The EU Forest Governance and Value Chains Programme (FGVC) is a key mechanism for implementing the Forest Partnerships established between the European Union and partner countries. These partnerships represent a significant global initiative, rooted in a shared responsibility to address the challenges facing forests—such as climate change, development needs, and agricultural expansion—while striving to ensure that forests fulfill their economic, social, and environmental roles. The Forest Partnerships aim to address forest protection, restoration, and sustainable management in a comprehensive and integrated manner, while also enhancing their contribution to sustainable and inclusive national development.

FGVC is designed to support on-the-ground actions that align with these goals, with a particular focus on legal compliance, governance, sustainable forest management, and tackling deforestation and forest degradation. It also prioritizes systems that verify and ensure compliance. Special emphasis is placed on promoting legal and sustainable forest-based production, trade, and value chains, as well as creating incentives and financing strategies for forest-related investments.

Drawing on successful experiences from the FAO-EU FLEGT Programme, FGVC emphasizes inclusive participation, a modular approach to systems development, and multi-stakeholder engagement. This approach aims to strengthen the involvement of local communities, Indigenous peoples, women, youth, and small-scale operators in forest governance and value chains.