Activate the actors (potential and existing)
Who was absent before and is engaged now?
Who was least heard before and is engaged now?
Actors clearly recognize their interest
Active actors (of activity)
New actors identified
Actors recognize their role(s)
Initiating actor (s) make others aware of potential goal/priority conflicts
Steps or mechanisms
The Government provide a clear sign of interest to support nfp process
Any actors who can provide funds can de facto initiate the process, and make problem identification
Make use of science (University, research institution) for problems identification
Universities can initiate the process,
stakeholders analysis, interviews
approach the Government
conduct inception workshops, contact the Media
Start with a wide invitation to the process
Conduct a good analysis of stakeholders/issues/interestŕ recognition of interest by the different stakeholders
Allocate time and space for discussion, problem analysis and dialogue
Early identification and clarifications of roles
Assessment of capacities
Criteria
Actors who need to be involved are!
Indicators
All HI/HP included
Most HI/LP
Most LI/HP involved
Process is comfortable for the newcomers
Directly affected actors are engaged and committed to the process
Steps or mechanisms
Make use of reporting system and facilitation to draw out less powerful groups (relationships)
Ensure dissemination of information, including informing all the stakeholders on who is participating (give them a reason to participate)
Clarify the cost/benefit of non participation
Include key actors for implementation since the beginning
Design a participation process, including feedback mechanism/documentation process (who, which level, for what)
Ensure resources availability
Ensure that the representative taking part to the process are really speaking oh behalf of their groups (have feed back mechanism/ statement, tec)
Ensure a continuous dissemination of results (interim/ final)
Awareness of the Process
Public opinion on the NFP process and SFM
What is in the media
Steps or methods
Clarify the objectives of the process
Provide information/news to the public opinion which shows the links between the nfp the development programme for the country.
Wider intersectoral approach: link nfp to poverty alleviation strategy/intersectoral issues
Phase II
Long term incentives for participating are clear to stakeholders
Stakeholders are not marginalized in the process
Contribution of stakeholders are integrated and debated
Indicators
Level of commitment of stakeholder
Level of influence in final decision making
Steps or mechanism
Records of participation of specific stakeholder
Actions taken by stakeholders
Institutuionalization of stakeholders
Tracking origin of recommendations
Criteria
Fair Representations
Indicators
# or % of stakeholder categories/groups participating
% of stakeholder group member satisfied with their group input
% of stakeholder representation satisfied with outcome of analysis/ strategy and action plan
Steps or mechanisms
Identfiy stakeholders through meetings with Forest Service, Major Environmental NGOs, donor community
Inform public and potential stakeholders of the process through popular communication forms/ media
Identify geographic areas with major concentration of stakeholders
Talk to Chief/Mayor (Area/ Municipal, District) to invite village/community leaders (men and women) religious/ indigenous representatives to working groups. (Select representatives)
Additional facilitate a # of PRAs at the village level
Identify topics of the nfp in preliminary analysis:
Reforestation
Relation forestry sector to land husbandry, biodiversity
Incentives
Management of national forest
Industry
Others…
Organize meetings with interested groups. Depending on the country, this would take place at district or national level.
Feedback strategy and planning to Representatives of stakeholders, including the ones from Area/District levels.
