RECOFTC Community Forestry 2016-2023

The following are examples of results achieved: - For the regional work, RECOFTC made significant contributions to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) discourse on social forestry, primarily through the ASEAN Working Group on Social Forestry. RECOFTC contributed significantly to the development of the ASEAN Guidelines for Agroforestry Development. The Cambodia Forestry Administration used these guidelines to develop the National Technical Agroforestry Guidelines. RECOFTC supported the creation of the ASEAN Guiding Principles for Effective Social Forestry Legal Frameworks. RECOFTC Vietnam has taken these principles and contributed to the development of the National Community Forestry Guidelines, which have been approved by the Vietnam Department of Forestry. These guidelines help local communities navigate the process of developing sustainable forest management plans and forest protection management plans. - Strategic Goal 1: Landscape collaboration in a changing climate, RECOFTC directly enhanced over 9,500 people (191% of the target) in forest landscape management and piloted five landscape-level plans. Around 31% of the trained people were women. RECOFTC initiatives relating to landscape collaboration in a changing climate were designed to ensure that local peoples rights in forest landscapes are protected and exercised through collaborative management, including meeting climate change mitigation commitments and addressing adaptation challenges and opportunities. Through its capacity development programs, RECOFTC has provided support, such as the eight-year (20142023) Partnership for Forestry and Fisheries Communities (PAFF) program in Cambodia. This initiative empowered 86,568 people from 30,127 households to exercise their rights to manage, protect, and benefit from local natural resources in ways that sustain livelihoods, reduce poverty, and enhance resilience to economic and environmental shocks. - Strategic Goal 2: Governance, institutions and conflict transformation, RECOFTC worked closely with diverse stakeholders at the national and landscape levels to advocate for policy reforms that led to better forest governance. RECOFTC contributed to 58 cases (149% of the target) of national and subnational governments adoption and implementation of inclusive and gender-responsive policies and practices that support good governance in forest management. - Strategic Goal 3: Private sector engagement and enterprising communities; RECOFTC enhanced capacities among 2,162 local people (98% of the target) for market analysis, community-based enterprise development and private sector engagement. Around 32% of the trained people were women. RECOFTC facilitated and supported communities in developing and managing 223 partnerships and agreements between local entrepreneurs and investors. RECOFTC facilitated 27 cases in which the national and subnational governments adopted or implemented practices promoting community private sector partnerships. In Thailand, RECOFTC mobilized public financial resources through the Trees4All crowdfunding initiative to encourage community members to plant more trees on their land and receive payment in return. RECOFTC piloted an agroforestry model with 200 households in Nepal to improve their livelihoods through the Enhancing Livelihood from Improved 10 Forest Management project. - Strategic Goal 4: Social inclusion, gender equity and public action, RECOFTC directly assisted 2,426 people (243% of the target) in mastering the concept of gender equality and its application in work and home contexts. Around 66% of the trained people were women. The Weaving Leadership for Gender Equality (WAVES) initiative, funded by the Government of Sweden through core support, is a RECOFTC program dedicated to advancing gender equality in the governance, management, and use of forest landscapes and resources across the Asia-Pacific region. The WAVES program provided tailored training to gender leaders, enhancing their skills in relational leadership and strategic thinking. This approach helped leaders gain recognition for their expertise and mobilize informal networks. These efforts resulted in collaborative advocacy campaigns and institutional changes, such as integrating gender-focused training manuals and guidelines into organizational practices. In addition, WAVES supported 36 gender leaders across seven Asia-Pacific countries in creating gender-inclusive policies, particularly in forestry institutions. These leaders designed and implemented action plans addressing systemic barriers to gender equality. They also challenged harmful stereotypes and developed counter-narratives, fostering shifts in leadership and representation within their organizations.

RECOFTC's goal for the 2013-18 Strategic Period is "Empowered local people are effectively and equitably engaged in the sustainable management of forested landscapes". This will be measured by the number of Community Forests in focal countries, area of Community Forests in focal countries, number of people participating in Community Forests in focal countries and documented cases that show achievments for each focal country. RECFTC's goal for the 2018-2023 Strategic Periods is "Enhanced capacities for stronger rights, improved Governance and fairer benefits to local people in forest landscapes in the Asia Pacific region".This will be implemented through the four Strategic Goals: 1) Landscape collaboration in a changing climate; 2) Governance institutions and conflict transformation; 3) Private sector engaegment and enterprising communities; and 4) Social inclsuion, gender equity and public action.