Enhancing civil society participation in FLEG-related processes in SEA

Illegal timber trading networks and their devastating effects, including denying governments of much-needed revenue, eroding critical governance structures, degrading rich biodiversity and resource bases, and subjecting poor, vulnerable communities to mistreatment and deprivation, are some of the major challenges facing sustainable forest management and poverty reduction efforts in Southeast Asia today. The project aims to enhance civil society participation in FLEG-related processes at both the regional and national levels by building the capacity of NGOs to communicate their experiences and priorities more effectively in official policy discussions. By translating relevant FLEG-related documents and conducting a capacity-building workshop, this project will empower civil society stakeholders to take a more active role in translating developments at the regional level into nationally and locally appropriate initiatives. The Key Messages document, as a product of regional collaboration, will strengthen NGO inputs in the next regional FLEG process and will also serve as a model for civil society participation in policy dialogues at the national level. Consultations both with NGOs and national governments will take place as part of the workshop planning process to identify the specific challenges faced by both sides when translating regional commitments to results at the national level.

Two meetings were held as part of this project, both of which included presentations and discussion about both experiences and priorities from across the region and mechanisms for increased regional collaboration: a Regional FLEG NGO workshop in November 2009 (25 participating NGOs) and a Regional NGO Meeting April 2009. NGOs gained new skills and knowledge as a result of this project (though more useful in their work for some than for others) and received useful translated materials. In particular, the project has increased NGO knowledge and awareness of the ASEAN FLEG and EU FLEGT programmes and potential opportunities for engagement, which is one aspect of building the capacity of NGOs to participate more effectively in official FLEG processes. The project has provided the opportunity for NGOs to assess why the significant value that better collaboration between NGOs has to add to their capacity to participate more effectively in FLEG-related processes had not been realized in spite of numerous regional meetings, networks & commitments and to develop a concept for a mechanism to facilitate this collaboration with an emphasis on access to & use of information. One of the most significant outputs of the project with the potential to have significant positive implications for the ability of NGOs to have a stronger more effective voice in FLEG-related policy-making and implementation, is the concept for an NGO coordinating mechanism. While the process of refining the concept and identifying donors/other organizations to take the concept further will continue after the project close date, it will not be possible to implement the concept without further financial support and an appropriate contracting body.