Tanzania

This training workshop on Enhanced Participation of Stakeholders in National Forest Programme (NFP) processes was conducted jointly between the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Forestry and Beekeeping Division (FBD) and FAO and the NFP Facility from 5 - 10 October 2008. The training was aimed at building the capacity of 18 participants from the government (Forestry and Beekeeping Division, Department of Commercial Crops, Fruits and Forestry – Zanzibar and Vice President Office – Environment), Civil Society Organizations, Small Medium Sawmill, Private Sector in the practical application of the principle of participation in national forest programmes.

A reflection on the Tanzania’s National Forestry and Bee Keeping Programme (NFBKP) enabled a critical examination of gaps and areas that require further improvements in enhancing the participation of key stakeholders.

Participants for the training workshop recommended that FBD considers a more balance representation of stakeholder groups and gender balance in future similar activities. The Director in his closing remarks reiterated the Participants pledge to utilize the skills learnt in the forth-coming process of reviewing the NFP/National Forestry and Bee Keeping Programme and in the development of the National REDD strategy.

As a first pilot training on this subject, it was successful in developing skills and orienting attitudes of key stakeholders to understand the value of collaborative processes.