Case Studies: Asia
Asia, Capacity Building Programme for Stakeholder Participation in National Forest Programmes, 2006-2007, Food and Agriculture Organisation
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. Since 2006, we are now delivering 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 are expected to be 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
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, Regional Study on Forestry Policy and Institutional Reforms, Formulation of the Bank's Policy for Forestry, 2000-2001, ADB
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, Training on Decentralised Forest Management Planning, 2003-2004, RECOFTC
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.
Bhutan, Medicinal Plants Project Phase II, 2004-2007, European Commission
The project aims to conserve medicinal plant resources in high altitude areas of Bhutan; improve the incomes, employment opportunities and livelihoods of rural communities in high altitude areas; strengthen the organisation, management and cost-effectiveness of the medicinal plants industry; and enhance the availability of high quality medicinal plant products and traditional medicines for both the internal and external markets. LTS is responsible for overall project management and administration including the recruitment and administration of staff and provision of all technical support relating to the cultivation of aromatic and medicinal plants, the preparation of business plans and launching of commercial operations, and provide inputs in horticulture, legal aspects in biodiversity, community forestry, commercial realism, medicinal expertise, botanical expertise, TRIPS, protection of traditional knowledge and NTFPs. LTS will draw upon its broad network of Edinburgh Centre for Tropical Forests (ECTF) partners for technical assistance.
India, Project Formulation for an Integrated Natural Resource Development and Poverty Reduction Project, 2003-2004, Japanese Bank for International Cooperation
JBIC commissioned a review of the Social Forestry aspects of this EU funded Project. The Project focuses on the nature of the operations of Village Forest Committees and the potential to impact on marginalised groups. LTS provided a social forestry specialist to review the social forestry aspects of the project performance. The specialist provided recommendations on improving the effectiveness of planting activities under the joint forest management component and on the Haryana Forest Department implementing structure.
India, Uttar Pradesh Forestry Project, 2002, World Bank
The Uttar Pradesh Forestry Project assists the Government of Uttar Pradesh in the development of the forestry sector. The project aims to improve public sector management in the sector, increase forest cover, productivity and biodiversity in an environmentally and socially sustainable manner. LTS undertook an assessment of the incentive structure for farmers to be involved in farm forestry, particularly in districts where departmental seedling production in expected to be phased out. An evaluation of the Forestry Departments' communication, extension and market development measures was undertaken and the monitoring and evaluation program reviewed.
India, Western Ghats Forestry Project - Project Process Support Team, 1995 - 2001, UK Department for International Development
The Western Ghats Forestry Project aimed to conserve the biodiversity of the Western Ghats forests in Southern India and to sustain and enhance the livelihoods. This was achieved through a process of institutional strengthening within the Forest Department to develop Joint Forest Planning and Management strategies in conjunction with local communities. Approaches to produce a sustainable supply of forest products, encourage regeneration and improve forest cover whilst conserving biodiversity and ecological functions of the forests were developed. LTS managed and provided consultants to a team of four specialists providing process support to guide the development of the Karnataka Forest Department. The support team focused on the development cycle and division level strategies, of client-focused and site-specific management systems; management information systems; training; monitoring and evaluation; and technical issues including forest management planning, research and remote sensing.
India, Project Formulation for an Integrated Natural Resource Development and Poverty Reduction Project, 2003-2004, Japanese Bank for International Cooperation
JBIC commissioned a review of the Social Forestry aspects of this EU funded Project. The Project focuses on the nature of the operations of Village Forest Committees and the potential to impact on marginalised groups. LTS provided a social forestry specialist to review the social forestry aspects of the project performance. The specialist provided recommendations on improving the effectiveness of planting activities under the joint forest management component and on the Haryana Forest Department implementing structure.
Indonesia, Citarik Watershed Management Project, 2001-2003, Japanese Bank for International Cooperation
LTS provided specialist expertise in local NGO capacity building to support communities in the Citarik sub-watershed to better self-organise, and to advise on technical matters related to agricultural improvements. These capacity building efforts will prepare the ground for a smoother implementation of the follow-on project. The specialist provided by LTS assisted the NGOs to re-focus rural development through a stakeholder-based self-help approach, set up & improve community-based NRM systems, introduce participatory planning methodologies, in particular to integrate women in the planning process, to bring in private sector expertise in marketing & food processing, and establish rural credit schemes and cooperative banks.
Indonesia, Tropical Forest Management Programme, 1992-2000, UK Department for International Development
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
Indonesia, Growth and Yield Modelling Framework, 2001-2002, University of Edinburgh
The project aimed to develop knowledge and generic tools for yield regulation of natural forests in tropical developing countries. LTS has facilitated a process to ensure local stakeholders participate in decisions related to future allocation of timber harvested from local forests. The work aimed to develop sustainable utilisation of forests and more equitable distribution of benefits. A pilot study led to a model and illustrated that by embarking on a sensible yield regulation process and using a simple toolbox it becomes feasible for management to integrate resource information rapidly and easily and assess what quantity of timber can be feasibly cut, and weaknesses in information collection and management will be exposed that should be remedied.
Nepal, Review of the Royal Bardia National Park Buffer Zone Development Project - Phase II, 2002, CARE International
LTS provided the Team Leader to review an integrated conservation and development project working directly with NGOs, CBOs and the park authorities to effectively manage the biodiversity of the Park and it's buffer zone. LTS led project staff through an evaluation and reflection process that resulted in the Final Inception Report including an action plan to implement the reviews recommendations. The review considered all aspects of the project including the adoption of new technology that enables the sustainable intensification of agriculture, the promotion of income generation and household economic diversification to improve livelihood security.
Timor Leste, Rural Development Programme II, Identification and Appraisal Missions, 2005, European Commission
Based on the EC Country Strategy Paper and National Indicative Plan 2005-06, this project supported the Government of Timor-Leste in the identification and appraisal of a second integrated Rural Development Programme (RDP II) to be financed by the EU with a budget of € 9 million. By focusing on agriculture and rural infrastructures, the project targeted poor rural communities in remote and isolated areas in the western districts of the country. The agriculture component focused on food production and availability to improve food security; forestry, agro-forestry and watershed management; forest policy; as well as institutional and capacity building. The rural infrastructure component focused on ensuring access to markets and primary services, and connecting communities to the district towns as well as to the capital Dili. LTS provided 2 experts for the identification and appraisal missions
Uzbekistan, Establishment of the Nuratau-Kyzylkum Biosphere Reserve as a Model for Biodiversity Conservation, 2003-2005, United Nations Development Programme
LTS manages a sub-project on Community Forestry and Reforestation. The overall goal of the sub-project is to address the biodiversity threats from forest loss/degradation, by developing sustainable forestry use and restoration models which are: easily replicable, founded as far as possible on traditional existing / historical practices and customs, and provide sufficient socio-economic benefits as to make widespread adoption likely. Activities will build ownership and responsibility within local communities and as a result be more likely to be sustained and supported in the long term. An emphasis will be placed on utilizing traditional knowledge and customs as far as is practically possible, thereby building on existing skills and helping to ensure appropriateness of activities for local conditions.
Vietnam, Output to Purpose Review of the Northern Mountains Poverty Reduction Project, 2003, UK Department for International Development
The Northern Mountains Poverty Reduction Project (NMPRP) is co-financed by the World Bank and DFID to the value of USD132.5 million and aims to benefit about 1 million rural poor, 85% of whom are ethnic minorities in six provinces of Vietnam. The project provides 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.
Vietnam, Country Strategy Paper Review, 2002, UK Department for International Development
DFID is currently 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 in Thailand. 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.
