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Africa, Forest Governance Learning Group, 2003-2009, International Institute for Environment and Development/European Commission. Forestry can contribute to the eradication of poverty and sustainability, but only with good forest governance. As a key founding member of the Forest Governance Learning Group (FGLG) LTS continues to focus its efforts on improving national forest programmes in Sub-Saharan Africa (Cameroon, Ghana, Mali, Malawi, Mozambique, Niger, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda), linking forestry's contribution in poverty reduction strategies, tackling the effects on livelihoods of illegal logging and corruption in forestry, and ensuring sustainability and equity in forest privatisation and decentralisation. LTS has contributed to the FGLG process through overseeing new policy research conducted on illegal/corrupt forestry and poor people, facilitation of learning between countries promoted in two regions - West and Southern Africa, and developing specific practical governance guidance materials and tools. Africa, Review of Environmental Content of United Development Assistance Frameworks and Related Policy Frameworks, 2009, United Nations Environment Programme. As part of “Implementing the Bali Plan By Delivering As One”, UNEP carried out a global review of all existing UN Nation Development Assistant Frameworks (UNDAFs) and national policy frameworks for their environmental content. Filtering the environmental needs of countries as reflected in UNDAFs and other strategic policy processes has provided UNEP with a clear overview of the current status of environmental priorities in the UNDAFs. The review has also helped UNEP to identify gaps where known environmental priorities of countries have not been fully reflected and thus countries where UNEP’s support can add value to governments, UN Country Teams and other national stakeholders. The LTS review focused on UNEP’s six thematic priorities outlined in the Medium Term Strategy 2010-2013 - climate change, ecosystem management, environmental governance, harmful substances and hazardous waste; disasters and conflicts, and resource efficiency and sustainable consumption and production. Africa, The Potential to Help Increase Sub-Saharan Access to the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), 2009, DFID. LTS undertook a study to identify the scope for DFID Africa Division to provide support that increases access to pre and potential post 2012 CDM funding by Sub-Saharan Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has not proportionately benefited from the CDM compared with other regions; the region’s share in the current CDM project pipeline is only about 1.4%. SSA has not benefited in proportion to the potential for CDM in the region. LTS reviewed the CDM experience to date in SSA and presented a detailed report that identified current and future ways for donors to help SSA to increase access to CDM and ways that donors can provide support to increase SSA CDM access. It also provided recommendation as to how DFID can help SSA to increase access to current and potential future CDM. Africa, Implementing Africa's Science and Technology Consolidated Plan of Action, 2006, UK Department for International Development. Focus Areas: Africa, Assessment Study of the Vi Agroforestry Programme, 2000, SIDA. Focus Areas: The Vi Agroforestry programme seeks to improve the livelihoods of small-scale rural poor farmers in the Lake Victoria area. This is achieved through direct assistance - through tree planting and agroforestry to improve land management - to increase food and nutritional security, fuelwood availability and income. LTS was contracted by SIDA to undertake the 'assessment study' of the Vi programme. This programme had not been evaluated for four years. The team appraised the relevance and efficiency of activities, specifically Vi's technical progress, capacity and cost efficiency in relation to its goals and objectives. It looked at the socio-economic impact of the activities with regard to gender, income generation and improved livelihoods of the poor. It also examined the ecological impact and sustainability of activities, the degree of local participation, the efficiency and cost effectiveness of project management, the M&E system, and sources of financing. Africa, Fact-Finding and Identification Mission for Finnish Regional Forestry Programme, 2004, Department for International Development Cooperation (Finland). Country: Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, Djibouti, Eritrea Although broadly devolved from the Millennium Development Goals, Finland's Aid Resolution identifies a number of areas of particular relevance to forestry. In addition to the delivery of forest products and services, forestry, in which Finland's own economic development is strongly rooted, can have direct beneficial impact on poverty, livelihoods and food security. The Identification and Fact-Finding mission identified and analyzed the best alternatives for Finnish regional forestry cooperation in Horn of Africa. LTS fielded two experts to determine whether there was scope for a regional forestry initiative, lasting initially 3 to 4 years and with a budget of some € 3 million. It was found that such an initiative would have to be relevant to all the countries in the region (Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, Djibouti, Eritrea) and make a contribution to improved regional cooperation as a step to securing conflict reduction. Africa, Linking National Forest Programme to Poverty Reduction Strategies, 2005- 2008, Food and Agriculture Organisation. Focus Areas: The multi-country study determined the extent to which national forest programmes (NFPs) and other sectoral processes in selected countries (Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Malawi, Mali, Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia) were linked to the development and implementation of Poverty Reduction Strategies (PRSs) or similar national frameworks. It identified best practices, challenges and opportunities with regard to establishing effective linkages, drawing on lessons learned from current NFPs and from other sectors such as agriculture, energy, health and education. Based on findings, ways were proposed to enhance the presence and influence of forestry in wider planning instruments with a view to strengthening financial, institutional and policy support for forest-based poverty alleviation. LTS was contracted to elaborate the design and lead on the implementation of the study. A regional event with all 10 countries participating to share experiences and outline priorities took place in Kenya in November 2007. Armenia, Natural Resource Management & Poverty Reduction Project, 2001, World Bank. Country: Armenia The project aims were to strengthen the institutional capacity of natural resource management agencies, to provide support to a coherent legal, policy and economic framework