Forest and Farm Facility

Agenda

Day 1: Tuesday, 18 April 2023

Time
(GMT +3)

Description

Objectives

Opening session

09:00-10:30

Welcome and Moderator’s remarks: Moderator, Alfred Gichu, Chief Conservator of Forests, KFS/ Joshua K. Cheboiwo, Director KEFRI TBC

Overview of relevant global and regional programmes: 

  • Peter Minang, Director Africa, CIFOR-ICRAF
  • Carla Mucavi, FAO Representative, Kenya
  • Introduction to the global FFF program and finance for forest and farm producer organizations: Ewald Rametsteiner, Deputy Director Forestry Division, FAO and Officer-in-Charge of the Forest and Farm Facility

Official opening speech(es):

  • Ephantus Kimotho Kimani, Principal Secretary-Forestry Principal Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Kenya (MECCF)
  • Soipan Tuya, Cabinet Secretary, MECCF 

 

 

  • Welcome and brief participants on the overall objectives and expected outcome of the event.
  • Introduce participants to relevant global and regional initiatives as the sources of scalable lessons

 

 

 

10:30-11:00 

COFFEE BREAK

Session I: Innovative and Value Chain Finance

11:00-11:50

 

 

 

 

  • Moderator’s introduction: Marco Boscolo, Forestry Officer, FAO
  • Keynote – Innovative and inclusive models to finance sustainable forest value chains: Petri Lehtonen, Private sector investments expert, FAO

 

 

  • Share lessons learned and good practices on mechanisms and sources of finance for smallholders and SMEs.
  • Identify promising mechanisms and sources of finance for scaling up and/or as inputs into national forest financing strategies.
  • Keep updated on new relevant tools, developments, and events.

 

11:50-12:30

Global and regional innovative initiatives

  • Africa Forestry Impact Platform: Paul Ohaga, Senior Director, New Forests
  • Scaling Restoration through capacity building and Access to Investments - Land Accelerator Africa Case:  Samuel Kabiru, Manager, World Resources Institute (WRI)
  • Financing SMEs that deliver restoration with smallholders – The Africa Eats model: Jumaane Tafawa and Luni Libes, Co-founders, Realize Impact (Virtual)

 

12:30-13:30

LUNCH BREAK

13:30-14:30

Panel presentations of country cases and moderated discussion

  • Collaborative Mechanism to Attract Finance in Ghana (The Case of the Cocoa Landscape): Evans Sampene Mensah, Project manager, Tropenbos Ghana
  • Lessons from the Adaptation Benefits Mechanism, Olufunso Somorin, Regional Principal Officer, Africa Development Bank
  • Facilitating investments in value addition in Uganda. Edward Onsongo, Intervention Manager – Private Sector Investments, Gatsby Africa Foundation
  • Kenya Forest Investment Facility: Jane Ndeti, Manager – Forest Investment Facility (FIF) and Head of the Tree Nurseries division, KFS
  • De-risking and enhancing tree-based enterprise through performance-based finance: Framework and application in Cameroon: Peter Minang, Director for Africa, CIFOR-ICRAF
  • The Restoration Factory, Elijah Mboko, National Technical Assistant – Business Development Specialist, FAO Kenya

 

14:30-15:30

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tools and new developments

  • A new fund being implemented by Worldwide Fund for Nature Netherlands (WWF- NL) and Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank (FMO): Ian Isherwood and Tigere Muzenda, Regional Business Investment Officer, Dutch Fund for Climate & Development
  • Green Finance for Sustainable Landscapes (GF4SL) – Land Finance Hub to link SMEs to finance: Andrew Wardell, Principal scientist, CIFOR-ICRAF
  • A new e-learning course on how to develop bankable business plans: Marco Boscolo, Forestry Officer, FAO
  • The commercial forest investment centre and key research done on forest financing in Kenya: Joram Kagombe, Deputy Director (Socio Economic Policy and Governance), KEFRI
  • Improving smallholder farmers’ access to credit by leveraging climate technology to reduce the transactions costs by financial institutions – The Climate Smart Lending Platform (CSLP): Federico Biadene, Senior East Africa Programme Associate, Partnership for Forests

Key conclusion and way forward 

15:30-16:00

COFFEE BREAK

 

Session II: Climate and Nature-Based Finance

 

Part 1 – Climate finance

 

  • Increase understanding of climate and nature finance opportunities in Africa and the potential of for forest and farm producer’s organization in exploring those opportunities 
  • Share perspectives on the roles, rights, responsibilities and benefits of FFPOs, government and investors in changing the trend of limited climate and nature-based finance getting to the ground and to facilitate increased, fit-for-purpose finance for farmers and local communities and shifting towards community-based financing mechanisms.
  • Create understanding of the potential for carbon financing in Africa

 

16:00-19:15

 

