Nfp principles: National sovereignty and country leadership
Definition and significance
Appropriate country leadership means to enable, invite and facilitate multistakeholder participation. It is also important to note that country leadership does not only apply to the national level but also to the subregional and local levels.
Country leadership and sovereignty invariably necessitate national ownership, a firm commitment and a strong political will by decision-makers with respect to sustainable forest development.
How to proceed and what precautions to take
To raise the forest sector’s profile, it is important to demonstrate the contribution of forestry to development and poverty alleviation in general, and more specifically to the gross domestic product (GDP) and other macroeconomic indicators.
Transparency of the nfp process and the roles and responsibilities of its advocates will ensure its legitimacy – another precondition for a positive image of the forest sector.
Suitable arrangements to negotiate nfp issues are at the core of the nfp process. Such arrangements can consist of a national stakeholder forum (as a national platform for political discourse and consensus building), or a steering committee or a board, on which all key stakeholder groups are represented, with a mandate to oversee and lead the nfp process.
Donor coordination under national leadership will enable demand-oriented, targeted and synergetic interventions and effective use of ODA to occur. Stakeholders must consciously be supported and encouraged to speak up and get involved.
How to measure progress
The existence of a publicly well-known, officially adopted and broadly accepted policy statement on forests, wildlife and protected areas is certainly an important milestone. Another indicator of the sector’s profile is how it is presented in the media.
A systematic assessment of the IPF/IFF proposals for action, in order to prioritize and systematically monitor their implementation according to country needs, would equally show a strong and serious commitment to sustainable forest management.
In countries receiving donor support, the quality and effectiveness of donor coordination under the leadership of a national institution as well as the degree to which roles and mandates of the different donors have been defined may provide a basis for assessment of country leadership.
Last but not least, the representation and quality of countries’ contributions to international fora and seminars are signs of commitment and sovereignty.