Strategic Priority Areas (2019-2023)
AFoCO adheres to the core values of partnership, member-driven, competency, transparency, equity, and sustainability in delivering the actions under the Strategic Priorities. The strategic priorities over the five years (2019-2023) are to contribute to the member countries in:
- Achieving the global goal of increasing forest cover by up to 3% worldwide
- Implementing the Paris Agreement on climate change particularly in pursuit of policy approaches for adaptation in the forestry sector
- Improving livelihoods and incomes through forestry-related activities
The Strategic Plan (2019-2023) can be accessed here.
Initiating customized restoration & reforestation models
Supporting research and development in climate change adaptation
Introducing systematic management of forest-related disasters
Local livelihood improvement & community-based enterprise development
Strengthening institutional capabilities, diversifying resources, & promoting regional actions
Initiating customized restoration & reforestation models
- Establishment of locally customized restoration and reforestation models in target communities
- Adoption and application of such models in a balanced and integrated approach of forest landscape restoration for the benefit of target communities, natural habitats, and forest ecosystem
Expected Outcomes
- Restoration and reforestation models which are simple, scalable and customized to local context are established, contributing to the regional/international goals of increasing forest areas and enhancing forest ecosystem services.
- Capacity of the member countries are enhanced with improved skills, capabilities, governance systems and policies to tap their full potential in accomplishing their national restoration and rehabilitation goals to the level required to meet present and future demand for forest-based products and services.
Supporting research & development in climate change adaptation approaches
- Implementation of scientific studies on forestry adaptation approaches
- Policy adoption of vulnerable member countries to apply relevant adaptation methodologies and approaches
Expected Outcomes
- Forests and forest-dependent people in the affected area are provided with an enhanced level of resilience to the risks posed by climate change.
- Adequate and timely technical and policy supports in terms of climate change adaptation are mobilized and made available to member countries, in particular for those most vulnerable to the risks of climate change.
- Forest-based adaptation approaches are well documented and implemented in coordination with other upstream adaptive and preventive strategies and contribute to increasing climate resilience for a wider society.
Introducing systematic management on forest-related disasters
Proven fire-related disaster management technologies and integrated systems will be introduced. AFoCO will target disaster-prone areas such as hotspots of forest fires and landslides and carry out projects that cover both preventive and control measures such as forest fire monitoring and management, erosion and landslide control, the establishment of demonstration sites, and capacity building activities.
- Establishment of demonstration sites for control and management of forest-related disasters
- Application of technology-based preventive and control measures where appropriate
Expected Outcomes
- Member countries are well equipped with management systems and capacities for preventing, monitoring, and suppressing/controlling various types of forest-related disasters.
- Forest disaster management in member countries are better aligned and connected to wider networks of disaster risk reductions and capacity building opportunities for forest-related disaster management.
Local livelihood improvement & community-based small enterprise development
- Identification and implementation of best practices on payments for ecosystem services, ecotourism, and community-based enterprise development in target areas
- Promoting relevant policy adoption in target countries
Expected Outcomes
- Forest resources are managed sustainably through enhanced community-based forestry (CBF) to reduce deforestation and forest degradation, ensure the protection of natural habitats, wildlife and biodiversity besides the improvement of local income and productive function of the forest in member countries.
- Livelihoods of forest-dependent communities are improved through enhanced capacity in payment of forest ecosystem services, ecotourism, product diversification, and community-based small enterprise development (CBED).
Strengthening institutional capabilities, diversifying resources, & promoting regional actions
AFoCO will explore alternative funding sources to continue efforts. Identify common issues and challenges among Member Countries, and engage in international fora and dialogues to promote common interests and positions at the global level.
- Strengthening institutional capabilities to address diverse socio-economic settings among the members
- Expanding collaboration with other organizations
Expected Outcomes
- AFoCO operates at full capacity supported by adequate human resources and financial resources to materialize a shared vision with its members by delivering intended impacts, successfully mobilizing necessary resources and creating synergies with existing mechanisms.
- AFoCO acts as a regional forum to support regional forest policy processes and contributes advancement of sustainable forest management in the region.
Developing the Strategy
AFoCO is currently preparing for the development of its next strategic plan. The strategy development process will involve the extensive engagement of member countries and various other key stakeholders to ensure that the new strategy and AFoCO’s operations are better aligned with the national priorities and interests of AFoCO Parties and win more buy-ins thereon.
Annual Thematic Dialogue
The Annual Thematic Dialogue is a dialogue session and platform for forward-looking discussions among AFoCO and its member countries to inform the strategic planning process and programming for the coming years (Decision 34-IV-20R). This activity also aims to harvest the interest of member countries to facilitate AFoCO’s contribution to regional and global environmental benefits, engage diverse stakeholder groups to make AFoCO’s operations relevant to on-going policy processes and contexts in the member countries. The Annual Thematic Dialogue is organized as annual event back-to-back with the regular session of the AFoCO Assembly, with a theme-based discourse on strategically timely and relevant topics.