as well as to build the capacity of local communities to better sustain their livelihoods. The project consisted of three components: Participatory watershed management; forest management; and protected areas management and biodiversity conservation. LTS provided specialist expertise in forest policy, law, institutional review, protected areas and management planning for the preparation and appraisal of the forest and biodiversity components of this project. The consultants provided by LTS had the overall responsibility for the preparation of two components, resulting in a full project appraisal document for the World Bank. Asia, Regional Study on Forestry Policy and Institutional Reforms, Formulation of the Bank's Policy for Forestry, 2000-2001, ADB. Focus Areas: The study revised the ADB forest policy and sector strategy to make it consistent with and reflective of the needs of the Developing Member Countries, recent thinking and developments in the sector and to align the policy within ADB's overarching objective of poverty reduction. LTS provided the Forest Policy and Economics Specialist to the Bank's study team, which reviewed the performance of the ADB's current (1995) Policy for Forestry, and the performance of the investment portfolio in the forestry sector; considered how macro-economic factors such as taxes, subsidies and general market failures contribute to poor performance. Based on these findings, the LTS consultant supported the ADB in formulating its Policy for Forestry, which will guide investment decisions and project design in the medium term. Asia, Capacity Building Programme for Stakeholder Participation in National Forest Programmes, 2006-2008, Food and Agriculture Organisation. Focus Areas: Gradually and in different countries of the world experiences are being gained in using participatory processes in national forest programmes (NFP). A community of practice on "enhancing stakeholders participation in NFPs" has been established by FAO in 2002 to bring together experts to share views, experiences, lessons learned and information on recent developments, to build or strengthen partnerships, to harmonise relevant approaches and to make them available to NFP actors world-wide. In 2005, LTS was selected to draft guidelines founded on global best practice. Although participatory approaches have been well developed and documented for local use in villages there is yet to be sufficient materials developed with clear principles and practical guidelines on methods and skills for how to make national forest policy processes more participatory. From 2006, we delivered a capacity building programme to motivate and assist facilitators / mentors who are linked to NFPs in 6 different Asian countries to make these processes more participatory. Lessons from these Asian pilot countries were harnessed for application of materials and capacity building services in other countries. Asia, Institutional Review of the Regional Community Forestry Training Centre for Asia and the Pacific, 2001, RECOFTC. Focus Areas: RECOFTC developed a strategic programme to establish its basic direction as an institution concerned with supporting community forestry in the Asia-Pacific region. To ensure this programme could be implemented effectively an assessment and realignment of the organisation structure was critical. LTS provided independent expert advice to facilitate a delicate process and ensure the institutional structure aligned with the programme objectives. Supporting an internal RECOFTC task force, an LTS organisational assessment specialist advised on RECOFTC's new organisational structure and necessary changes. Asia, Training on Decentralised Forest Management Planning, 2003-2004, RECOFTC. Focus Areas: LTS managed in conjunction with RECOFTC a tailor-made training course designed at developing awareness and skills necessary for strategic planning also provides a platform from which capacity building for decentralised management - identifying objectives, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation and improving good governance - could be practically implemented. Through a strategic planning process, different institutions can define and develop a shared understanding of their long-term vision on the basis of national and local needs, facilitate effective involvement of wider stakeholders in the creation and implementation of strategies towards achieving their goals, and improve accountability, both upwards to central government and downwards to the local constituency, through integrated monitoring activities. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Design Support for a National Forest Programme, 2005, USAID. Focus Areas: In Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) the National Forest Programme (NFP) was initiated following a multi-stakeholder approach which set out, implemented and monitorerd national policy and strategy development for forestry, and which recognised the explicit contributions of the sector to national economic growth, environmental sustainability and poverty reduction. USAID-BiH has been active in the forest sector since the late 1990's. Building on earlier work, the Cluster Competitiveness Activity (CCA) project, a 4 year initiative, aims to speed up economic growth in wood processing and forestry (as well as in tourism and agribusiness). LTS provided an Institutional Development Specialist to establish whether there is suitable support amongst stakeholders for an NFP process, and to design institutional arrangements governing the process and provide advice on a possible Partnership Agreement with the NFP Facility at FAO. Croatia, Restructuring Study for the Strategic Development of State Forest Authority Hrvatske Sume, 2002, World Bank. Focus Areas: A study to provide the State forest authority with a detailed, phased and costed plan for its future role, restructuring and strategic development. The study started with a review of the forest sector and assessed how it will impact on and be affected by the restructuring. Based on it, the organisation was reviewed, and restructuring options formulated and modelled. The study ended with an agreement on the optimal scenario for restructuring, and a detailed restructuring plan. LTS provided a specialist to help review international experience in restructuring state forest authorities, and to formulate, discuss and agree options for restructuring the organisation. Europe, An assessment of lessons learnt in the communication and dissemination of emerging scientific issues to environmental policy-makers, 2008 - 2009, UK Environment Agency for SKEP-ERA-Net (EC). The SKEP network is a partnership of 17 government ministries and agencies, from 13 European countries, and is responsible for funding environmental research. This project focuses on drawing out and assessing lessons about how scientists communicate with policymakers, how policymakers use science, how scientists could be more effective in influencing policy and what the