Emerging Opportunities under REDD+ to address drivers of D&FD Based on the Direct Drivers of Deforestation and Forest Degradation, the R-PP includes preliminary REDD+ Strategic Options for each of the sectors. These are summarized in the following table: Table 3. Preliminary Strategic REDD+ Options FORESTRY SECTOR AGRICULTURE SECTOR ENERGY SECTOR MINING SECTOR Raising commercial logging standards; Reducing logging area footprint; Regulating and managing chainsaw logging (with a new regulatory structure for chainsaw logging about to be set in place) Integrating Conservation and Protected Areas into REDD and acceleration of the timeline (whilst Liberia has committed through policy and legislation to allocate 30% of forest area to protected areas, there is a shortfall of 894,000 ha. plan is needed to fill this gap). Enhancement of carbon loading in degraded forest areas, focusing on indigenous species / forest rehabilitation Transforming the shift from cultivation into permanent or semi-permanent agriculture (moving to a more efficient agricultural system in order to reduce land use and forest degradation) Ensuring that plantation and permanent agriculture development is located on degraded forest lands with lower carbon content Carbon stock enrichment of barren land through timber crop planting (tree crops instead of other agricultural products), including commercial tree species (linked to forest sector) Regulating and managing wood fuel energy Introducing more efficient kilns and cooking stoves Mainstreaming of environmental and social concerns in the mining sector Promoting certification for sustainable mining During the war years and before commercial logging was blocked by the imposition of UN timber sanctions, the Forest Development Authority (FDA) practiced a weak regulatory oversight which sanctioned unsustainable logging. The country’s forest reform process has set in place the policy, legal, and institutional environment to combat these direct drivers of D&FD on the supply side. One of the key instruments is the Chain of Custody for commercial forestry. In addition, the Community Rights Law (2009) has laid ground for an equitable distribution of benefits from forest resources and empowering of local forest communities.
The MPEA will be the key link between the Policy and Coordination levels, as this institution co-chairs the RTWG and is also part of NCCS. In general, institutions that are involved in the component’s implementation also have representation at the policy and coordination levels. FCPF grant support The FCPF will contribute to the funding for the National Readiness Management Arrangement Activities. The FCPF will support, with the technical oversight of the FDA, technical assistance, goods, workshops, training, services, and operational costs for the following: Operational expenditures to support the functions of the Technical Working group (RTWG), the National Climate Change Committee Secretariat (NCCS) and the implementation groups and task forces (meetings and dissemination of reports) Recruitment of an administrative assistant for the National Climate Change Secretariat Recruitment of a Coordinator for the REDD+ Technical Working Group (to provide TA under the supervision of the FDA focal point) Capacity strengthening activities for the NCCSC and RTWG and other agencies involved in REDD+ coordination Equipment support for REDD+ management entities. 1.2. Information Sharing and early dialogue with Key stakeholder groups (US$0.25 million) Context The government has conducted a social mobilization campaign that shares information and raises awareness on REDD+ and the R-PP to all the relevant stakeholders. During the formulation phase, an extensive information sharing and awareness campaign on REDD+ and the R-PP process was conducted with the relevant stakeholders. Furthermore, participatory bodies and conflict resolution and management mechanisms were discussed and identified. Moreover, a consultation and participation task force (C+P) was established under the national RTWG to be primarily responsible for driving the information-sharing and awareness campaign on REDD+ and the R-PP process. The composition of the task force consists of representatives from civil society, IUCN, FFI, youth organization, the Ministry of Gender and Development, EPA, and FDA. Before the commencement of the information sharing process, the RTWG together with the C+P taskforce, conducted a vigorous stakeholder mapping exercise to identify the key stakeholders contributing to the drivers of deforestation, stakeholders who have an interest or stake in REDD+, and those that are mostly likely to lose from this initiative. An initial plan was put in place to conduct a nation-wide social mobilization and awareness campaign for the REDD+ process. This Plan is included in Annex IV. Section D.3 Consultation, Participation, and
Landlessness and Unclear Allocation Rights. The salient fact about tenure in post-conflict Liberia is that ongoing conflicts and confusion concerning land claims based on customary law have not been systematically reconciled with land and resources ownership and remain a under the auspices of the new Land Commission, set up in 2009. In October 2009, the Community Rights Law (CRL) was enacted, but its regulatory structure has not yet been approved. The uncertainty attached to tenure and land use rights potentially generates several “unknowns” relating to the allocation of potential benefits from REDD+, and in regard to land management responsibilities. Competing allocations or unclear boundaries result in conflict and this has led to forest loss and a potential failure to receive eventual REDD+ funds/credits. Mitigation measures: Different land uses need to be identified, zoned and demarked, using a participatory process and resulting in clear boundaries, rules, and beneficiaries. The Land Commission’s work (represented in the RTWG) will be critical in clarifying forest ownership and providing an equitable basis for benefits from carbon revenues. A short-term consultant will be recruited