the CDO is expected to:

♦ critically analyze the activities carried out during the first year;

♦ validate the annual operational plan of future activities;

♦ provide orientations to the selection of funding projects;

♦ follow up the disbursement of funding;

♦ follow up activities based on half-yearly follow up/evaluation reports.

The opening ceremony was followed by plenary discussions after a brief introduction.

Plenary Session

This section of the meeting was dedicated to presentations by the project manager, discussions and recommendations.

The presentations concerned: Progress report of PPECF activities for the April 2012 – April 2013 period, prospects for the second year 2013/2014, and tools dedicated to sustainable management (e-learning, Canopy, HVC software, public reports, etc.). These presentations gave participants the opportunity to interact constructively and intensely on the road travelled so far. Discussions concerned the following topics:

♦ the report presentation format for better readability,

♦ program orientation focused on FSC label, excluding support to ISO or OLB interim certification types,

♦ PPECF weaknesses and strengths.

These discussions helped to review recommendations addressed to the COMIFAC, KFW and to the management unit for more program efficiency in beneficiary countries at methodological and operational levels.

These two-day deliberations, during which the CDO was satisfied with project activities carried out in 2012-2013, ended with the hope that the recommendations formulated will lead to a greater impact of the program.

For further information on the CDO, you may read the Final communiqué (available in French only): " 1^ère réunion du comité de décision et d’orientation (CDO) du Programme PPECF"