(German) Facilitation of the Congo Basin Forest Partnership (CBFP), 2020-2021: First CBFP Donor College Meeting under German Facilitation

On 04 June 2020, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) organized a first meeting of the CBFP Donor College. The meeting was held virtually.

 

Kindly download in PDF the Summary of the First CBFP Donor College Meeting under German Facilitation.

 

On 04 June 2020, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) organized a first meeting of the CBFP Donor College. The meeting was held virtually.

 

Chaired by the United States in their role as Co-Leader of the CBFP Donor College. The meeting was attended by 26 participants representing almost all members of the College.

 

SUMMARY:

 

Introductory remarks, Housekeeping & Strategic Planning

  • The United States confirm that they will continue their role as Co-Chair of the College of Donors of the CBFP.
  • Each member of the College is called upon to examine the possibility of standing as Co-Chair to succeed the EU alongside the US. Position to be filled at the next CBFP donors' meeting.
  • The reasons for the takeover of the CBFP Facilitation by Germany: Growing necessity to sustain its green investments in Africa and in the Central African sub-region by involving all actors concerned; Decisive years 2020 and 2021 for the countries of the Congo Basin in view of the international and EU-agenda and success in mobilizing a High-Level Facilitator: Dr Christian Ruck.
  • The strategic axes on which the CBFP Facilitation would focus during its mandate: Enhancing the international visibility of the Congo Basin, strengthening the follow-up of the transhumance and implementation of the “N’Djamena Declaration”, fight against poaching, and dialogue with China on both conservation and sustainable use of forest resources. Along these axes, interactions between and within the CBFP colleges will be stimulated and increased
  • Three meetings of the college of donors are planned per year.
  • As soon as the health situation (Covid-19) improves, new dates for CBFP meetings (Council and Meeting of Parties will be announced.
  • The deadline for contributions to the ongoing consultation process for developing a common position of the Congo Basin for the 2020 international events has been postponed to 01 July 2020. Each member of the Donor College is encouraged to contribute to it to share their thoughts, ideas and views on one or more issues.
  • The Facilitation works in close collaboration with ECCAS and COMIFAC. A reform of ECCAS, which will promote the clarification of roles between ECCAS and COMIFAC, is underway.

 

Transhumance:

  • The N’Djamena Declaration from January 2019 constitutes a first-time cross-sectoral and transboundary commitment of countries in the Sahel and Sahel-adjacent region to regulate transhumance and therewith the devastating effects of large-scale cattle herds on protected areas. The German facilitation wants to help translate the declaration into concrete action and push forward its implementation.
  • The geographical blocks resulting from the N'Djamena declaration are not delimited in time or space but are defined on the basis of the 'drivers' of transhumance, the sectors, the actors involved and cross-border crises.
  • There is need to set up a regional system for observing and monitoring transhumance, which would mobilise the different actors and sectors of the process.
  • An appeal was launched to donors to provide the necessary support for the operationalization of the programmatic logical framework and the road map of the geographical blocks, including political and diplomatic support. A statement on financial needs was compiled by the leaders of the three blocks and presented to donor college members.

 

Donor Mapping in the Congo Basin

  • The Donor mapping process is based on a January 2016 decision of the donors' college under the CBFP European Union Facilitation.
  • Enhanced understanding of ongoing activities is essential for donor efficiency, division of labour, coordination and synergies.
  • To date, the OFAC (Observatoire des forêts de l’Afrique Centrale) mapping platform has identified some 630 partner projects and programs with a financial volume of 6 billion euros.
  • The call was made for each donor representative to designate a Focal Point for OFAC who would facilitate the collection of data for encoding in the platform. OFAC reassured data security.

 

Dialogue with China

  • There is an importance of influencing the dialogue with China at the highest political level, particularly given the opportunities of this year's major summits and conferences.
  • Lobbying should focus on sustainability.
  • Another idea would be a "funding framework" - a kind of big "umbrella" for biodiversity funding "Hotspot Legacy Landscape".
  • A call was made for a donors' meeting dedicated exclusively to dialogue with China.

 

Impact of Covid-19 in the Congo Basin

 

  • CBFP is increasingly receiving requests from partners for support for the system of protected areas because of the impact of Covid-19. Joint action is needed to avoid the collapse of parks with potentially irreversible consequences on communities and wildlife. BMZ itself is discussing an emergency fund to buffer Covid-19 related impacts on protected areas.
  • A call is made to donors to share information on any planned activities in this area, given that there are different attempts by various donors in this context at present

 

Please, download the Document here below:

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