General

FAO has asked Sida for funding of 75,000,000 SEK to carry out the project named "Global transformation of Forests for People and Climate: A Focus on West Africa " during the period 2019 – 2023. The intervention builds on FAO’s existing support in the ECOWAS region and targets on three priority focus areas, namely Knowledge of the state of forest ecosystem dynamics; Forest and land related laws, policies and strategies at the sub-regional level; and Demonstration and dissemination of sustainable forest and land use practices. These focus areas were identified in the Convergence Plan endorsed by member states of ECOWAS. The expected overall results encompass all ECOWAS member countries while specific outputs and activities refer to a selection of countries that show similar ecological characteristics and challenges. ECOWAS is a key partner for implementation of the intervention together with forestry and environmental units in government agencies, NGOs and CSOs concerned with forests and land use, Indigenous peoples and local communities who reside in or near forested areas, and academia and research institutions. Based on the request from ECOWAS so as to formally report on the contribution of Sweden in the region, ECOWAS and Sweden will sign MoU in support of this project. Sida and FAO will sign a separate Contribution Agreement, under the existing FAO-SIDA Framework Agreement, signed in 2017. During the inception phase of the project, outstanding issues will be clarified and agreed upon between the partners.

Objectives

The overall objective of the contribution is to strengthen decision-making on forests and land management, and to strengthen capacity at a sub-regional level through ECOWAS and other sub-regional partners to implement elements of the regionally agreed plan called the Convergence Plan. Achieving this objective will positively contribute to the livelihoods and climate change resilience thus contributes to the achievement of the SDGs and the Paris Agreement, identified as the broader impact. In addition, identifying lessons learned and best practice will contribute to a longer-term impact through sharing in other sub-regions and globally. This intervention builds on FAO’s existing support in the region and targets three priority focus areas of the Convergence Plan, around which all the project outputs are clustered (Knowledge of the state of forest ecosystem dynamics; Forest and land related laws, policies and strategies at the sub-regional level; and Demonstration and dissemination of sustainable forest and land use practices). The expected overall results encompass all ECOWAS member countries while specific outputs and activities refer to a selection of countries that show similar ecological characteristics and challenges.  

General

Civil Society Organizations are agents of change. Partner organizations and participants will be trained in advocacy and strengthen management capacity. The end goal will be to have local organisations and communities advocating for better policies and services ton agriculture, land rights, environment, forest management, etc. Focus is given to those in most vulnerable situations, such as women headed households, pregnant, lactating and women of childbearing age, children and youth, and people living with disabilities.