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The CAFI initiative roundtable

14 September 2024

The CAFI initiative roundtable: towards greater coordination to ensure the sustainability of projects in Central Africa

Libreville, September 12, 2024 - Mrs. Nathalie Nyare Essima, WWF Gabon National Director, and her team welcomed representatives of the British Government and local NGOs to the WWF Gabon offices.
The meeting provided an opportunity to assess progress made under the CAFI (Central Africa Forest Initiative) program. The Central Africa Forest Initiative is supported by several governments, including the UK, which is a key financial contributor and partner.  
The aim of the initiative is to recognize and preserve the value of the tropical forests of the Congo Basin in order to mitigate climate change, reduce poverty and contribute to sustainable development. This will be achieved through the implementation by countries of holistic low-carbon development investment frameworks that include policy reforms and national measures addressing the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation.

Highlights of this roundtable
  • Communication and coordination
The meeting highlighted significant communication challenges between program stakeholders. Recommendations were made to improve coordination and facilitate project implementation.
  •  NGOs involvement 
The more active involvement of local NGOs was highlighted as crucial to project success. Discussions focused on ways of structuring their role in the decision-making process to maximize their impact.
  • Project sustainability
One of the central topics of the meeting was the need to ensure that the CAFI initiative can continue to benefit local communities, once funding has ended. Stakeholders suggested several mechanisms to strengthen the initiative's sustainability beyond the funding period.
  • Taking regional particularities into account
Discussions highlighted the importance of adapting projects to the specificities of each region and landscape. It was agreed that the choice of intervention areas should take into account the specific problems of each region, in order to better target the actions to be carried out. This approach will optimize the impact of projects by taking into account local realities and the specific needs of communities. 

Next priorities
A number of priorities have been identified for the coming months:
  • Improve communication between program stakeholders.  
  • Adapting projects to the specific characteristics of the landscape.  
  • Strengthen the skills of local NGOs.  
  • Ensuring project sustainability by developing post-funding strategies.
WWF Gabon, in collaboration with its partners, continues to work on creating sustainable solutions to preserve Gabon's forests and support local communities.
 
Media Contact
Mélissa DONDYAS