constraints to improvement are - ie. what is needed to catalyse action. LTS will be determining lessons learnt in science communication through a literature review, selected case studies across Europe and thorough stakeholder consultation. The end goal of this project is to synthesize collected lessons into a set of best practice guidelines for use by the SKEP network. Georgia, Forest Sector Rationalisation and Institutional Development Study, 2002-2003, World Bank. Focus Areas: The Government of Georgia with assistance from the World Bank has prepared the Georgia Forests Development Project. A key activity of this project is to prepare a detailed, phased and costed plan for the institutional and financial development of the State forest sector, aimed at improving its organisational and operational performance and increasing its economic and fiscal efficiency through the sustainable management of the nation's forests. The LTS consultants had the overall task of reviewing the current forest sector institutional and financial framework and to identify the optimal model for the future role, restructuring and organisational development of these institutions in the field of protection, regulation and state control of forests. Ghana, Research and Advocacy Programme, 2004-2007, UK Department for International Development.Focus Areas: LTS provided programme management services under the Ghana Research and Advocacy Programme (GRAP) - a pooled donor funding mechanism for supporting the institutional development of Research and Advocacy Organisations (RAOs) in Ghana. GRAP offers multi-annual grants to a group of the most established RAOs, selected on a competitive basis. The purpose of GRAP is to enhance the capacity of RAOs to carry out evidence-based research on economic, social, political and security issues, and to make an autonomous contribution to the policy process through dissemination of research, advocacy and coalition building (see application form). Betweeb 2004-08, LTS managed the grant application procedure and brokerage of Partnership and Institutional Grant Arrangements, monitoring and assessment of RAO compliance with grant provisions, and audit services. Indonesia, Tropical Forest Management Programme, 1992-2000, UK Department for International Development. Focus Areas: This DFID-funded £20 million programme was designed to promote and develop sustainable management and conservation of forests in Indonesia. The main activities involved developing policy and strategic aspects of forest management within the Ministry of Forestry and improving inter-Ministry co-ordination. Systems were established to estimate yield, reduce loss from logging damage and improve practical silvicultural techniques. LTS was responsible for overall management of the programme and provision of technical and professional expertise to the five major sub-projects focussing on policy and strategic advice at ministerial level, development of new concession management systems, pioneering community conservation initiatives, silvicultural research, wetlands conservation, and national training programmes. Kenya, Forest Rehabilitation and Environmental Management Strengthening Programme (FORREMS) and Natural Resources Management Project (NRMP), 2007-2009, USAID / World Bank. The USAID-funded FORREMS (2003-2008) and the World Bank-funded NRMP (2007-2013) aim to strengthen government natural resource management institutions, assists local community groups in improving forest and environmental management, aid the rehabilitation of degraded rangelands and improves rural livelihoods with sustainable nature-based enterprises. FORREMS and NRMP have worked with the Forest Department and Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife in improving the enabling framework for sustainable forest management by advancing reforms in Forest Act and Kenya Forest Service (KFS) - a state corporation that will replace the Forest Department in 2007. The Forestry Transaction Advisor acts as an advisor to the Permanent Secretary, De-Linking Committee, Forest Reform Secretariat and KFS Board on the transition of FD to the KFS. In this regard, the advisor brings to KFS expertise public sector reform such as strategic planning, corporate governance, organisational structuring, budget and finance, human resources management, recruitment and performance contracting. Kenya, Institutional Support to Forest Sector Reform, 2009, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Finland. The Miti Mingi Maisha Bora Programme (Inception Phase, 2007-2009) is the main instrument supporting the forest sector reform process in Kenya. The overall objective of the programme is increased contribution of forests to economic recovery and poverty alleviation on environmentally and socially sustainable basis. The reform process is at a critical juncture. KFS is positioning as a centre of excellence with regional structures starting to emerge, a new Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife has been established, a 10 year logging ban is nearly removed, and political commitment on forestry in the Mau Forest has reached very high levels. The Forestry Transaction Advisor (FTA) has supported the institutional change process since 2007; this input follows on from the design work undertaken in 2008 for the MMMB 5-year programme (Implementation Phase, 2009-2014). The FTA is assisting with operational procedures for Forest Conservation Committees; the development of the Board position on the conservation of the Mau Forest Complex; preparation of timber licencing pre-qualification and bidding procedures; strategic planning support to the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife; and general support to the Board Malawi, Social Forestry Training and Extension Project, 1997-2003, European Commission. Focus Areas: This highly successful pilot project was designed to develop the capacity of the Malawi Forestry Department to interpret and implement national forest policy with an emphasis on encouraging participatory social forestry. This was achieved through training of Forestry Department staff in extension planning and implementation, developing extension frameworks to reflect district and national strategies, and improving forestry education to include community-based issues. LTS was responsible for overall project management and administration including the recruitment and administration of staff, and provision of all technical support. This involved planning and implementing a comprehensive programme of in-service training to strengthen the extension planning and implementation capacity of the Forest Department focussing on headquarters and the five districts. LTS developed national and district level frameworks for forestry extension to reflect the strategies and priorities of the emerging National Forest Programme. (SEE ALSO OTHER ENTRY) Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia, Support to Forestry College Curriculum Revision, 2003-2005, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Finland. Focus Areas: The Forestry Colleges Curriculum Development Project aimed to revise the forestry curricula, build the capacity of College teachers to carry out curricula review, update teaching methods and produce new materials. The project objective was to link and build capacity for the national forestry programme in its early stages of implementation in order that lack of skills are no longer a constraint to its success. The Project also aimed to promote female student involvement, establish a monitoring and evaluation system and upgrade College facilities with a view to setting up systems for self -financing of the college in the future. International and regional networking were key strategies for change in this project. Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, Tanzania, Policy options for strengthening the management of miombo woodlands to meet household needs in Southern Africa, 2007, World Bank. Focus Areas: The project contributed to the World bank project, Policies and incentives for improving the management of miombo woodlands to meet household needs in Southern Africa. The project outputs were for World Bank ARD and ENV staff working on the design and development of forestry interventions which incorporate elements of dry woodland management, as well as PREM staff who are engaged in the development of social, economic and policy instruments focused on poverty reduction, both through PRSPs and CASs and through Development Policy Lending instruments. This project provided a framework for an improved understanding of the linkage between rural livelihoods and miombo woodlands and was intended to inform the development of social and economic policies which have poverty alleviation as their primary objective. The overall project focused specifically on three themes: social and economic characteristics of miombo use and the role of miombo in income and consumption amongst poor rural households; how miombo woodlands can be better managed in a way which is consistent with meeting rural subsistence demands for tree products; and on social and economic policies which can strengthen their contribution to reducing risk and vulnerability of poor rural households through sustainable forest management. LTS provided an experienced staff member to author the paper on Policy options for strengthening dry woodland management in a way which contributes to their role in reducing risk and vulnerability and which enhances their contribution to household welfare. LTS undertook the background research and prepared a draft paper which was presented at a CIFOR meeting in November 2007, before completion of the draft in December 2007. The paper reviewed policy measures for improving the access, use and management of miombo woodland products by poor people. The paper developed themes which are emerging in the literature about the relationship between woodland management and the poor, including those related to common property resource use. Mali, Initiative Pauvreté et Environnement (IPE) – Programme Evaluation and Future Directions, 2009, UN Poverty and Environment Facility. The Initiative Pauvreté et Environnement (IPE) – Mali programme aims to strengthen the contribution of sustainable natural resource management and the environment to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and sustained economic growth. Alex Forbes, Associate Director at LTS, was commissioned to lead the evaluation of the IPE-Mali and provide direction on the future direction of the programme. Alex facilitated an evaluation of current progress of the IPE Mali programme with staff and stakeholders in Bamako and, drawing from interviews and group work sessions, he also assisted the identification of the programme’s progress to date, what is working well and what can be improved, and guided the identification of opportunities and future directions for the programme. Presentation of a detailed Aide Memoire (in French) at the end of the mission enabled all stakeholders to discuss and agree on the evaluation findings, conclusions and recommendations on future directions.
Kenya, Ghana, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Programme on Capacity Building for National Forest Programmes, 2001-2002, African Academy of Science/European Commission. Focus Areas: The AAS project aims to build capacity across Africa (currently working in 16 countries) for the formulation and implementation of NFPs. In 2001, LTS was contracted to carry out a mid-term review of the project, and we provided relevant policy and training expertise from our staff consultants. Three countries (Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania) were visited for the review, and consultations were made with participants involved in the wider AAS programme as well as other relevant stakeholders. In 2002, LTS in association with AAS, undertook a qualitative assessment of NFPs in Tanzania, Zambia, Uganda and Ghana. Kenya, Ghana, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Programme on Capacity Building for National Forest Programmes, 2001-2002, African Academy of Science/European Commission. Focus Areas: The AAS project aims to build capacity across Africa (currently working in 16 countries) for the formulation and implementation of NFPs. In 2001, LTS was contracted to carry out a mid-term review of the project, and we provided relevant policy and training expertise from our staff consultants. Three countries (Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania) were visited for the review, and consultations were made with participants involved in the wider AAS programme as well as other relevant stakeholders. In 2002, LTS in association with AAS, undertook a qualitative assessment of NFPs in Tanzania, Zambia, Uganda and Ghana. Kenya, Forestry Transaction Advisor, 2007-2008, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the World Bank. Focus Areas: The USAID-funded Forest Rehabilitation and Environmental Management Strengthening (FORREMS) Programme is a six-year initiative (2003-2008) that strengthens government natural resource management institutions, assists local community groups in improving forest and environmental management, aids the rehabilitation of degraded rangelands and improves rural livelihoods with sustainable nature-based enterprises. Together with the World Bank-funded Natural Resources Management Project, FORREMS has worked with the Forest Department (FD) and Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MENR) in improving the enabling framework for sustainable forest management by advancing reforms in Forest Act, draft Forest Policy and Kenya Forest Service (KFS) - a state corporation that will replace the FD in 2007. The Forestry Transaction Advisor acts as the Principal Advisor to the Permanent Secretary, De-Linking Committee, Forest Reform Secretariat and Board on the transition of FD to the KFS. In this regard, the advisor brings to KFS expertise public sector reform such as strategic