Chandra SiloriSenior Program Officer,

Country Program CoordinationRECOFTC – The Center for People and Forests

Private sector engagement for people and Forests

Outline Outline

• Justification• Approach – Theory of Change • Steps taken so far• Future plan

Justification• Community forestry has come a long way,

but facing with a number of challenges• Role of CF in livelihoods security and

poverty alleviation • Innovative approaches needed to enhance

the potential of CF for forest dependent communities

• Look for win-win solutions• Enhancing market access to CF• Improved efficiency of private sector• Innovative approaches for governance

• Three key obstacles to maximize potential of CF:– Government regulations and

attitudes (conflicting and unsure tenure)

– Capacities of communities to negotiate with government and private sectors

– Access, remoteness to attract services and investors

Challenges

• Lack of land tenure

• Capacity to govern

Limited quality and quantity based business relations

• Trade barriers• Lacking

infrastructure

Lacking functional

relationships hinders economic development and opportunities of

the state and the poorest

Climate change

Private sector engagement Private sector engagement strategystrategy

Theory of ChangeTheory of Change

Forest-based income is enhanced through increased

market access

Win-win partnership established to sustain forest-

based enterprise

Enabling environment is

improved

Improve enterprise capacity of

local communities

Strengthen capacity for

safeguarding rights and

mutual benefits

Establish mechanism for mitigate business

risks

Establish mechanism for mitigate business

risks

Forest dependent poor people are out of poverty through tripartite partnerships between community-private sector and

government

Stronger rights, fair benefits and good governance

Initiatives taken so far

Capacity and skill developmentCapacity and skill development

o Enhancing livelihoods through CFEnhancing livelihoods through CFo Market Analysis and DevelopmentMarket Analysis and Developmento Networking of small holdersNetworking of small holderso Cambodia SFM project: 30 CF-based Cambodia SFM project: 30 CF-based

business/enterprises plans developedbusiness/enterprises plans developedo FLEGT (Thailand): increasing awareness for FLEGT (Thailand): increasing awareness for

CSO and developing capacity to negotiate in CSO and developing capacity to negotiate in the VPA processthe VPA process

o Piloting partnership with Stora-Enso in Lao Piloting partnership with Stora-Enso in Lao PDRPDR

o Best practice CFE cases (Thailand, Vietnam, Lao, Indonesia)

o Compendium of best practices in WFC2015 (Forest Connect)

o Promoting efficiency in supply chain in bamboo and teak in Lao PDR

o Exposure and networking of small holders through regional and international fora

Research communication and advocacy

1. Developing in-house capacity:o developing own unique way of

working with the private sector, explore how to further CF and how the private sector can gain from working with us.

o With SDC support to finalize 3 phases:1. Develop foundation and

readiness2. Develop a PSE strategy3. Establish an assessment

system and carry it out

Development of PSE

• Continue to strengthen the long-term development of RECOFTC’s capacity to effectively use/influence private sector engagement contributing to the enhancement of CF livelihoods

• Discuss with SDC for continuation and finalise Phase 1: with as output a PSE strategy

Next steps: a parallel process

May the forest be with you!

Wealthy rural communities & healthy forests………. Thank You!

www.recoftc.org