to work for the project within the Commission. In addition, the project will work together with a land administration project. Issues related to land tenure will be analyzed in the SESA; however, the grant will not be able to resolve any land tenure issues and will only point out the existing problems that will arise from unsolved land tenure. Complex implementation arrangements and sustainability. The 3-level management structure for REDD+ in Liberia would become ineffective and unsustainable if it presents excessive and unnecessary bureaucracy, lack of adequate coordination, and weak capacity to sustain the progress achieved. Mitigation measures: The technical assistance provided by the grant will support capacity strengthening for the agencies, working groups, and secretariats in charge of coordinating, advising, and implementing the project. Compliance with social and environmental safeguards. In Liberia, weak capacity can risk the ability to implement the SESA and ensure that social and environmental risks identified are effectively mitigated. Mitigation measures: Capacity building and training will be included to undertake the SESA and the associated ESMF. Sustainability of data collection. Data collection and dissemination could not be sustained after the completion of the grant’s activities. Mitigation measures: The grant will help ensure that the information generated and collected, as part of the REDD+ readiness process, can be made available and become a
liable for bribery, it is difficult for bribery to be reported. The Act also provides for the compilation and publication of code of conduct for procuring entities, public officials, and their representatives and, further, provides for administrative and judicial reviews. In response to the PPCA, the FDA as a procurement entity has the required structures, i.e., a procurement unit and a procurement committee. Further, whenever there is a process that involves competition, ad hoc evaluation panels are set up to evaluate bids and make recommendations to the Procurement Committee, as required by law. The procurement and supply management functions are clearly distinguished, and FDA has auditing arrangements in-house. In addition, it has clear technical and administrative controls for reviews, approvals, and decision making. Currently, the FDA Procurement Unit is made up of four staff. It is headed by a General Service Manager who has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. He is ably supported by a procurement advisor who has a master’s degree in project management and with experience in donor procurement procedures. There are two other procurement staff who are degree holders and have attended the World Bank procurement procedures course in Goods and Consultancy at GIMPA. The FCPF grant will finance the recruitment of a procurement specialist as indicated above. The designations, qualifications, and procurement training of FDA staff are as shown in the table below. # Designation Qualifications Procurement Training 1. General Services Manager Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting, minor in Economics World Bank procurement procedure course in Selection of Consultants, GIMPA 2. Procurement Advisor MBA in Project Management. Advanced Diploma in International Business Administration. Certificate in Public and Private Sector Procurement and Contract Management, Basra, Iraq 3. Procurement Officer BSc in Sociology Certificate in purchasing & Supply, Modern Management Institute, Nairobi, Kenya. World Bank procurement course in Goods and Equipment/Selection of consultants at GIMPA 4. Procurement Assistant Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice, Public Administration minor World Bank procurement course in Goods and Equipment/Selection of consultants at GIMPA To date, FDA has gained some experience in donor-funded projects by their management of the COPAN project, where they used shopping and NCB procedures in the procurement of goods and consultants. FDA also follows the directions of a PPCA-based internally prepared “Manual of Internal Controls: Procedures to Ensure the Accuracy and Integrity of Financial Transaction,” which provides some guidance on procurement. Record keeping is quite good for the procurement activities undertaken; this includes records on contracts and shopping. Further,
Preparation Risk Rating: High (Note for information: this section is not disclosed at negotiation and Board presentation stages) 7.2 Implementation Risk Rating: High Comments: (Note for information: this section is not disclosed at negotiation and Board presentation stages) Comments: Annex II Preparation Schedule and Resource Estimate Preparation Schedule Dates Milestone Basic Forecast Actual AIS Release From system From system From system Concept Review From system From system From system
spatial data on - environment and, - social issues 1.5.2 Spatial mapping of - forest, biodiversity hotspots, river basins, main infrastructure projects - forest dependent communities, activities undertaken in forest areas, use and access rights to forest and land A GIS data base and progress report that includes maps and key environmental and social issues 150 - Key intersection point with preparation of reference scenario - Update of data on forests canopy mapping will be undertaken through a separate contract -Include community based participatory mapping as needed 1.5.3 Case and valuation studies in selected forest areas Case studies reports 1.5.3 Report on key environmental and social issues Report submitted 40 1.6 Prioritization of E&S issues 1.6.1 Review and prioritization by selected communities in critical areas Consultant / EPA – FDA Months17 – 19 Community consultation report 100 - Key intersection point to coordinate consultations with the REDD+ strategy options 1.6.2 Regional validation by community representatives Month 20 Regional validation report 50 Likely to be workshops 1.6.3 Review and prioritization by institutional stakeholders Months 21-22 Institutional consultation report 30 Likely to be focus groups