planning, corporate governance, organisational structuring, budget and finance, human resources management, recruitment and performance contracting. Kenya, Support to Forest Sector Reform - Miti Mingi Maisha Bora, 2008, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Finland. Focus Areas: Kenya's forest sector is on the cusp of massive institutional reform. A new forest policy and legislation has paved the way for doing forestry more responsibly through restructuring government and encouraging meaningful engagement with the private sector and community forestry associations. LTS assisted with the design of a 5-year "Miti Mingi Maisha Bora - Support to Forest Sector Reform" implementation phase (2009-2014) valued at €22 million. The 5-year programme will: (i) establish capacity within the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife for coordination and regulation of forestry issues including the establishment of a National Forestry Advisory Council, (ii) build capacity within the Kenya Forest Service to deliver a range of quality forestry products and services, (iii) improve the management of gazetted forest reserves in selected pilot areas through improved management practises and partnerships and (iv) increase the income of farmers and communities in selected pilot areas through improved production, processing and marketing of forestry products. Latvia, Economic and Social Impacts of the Green-Field Pulp Mill Project Baltic Pulp Investment in Latvia, 2001, Private. Focus Areas: LTS undertook an assessment of the impacts of a proposed USD1bn pulp mill investment in Latvia. The key outputs included a concise report outlining the more significant costs and benefits of the proposed investment; recommendations for institutional changes which would enhance the Government's capacity to fully appraise the economic and social benefits that might accrue, at regional and national levels, from inward investments and projects for which State support had been requested; and a Forest Sector model which will allow decision-makers to test changes in assumptions and to evaluate different scenarios for the development of Latvia's forest industry. Validation of forecasts of future timber supply was coupled with an assessment of the raw material needs of existing and other planned processing capacity was particularly important. Latvia, Institutional Support for the Development of Private Sector Forestry, 1998-2000, European Commission. Focus Areas: The project assisted the Ministry of Agriculture/Department of Forestry with implementing newly drafted forest policy in line with EU guidelines and ongoing European Forest Policy processes. Targeting the development of private forestry and promotion of the wood sector, LTS provided short-term inputs to establish the support and regulatory framework that will enable the newly drafted forestry policy to be implemented in preparation for accession to the EU. This included harmonising regulations and standards for cultivation and marketing and drafting a national land-use strategy for rural and regional development. The project identified appropriate incentives to stimulate private afforestation and reforestation and proposed an institutional system for certifying of forest propagation material. Romania, Development and Implementation of a Monitoring and Evaluation Plan, 2005, World Bank. Focus Areas: LTS was contracted to establish a project M&E procedures for the Forest Development Project and to support the development and implementation of a Monitoring and Evaluation Systems within the Project Management Unit and at a sector level. The M&E system established is based on a key set of performance indicators that address related project interventions, including: forest ecosystem degradation, Gross National Income, Annual Allowable Cut, forest management plans, regulatory and governance capacity, and public awareness strategy. LTS provided forestry and M&E specialists to carry out this assignment. South Africa, Evaluation of South African Water Governance Project, 2009, UK Environment Agency. LTS led a participatory evaluation of the UK Environment Agency/Department of Water Affairs (RSA) Watercourse project, which used innovative client-led methods to support stakeholder engagement for the development of new integrated water resource management institutions in South Africa. The evaluation took place over a period of three months and was undertaken with South African consultancy Pegasys. The main findings were that the novel approaches were an appropriate way to help fledgling organisations find their way in establishing their functions, but were more difficult in large bureaucracies where top down planning risked undermining bottom-up lead stakeholder processes. South Africa, Certification in the Natural Products Sector and Feasibility of Interventions, 2006, World Conservation Union. Focus Areas: Under the umbrella of the recently launched Natural Futures Programme, the World Conservation Union in South Africa (IUCN-SA) and partner PhytoTrade Africa asked LTS and its partners to investigate ethical certification schemes and their accessibility to Southern African small and medium enterprises in the natural products sector. Within the (natural products) sector there are clear opportunities for entrepreneurial development and improved livelihoods for many poor rural communities. LTS took part in a technical team to review existing schemes and assess their appropriateness in a Southern African natural products context, identify associated barriers and opportunities and recommend intervention strategies to improve the accessibility and applicability of certification in this sector. The study informed the Natural Futures programme in the development / adaptation of a new or existing certification system for the benefit of natural product small and medium enterprises and the sector. South Africa, Eastern Cape Community Forestry Pilot Project, Rural Development Forestry Education and Training Project & DFID Forest Sector Assistance Strategy, 2000, UK Department for International Development. Focus Areas: LTS provided a Team Leader and forestry specialist to assess two DFID forestry projects and the DFID forest sector assistance strategy. DFID's assistance to the South African forest sector began in mid 1995, which resulted in the preparation of a strategy for assistance to the forest sector. This strategy - prepared through a participatory process involving a wide range of stakeholders from public, and corporate sectors and civil society - was formally agreed with the Minster responsible for Forests in March 1996. Part of this strategy was the establishment of two forestry projects initially identified within the Strategy - the Rural Development Forestry Education and Training project and the Eastern Cape Community Forestry Pilot Project. South Africa, NFP Support Services to the South Africa Forestry Programme, 2003-2005, UK Department for International Development. Focus Areas: LTS’ was contracted by