Moderator’s introduction: Stephen Muchiri, Executive Director, Eastern Africa Farmers’ Federation

Keynote speech – Overview on climate fund getting money to the ground: Duncan Macqueen, Principal Researcher and Team Leader on forests, IIED

16:15-16:55

Panel presentations

  • Speaker 1 Challenges and opportunities in international climate finance - Experiences in Western Africa: Imelda Agondanou, Network of Farmers and Producers' Organizations in West Africa (ROPPA)
  • Speaker 2 – Investor’s perspective in getting finance to the ground – Perceived risks and recommendations for accessing finance: Speaker TBC
  • Speaker 3 – Getting money where it matters - Experiences in Eastern Africa: Philip Kiriro, Board Member of Eastern Africa Farmers’ Federation (EAFF)
  • Speaker 4 – International Funding instruments - Experience of Dedicated Grant Mechanism (DGM): Dinara Akhmetova, Environmental and Natural Resources Management Specialist, World Bank Group

 

16:55-17:25

Mentimeter questions

Audience Q&A; Moderator’s wrap up

17:25-18:55

Part 2 – Carbon finance

Moderator’s interaction with audience (Mentimeter): Phosiso Sola, Scientist, CIFOR-ICRAF

Panel presentations

  • Speaker 1 – Investments in carbon financing: Investor’s perspective:  Caroline van Tilborg, Senior Carbon Investment Manager Climate Asset Management
  • Speaker 2 – Role and importance of standards for voluntary carbon markets: Viridiana Alcantara-Shivapatham, Manager Agriculture Innovation, VERRA
  • Speaker 3 – Opportunities for carbon markets in Africa: the role of governments: Anne Omambia, NEMA, Kenya
  • Speaker 4 – Success and challenges from a carbon project:  Elizabeth Mwiyeria, VI Agroforestry
  • Speaker 5 – How smallholder farmers/communities are engaging and benefiting from carbon investments and carbon markets?: Rose Nasambu Wabwile, Western Kenya (FFPO)

Interactive part and/Q&A, wrap up discussion

18:55-19:10

Briefing on the program of the field visit: Geoffrey Wanyama, Chief Executive Officer, Farm Forestry Smallholder Producers Association of Kenya (FF SPAK)

Day 2: Wednesday, 19 April 2023

Time
(GMT +3)

Description

Objectives

 

Team 1

Team 2

Team 3

-   Develop understanding of gaps in FFPOs’ access to finance and their strategies for bridging those gaps.

-   Learn scalable lessons from successful experience of FFPOs in managing and benefiting from their own finance services through Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs).

-   Become acquainted with the potentials of FFPOs to participate and benefit from carbon credit schemes.

-   Ascertain the importance of market access and contracts in improving finance to FFPOs.  

09:00-10:00

Travel to Gatura Muranga

Travel to Ndiko, Kiambu

Travel to Lari, Kiambu

10:00-10:30

Introductory Meeting

Introductory Meeting

Introductory Meeting

10:30-13:00

Visit to Lima Linda cooperative

Visit to Gatundu North Agrifrunuts Cooperative Society

Field Visit to Kefri-Muguga, KENVO, POs in Lari

13:00-14:00

LUNCH BREAK

14:00- 15:00

Meeting with County Officials

Field Visit

Field Visit

15:00-16:00

Travel back to Nairobi

Day 3 – Thursday, 20 April 2023

Time
(GMT +3)

Description

Objectives

08:15-09:30

Recap of Day 1: Philip Kisoyan, Natural Resource Management Officer/ GEF Focal Point/ National FFF Facilitator, FAO Kenya

Reflection on key lessons from the field trip lead by team leaders:

  • Team 1: Speakers TBC
  • Team 2: Speakers TBC
  • Team 3: Speakers TBC

 

 

  • Set the scene for remaining session of the event.
  • Highlight key lessons from the field trip.

 

09:30-10:00

COFFEE BREAK

 

Session III: FFPOs’ Internal Financing Mechanisms

10:00-10:35

 

Stage setting introduction to the session topic: Isabela Núñez del Prado Nieto, Researcher (forest finance), IIED

Keynote speech – topic TBC: Sifa Chiyoge, Regional Director and Chief Executive Officer, International Cooperative Alliance

 

  • Introduce and reflect on the capability of FFPOs themselves becoming significant investors and credit providers.
  • Shed light on both the sorts and pathway for FFPOs’ mobilised finance to guide and encourage replication by FFPOs in Africa and beyond

 