For fair representation an “independent facilitation unit” is needed
How to monitor/measure:
Benchmark: minutes meetings (step, 4,5,6)
# stakeholder categories identified (step 1)
Mechanism = feedback sessions (step 7)
Criteria – Stakeholders are kept involved in the process to comment and influence decision-making
Indicator: Adequate feedback mechanisms in place
Steps or mechanisms
Plan and ensure consultation with previously involved stakeholders
Define procedures for the feedback (both ways - reporting, action planning, further engagements)
Criteria:
Realistic and comprehensive information is generated in the process
Local recommendations are documented
Indicators:
Locally organized meetings in all administrative units
Minutes of local workshops
Field information complemented with available expertise
Synthesis report on the result of the process
Steps or mechanisms
Develop format for reporting outcome of local meetings
Develop a matrix to assess the current state of knowledge on specific issues
Define and agree with steering committee the structure of reporting
Criteria – Adequate financial support
Indicator: Increased proportion of domestic funding
Steps or mechanisms
Line ministry participates in budget negotiations/ allocation
Ring fencing budget allocated
Flexibilty (carry over funds over years, timing of funding according to necessity) in budget delivery – including target recipients, e.g. NGOs, civil groups
Proper business planning
Indicator: Innovative funding
Steps or mechanisms
Land taxation
Develop payment for environmental services (forest schemes, e.g. marketing alternative functions of the forest, e.g. water, NTFP, etc. for watershed management)
Indicator: Level of engagement
Steps or mechanisms
Identify specific benefits for targeted participants (and communicate)
Identify obstacles for participation and deal with them
FEEDBACK mechanisms for social learning based on shared experiences
FEEDBACK system to check validity of contributions to the NFP process (feedback on how contributions have been taken up ) … no “broken hopes…”
Criteria: Existing capacity for effective participation
Indicators:
# training sessions in participatory methods
# of participants voluntary involved in stakeholder meetings
Steps or Mechanisms
Curriculum development in participatory forestry at Universities, technical forestry schools, institutions: Also economics, ….
Tailored materials, tools plus methodologies to specific audience – conflict management, policy, law, regulations
Contract local expertise to facilitate training process
Facilitators trained, prepared in nfp elements to reach hi interest, low power groups
Develop an information mechanism that can reach/link together the stakeholders – state clear objectives at the start for provision/identification of incentives to participate fully
Proper evaluation feedback to re-included in training.
Criteria: Various Communication Approaches
Guidelines/ mechanisms shared by most partners
Existence of effective communications strategy
Sustained participation and feedback mechanism
Indicators
stakeholders able to explain objectives of nfp process
70% of stakeholders have access to relevant information
Steps or mechanisms
A1. Develop clear guidelines for the process in a participatory manner
A2. Make guidelines available to all stakeholders
A3. Revisit and review periodically the purpose of nfp
B1. Organize short but frequent meetings
B2. Provide simple and regular progress update
B3. Multidirectional flow of information
C1. Initiate and maintain horizontal relationships
C2. Focus on meeting real needs of involved people
C3. Vertical relationships should be kept at a minimum and accountability should be downwards.
Phase III – Programme Development
Criteria: Stakeholders committed to the nfp process
Indicator 1.1 Level of endorsement of the Forest Policy Statement (FPS)
Verifiers:
Number of written expressions of endorsement and
Category of organizations – government, local bodies, NGOs
Indicator 1.2 Extent of FPS implementated in organizations’ programmes
Verifiers:
Published programmes indicate expressed Forest Policy Statement
Assessment of the activities implemented (Annual Reports)
Indicator 1.3 The extent of change in organization’s programmes reflecting Forest Policy
Statement
Verifiers:
Comparative analysis of annual reports and other commentaries
Indicator 1.4 The level of investment
Verifiers:
Analysis from annual reports and other reports
Indicator 1.5 The revenues collecgted by the government from the forestry industry increased.
Verifiers:
Analysis of tax returns, finance ministry reports
Corrupt Administration of Forest Licences
Criteria: Transparency in Programme Development
Indicators:
Adequate assessment of stakeholders; interests and power and relationship
How: Institutional profile
Expert analysis accessible format: (scale, nature, impact of problem and options for change)
How: Policy brief, documentation, other medias
Facilitated dialogue on options and issue
How: Minutes of the events (processes)
Publicity on results of debate and dialogue
How: Media program
Criteria: Access to the process
Indicators:
Each actor knows where to access the process (different actors, different access points)
How: clear formulation of responsibilities/ access points (accountability)
Trust in having concerns and proposals addressed
How: minutes… documentation – feedback reported and accessible
(transparency)
Are there parallel informal and formal communication process
How: number plus types of actors/ importance of these in communication
(relevance)