DFID to support its initiative of strengthening the forest sector as an integrated part of a wider sustainable livelihoods programme. The LTS NFP support team provided guidance to the Policy & Strategy team on best practices for formulation and implementation of the National Forest Programme (NFP). The three key areas were: the completion of the restructuring / privatisation process for the plantation resource; consolidating the organisational changes within the Chief Directorate of Forests; and identifying and establishing the enabling environment and modalities for an enterprise based approach to achieving improved rural livelihoods from forestry. South Africa, Restructuring of Commercial Forests, 2001-2002, UK Department for International Development. Focus Areas: The South African government announced that the state-owned timber plantations company SAFCOL, would be privatized. LTS's support to South Africa's restructuring initiative was a key component of the wider ranging Restructuring Forests in Former Homelands Project, under which DFID supported programmes aimed to alleviate poverty and redress inequality in the former homelands by effectively restructuring the former homelands forests so that they achieve government's policy objectives. There forest were held by state company SAFCOL which owned 332,000 hectares of commercial tree plantations and other assets valued at between 1 and 1.5 billion Rand (some $USD 160-250 million). From 2001-2002 LTS provided high-level privatisation and forestry expertise to review options and assist Department of Public Enterprises to un-block and push through to completion the stalled privatisation of SAFCOL assets and disposal of the remaining commercial forests. South Africa, Water and Forestry Support Programme (WFSP), 2003-2005, UK Department for International Development. Focus Areas: The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) is responsible for managing South Africa's water and forestry resources, and for reversing historic patterns of management detrimental to the interests of the poor. As an integrated part of a public sector reform programme, DFID has supported the forest sector in South Africa for over a decade. LTS's support (2003-2005) to the WFSP covered four key areas of activity - completion of the restructuring / privatisation process for the plantation resource, consolidation of organisational changes within the Chief Directorate of Forests, identification and establishment of the enabling environment and modalities for an enterprise based approach to achieving improved rural livelihoods from forestry, and review and re-design of an NFP process. Our work aimed to enhance the commercial opportunities and capabilities of previously disadvantaged people. Southern Africa, Regional Climate Change Programme, 2007-2008, UK Department for International Development. Focus Areas: Climate change is arguably one of the major and far reaching of the devastating issues that southern Africans increasingly experience - its effect on natural resources and poor communities that depend on them is already evident. DFID is supporting adaptation efforts in the Southern African region focusing on the achievement and sustainability of three of the Millennium Development Goals - food security, water and health. Together with our regional partner OneWorld, LTS is conducting a 5-country feasibility study to clarify the role DFID should play to help southern Africa respond to the challenge of climate change. LTS is identifying key risks and vulnerabilities in the region as well as thoroughly reviewing the anticipated impacts climate change and determining at what resolution biophysical information is needed to inform a) a robust regional programme and b) allow for effective monitoring of climate change progress and effectiveness of responses. The analysis of the existing policy and regulatory framework and the scientific, institutional and lobbying capacity is also being undertaken. Tanzania, Development and Institutionalization of a National Forest Programme Monitoring Facility and Database, 2006-2007, World Bank. Focus Areas: Tanzania's National Forest Programme (NFP) represents a ten-year strategic plan for the implementation of the Forestry Policy and Forestry Act. It is cross sectoral in scope and covers a range of activities, being implemented by players within national government, local government, local communities, civil society and the private sector. During 2006-2007, LTS supported the Forestry and Beekeeping Division and Tanzania Forest Management and Conservation Project financed by the World Bank develop a phased approach to the development of the information system to support the NFP. The primary objective of this assignment was to design, develop, establish, and institutionalize a functioning forest monitoring facility and database that drew on information generated at different levels and from different sectors, including local government. The forest information system took into regard current information needs and future foreseen needs and integration with other national systems, and global forest information systems. Tanzania, Development of a National Participatory Forest Management Monitoring System, 2003, DANIDA Denmark. Focus Areas: The Government of Tanzania supports participatory forest management (PFM) as part of its strategy to achieve sustainable forest management by encouraging the management or co-management of forest and woodland resources by communities living closest to the resources. In addition, benefits to communities arising from PFM contribute towards reducing poverty. Faced with the challenge of acquiring information at local and national level to assess efficiency, effectiveness and impact of PFM towards achieving both National Forest Programme (NFP) and National Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) targets, the Government of Tanzania and DANIDA selected LTS to elaborate a PFM monitoring system. LTS mobilised a three person team to work with Forest and Beekeeping Division staff of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism to review and assess existing PFM relevant monitoring systems currently in use, develop a national PFM monitoring system that builds on existing and emerging monitoring processes at local, district and national levels, and propose PFM monitoring indicators that are relevant and integrated within the National Poverty Reduction Monitoring Plan. Tanzania, Jozani-Chwaka Bay Conservation Project, Phase III, Final Project Review, 2003, CARE International. Focus Areas: The Jozani-Chwaka Bay Conservation Project is an integrated conservation and development project that was established by the Zanzibar Department of Commercial Crops, Fruit and Forestry (DCCFF) and CARE Tanzania, in 1995. The project objective is to conserve the unique biodiversity of the forest reserves and associated buffer zone known as the Jozani-Chwaka Bay Conservation Area while enhancing the livelihoods of the surrounding communities. Phase