10:35-12:00

National and international Cases

  • Kenya case – We Effect initiatives in supporting internal finance mobilization: Maina Gakuru, Regional Programme Coordinator, WeEffect.
  • Ghana case – Jwa Ngwaane Credit Union (KANBAOCU): Mark Kebo Akparibo, Founder and Executive Seretary, Tele-Bere Green AgroFarms
  • Zambia case – MASOPO saving schemes and mobile money booths: Lozindaba Dauya, Relationship Manager, Zambia National Commercial Bank PLC (Zanaco)/ Tombozi Chalke, National Coordinator, Zambia National Forestry Commodities Association (ZNFCA)
  • Indian Case – SEWA Cooperative Bank: Smita Bhatnagar, Senior Coordinator, Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA)

Plenary and Q&A

12:00-13:00

LUNCH BREAK

Outcome of the 1st Roundtable on Finance with financial institution held Netherlands and next steps: Joost van Montfort, Director, Tropenbos International (TBI)

 

Session IV: Business Roundtable

13:00-13:30

Moderator’s introduction: James Mwai, Director, Gatsby Africa

1st Series: Wood Value Chain Business

  • Overview of issues in the wood value chain: George Muthike, Deputy Director, Forest Products Programme, KEFRI
  • Wood Business Case: Benjamin Karanja, Chairperson, TGAN

Panel discussion:

  • Panelist 1 – Finance sector: Wesley Rotich, Relationship Manager of Government & Public Sector, Co-operative Bank of Kenya
  • Panelist 2 – Research and development: Joshua Cheboiwa, Director, KEFRI
  • Panelist 3 – Policy sector: Alex Lemarkoko, Chief Conservator of Forest, KFS
  • Panelist 4 – Community of practice: Speaker TBC Kenya Association of Timber Manufacturers (Timber Merchant)

 

 

  • To showcase FFPOs-managed diversified products that are economically viable for value chain development and sustainable production, using selected examples.
  • To reflect on key requirements and opportunities for improving smallholder access to finance and support systems for development of smallholder producers’ value chains
  • To reflect on enabling environment for the value chains
  • To propose key actions to promote diversified value chains managed by FFPOs.

 

13:30-13:55

2nd Series – Avocado Value Chain Business

Avocado Business Case: John Mwangi, Chairperson, Lima Linda Coperative

Panel discussion:

By Panelist 1, Panelist 2 and Panelist 3 above. 

13:55-14:20

 

 

 

 3rd Series – Tree Nursery Value Chain Business

Tree Nursery Value Business Case: Jeanne de la croix Soavololona, Subnational General Secretary, FEKRITAMA Confederation 

Panel discussion:

By Panelist 1, Panelist 2 and Panelist 3 above. 

14:20-14:45

4th Series – Honey Value Chain Business

Honey Business Case: Damian Sulumo, Chief Executive Officer, Mtandao wa Vikundi vya Wakulima Mkoa wa Arusha (MVIWAARUSHA), Tanzania

Panel discussion:

By Panelist 1, Panelist 2 and Panelist 3 above. 

14:45:15:00

Moderated discussion among all panelists in the above series.

Session V: Working Groups on Information Hub

15:00-15:10

Introduction to the Working Groups (WGs) and link with relevant in-country activities setting the scene for discussion: Johny Zapata, Forestry Officer – Forest and Farm Facility, FAO

 

  • Introduce participants to key lessons from FFF business incubation activities in different national contexts to set the scene for WGs.
  • WGs to reflect on the key lessons and define priorities and strategies for potential business incubation and finance information hub.
  • WGs to propose workplans to guide post-event dialogue and actions for the establishment of business incubation and finance information hub.

 

15:10: 16:10

Parallel WG discussions by countries in Africa (Ghana, Madagascar, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia, etc.), supported by key stakeholders from the other national or regional contexts to find concrete answers to the following key questions:

  • What are three key take-aways (result, initiative, etc) from this regional event that can be applied in your country?
  • For each of these take-aways, what is the current status and what do you want to achieve?
  • Which are the five concrete actions that you will take for each take-away/initiative?
  • Which resources are available and needed for each action?
  • Who will be responsible of each action?

Group Facilitators: FFF National Facilitators for FFF countries and leads of FAO programmes in non-FFF countries (Uganda, Malawi, Mauritius, etc).

16:10-16:40

Plenary reporting back focusing on key action points: National FFF Facilitators

Summary of the next steps: Sophie Grouwels, Forestry Officer – Forest and Farm Facility, FAO

16:40-17:10

COFFEE BREAK

 

Closing Session

17:10-17:30

Summary of key messages and action points: Ravi Prabhu, Director General (Interim), ICRAF  

 

  • Underline the key messages and action points form the event.
  • Inaugurate a relevant platform in Kenya as an example for other countries.

 

17:30-17:40

Roadmap of Kenya Forestry Investments & Innovation Centre Platform: Ephantus Kimotho Kimani, Principal Secretary-Forestry Principal Secretary, MECCF

17:40-17:50

Official closure: Ephantus Kimotho, PS, State Department of Forestry, MECCF 

 

17:50

END OF EVENT