III focused on developing a sustainable institutional landscape and addressing the issues of people's livelihoods. This was done by using a participatory approach towards building a stronger civil society, and using a strategy that linked income generation to tourism. The GEF component of the project provided support aimed at securing the long term biodiversity conservation status of the area. In particular GEF provided support to the DCCFF to complete the process of National Park gazettement for Jozani as well as promoting community involvement in the conservation and management of the Conservation Area. Tanzania, Mahale Ecosystem Management Project - Monitoring and Evaluation Plan, 2006 Frankfurt Zoological Society. Focus Areas: The Mahale ecosystem bordering Lake Tanganyika is globally important for its tropical forest biodiversity as well as for supporting the local livelihoods. In recent years, there has been major disturbance to these communities and large refugee in-migration from regional conflicts. This upheaval has increased poverty and severely impacted on the ecosystem's natural resource base. LTS was contracted to lead the design and development of the monitoring and evaluation plan for the Mahale Ecosystem Management Project which was co-financed by the European Commission and implemented by Frankfurt Zoological Society in partnership with Tanzania National Parks. LTS trained project staff in logical framework based monitoring and evaluation, and facilitated the development of a monitoring and evaluation plan for the project. The task was also expanded to assist the project team to develop a similar monitoring and evaluation plan for the Mahale Mountains National Park Management Plan. Tanzania, Serengeti-North Luangwa Ecosystem Project, 2006-2007, Frankfurt Zoological Society. Focus Areas: The Serengeti-North Luangwa Ecosystem Management Project is a 5-year integrated conservation, development and landscape management initiative being jointly implemented by Frankfurt Zoological Society, with co-financing from the European Commission. Project activities focus on the practical application of the Approach's five operational guidelines: establishing inter-sectoral ecosystem cooperation mechanisms; improving understanding of ecosystem processes and functions; decentralising management to local institutions; improving benefits and incentives for local stakeholders; and introducing adaptive management systems. LTS provided process support to the project in terms of technical direction, strategic and operational planning, and monitoring and evaluation. The action helped strengthen policy and practice that builds a central role for local communities in ecosystem management and, ultimately, helped ensure that key African ecosystems provide lasting conservation and livelihood benefits. Uganda, Forest Resources and Conservation Management Programme (FRMCP), 2002-2006, European Commission. Focus Areas: The long-standing programme built upon the initial EC support to forestry, taking forward conservation and sustainable forest management and supported the establishment of compensatory timber plantations by the private sector. In addtion to supporting the predecessor Natural Forest Management Project in the mid-nineties and the detailed design of FRMCP in 1999, LTS provided various inputs over 4 years (2002-2006), including: site assessment and species recommendations for Uganda, tree improvement for timber plantations, yield studies for Uganda's main plantation species, non-wood forest product assessment methods, assessment of technology for boundary survey work. In 2005, LTS advised the Sawlog Production Grant Scheme on helping Uganda establish a viable fiscal framework for plantation investment by using existing economic models, and assessing the impact of different scenarios that included varying levels of grant payment and different taxation systems. Uganda, Forest Sector Policy and Strategy Project, Ministry of Water, Lands & Environment, 1999-2004, UK Department for International Development. Focus Areas: This project represented a coordinated sector-wide, multi-donor programme which achieved ambitious and complex forestry reform. The purpose of the project was to create a positive, effective and sustainable policy and institutional environment for the Ugandan forestry sector. Major outputs of the project included: Uganda Forestry Policy (2001), the National Forest Plan (2002), new National Forestry and Tree Planting Act (2003). In 2004 the Forestry Department was divested into the Forestry Inspection Division (FID) under the Ministry of Water, Lands and Environment (MWLE) and the new National Forestry Authority (NFA) was launched. LTS was responsible for overall project management and administration including the recruitment and administration of staff, and provision of all technical support for the duration of the project. In achieving these major outputs the project established poverty and forestry linkages through a National Forest Programme and budget support mechanisms and successfully brokered process of negotiation between central and local government, business planning and new financing and legal arrangements, as well as incentive frameworks to balance commercial activities and public service obligations. Finally, it supported decentralised governance through forestry livelihood and carbon sequestration pilots that will feed into a real time learning mechanisms among the pilots, the planning for the Modernisation of Agriculture and the National Agricultural Advisory Services. Sudan, Forestry Policy and Strategy Development, 2006, US Department of Agriculture.Focus Areas: Southern Sudan has a diverse and extensive forestry resource base. After more than 20 years of civil war, this has become degraded and the new government is having to rebuild its structures from effectively a zero base. Following the Comprehensive Peace Agreement the situation in Southern Sudan is in a state of considerable flux. In 2006 LTS was hired by the US Department of Agriculture to assist the new Southern Sudanese Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry develop a forestry policy and strategy. Relevant policy statements for the presidential address given at the first Southern Sudan parliament were elaborated based on an analysis of a strategic review of the strengths and limitations of the forestry sector and proposed programme of critical interventions. An overall strategy was suggested followed by more detailed treatment of commercial scale plantations and forest industries, natural forests, woodlands and trees in support of agriculture. UK, Evaluate the Efforts in Assessing the Environmental Policy of the Beneficiary Countries of the Special Arrangements to Combat Drug Production and Trafficking Under the Generalised Tariff Preferences, 2004, European Commission. Focus Areas: In order to help the 12 countries to combat the drug trafficking and production culture, duty free access was granted to imports of certain products originating in these countries. The special arrangements provide the countries with export opportunities for substitution crops to help improve their economic and social development. The aim of the project was to foster industrialisation, diversification and to promote sustainable development. The project was an independent evaluation of the environmental policy, in particular the sustainable management of tropical forests, of the twelve beneficiary countries during the time they have enjoyed the duty free benefits until the end of 2002. UK, Review of Nine Regional Forestry Frameworks, 2006, Forestry Commission. Focus Areas: The aim of this study was to review the nine Regional Forestry Frameworks (RFF) developed between 2003 and 2005 and to map their scope and focus against the 1998 England Forestry Strategy (EFS).The rationale for the assignment was the impending revision of the England Forestry Strategy and the need was to determine how the priorities and scope of individual RFFs matched the EFS. In due course the revised EFS will accommodate the nine RFFs and also provide a basis for situations where national as opposed to regional actions are required. LTS provided two people with wide experience of international and UK forest policy development and institutional change. Vietnam, Country Strategy Paper Review, 2002, UK Department for International Development. Focus Areas: In 2002, DFID was in the process of reviewing its country strategy paper (CSP) in Vietnam in order to assess progress toward meeting the CSP's objectives, focussing in particular on improved income opportunities for the rural poor and a greater understanding of the causes, characteristics and consequences of poverty. LTS provided high-level governance support to the regional DFID field office. The whole team assessed progress against the Logframe and progress against the priorities and expectations of the Government of Vietnam (GoV). Further, the level of uptake of innovative ideas and Lessons Learnt from DFID interventions within other donor funded programmes and GoV development planning provided insights to what extent DFID influenced the mind set at national level. Generic governance issues were captured through thematic case studies. Vietnam, Output to Purpose Review of the Northern Mountains Poverty Reduction Project, 2003, UK Department for International Development. Focus Areas: The Northern Mountains Poverty Reduction Project (NMPRP) was co-financed by the World Bank and DFID to the value of USD132.5 million and aimed to benefit about 1 million rural poor, 85% of whom are ethnic minorities in six provinces of Vietnam. The project provided basic rural infrastructure and other demand led investments including basic education, health and agricultural extension services and facilities. LTS undertook a review and consultation with key stakeholders, and village interviews to assess the initial performance of the programme against the criteria set out in the project documents and logical framework; role of the programme within the broader poverty reductions efforts of the provinces, central government and other donors; and analysis of the relationships between key stakeholders in the project and the impact that they have had on the success of the project. Worldwide, Evaluation of DFID's Ten Year Renewable Natural Resources Research Programme, 2004-2005, UK Department for International Development. Focus Areas: LTS, in collaboration with the Oxford Policy Management Institute and the Norwegian Agricultural University, was selected to conduct an evaluation of DFID's ten year Renewable Natural Resources Research Programme. This evaluation constituted an important opportunity to reassess and redirect DFID's RNRR programme and strategy within the context of DFID's agenda and priorities as stated in DFID's Research Funding Framework for 2005 to 2007 (final draft/May 2004). Our methodology was process based and designed to identify the impact of the Renewable Natural Resources Strategy on all its stakeholders, across the different disciplines and at practice and policy levels. We identified key components of the research programmes that impact on poverty. Participatory methodologies were used to ensure attribution of impacts to different stakeholders and draw together the lessons learnt from all components and relate them to the different stakeholders' interests. Worldwide, Guidelines on Stakeholder Participation in National Forest Programmes, 2004-2005, Food and Agriculture Organisation. Focus Areas: Today, nearly all countries have forest sector strategies of some form or another, most of which have elements of an NFP process. Participation is widely accepted as an essential principle for such processes, however there is a wide and diversified understanding about what participation means. Furthermore there is only very little knowledge and information available to provide guidance for those organisations which intend to conduct participatory processes. FAO and other national and international organisations have set up a "Community of Practice" on "Enhancing Stakeholder Participation in NFPs" to exchange information, build partnerships and collaboratively work on related topics. In support of the Community of Practice, LTS developed guidance with the Forestry Policy and Information Division at Food and Agriculture Organisation designed for use by NFP coordinators, forest sector planners in respective ministry policy units, government agency leaders involved in reform, policy makers and strategists, monitoring specialists, experts with an interest in participation, and advisors on governance and poverty in related sectors in both developed and developing countries. Worldwide, Evaluation of Finnish Forestry Sector Development Cooperation, 2002 - 2003, DIDC Finland. Focus Areas: LTS fielded a team of 11 national and international consultants to evaluate Finnish forestry development assistance from 1990 to 2002. The aim was to focus on the programme as a whole using individual country programmes as sources of information. The target countries were Kenya, Namibia, Tanzania and the SADC Colleges programme in Africa: Laos, Nepal, Thailand and Vietnam in Asia and Mexico. Overall the findings were of high quality technical projects and good professional staff but a tendency to operate in isolation from wider issues. As a consequence, the wider impact was limited. There were several development policy changes applied by Finland during the period reviewed. The Team concluded that Finland has an important role to play in forestry development and a number of comparative advantages from its own history and its favourable political system. Nine recommendations were made to improve the focus and strategic delivery of forestry assistance within the current wider development framework. If adopted, the Team considers that there would be significantly greater wider impact from well-designed, well-managed interventions.
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