The World Bank Forest Dependent Peoples Capacity Building Program on REDD+ Project Information Document/ Identification/Concept Stage (PID) Public Disclosure Copy Concept Stage | Date Prepared/Updated: 07-Mar-2018 | Report No: PIDC133263 Mar 07, 2018 Page 1 of 9 The World Bank Forest Dependent Peoples Capacity Building Program on REDD+ BASIC INFORMATION A. Basic Project Data Environmental Project ID Parent Project ID (if any) Project Name Assessment Category Forest Dependent Peoples P165655 C - Not Required Capacity Building Program on REDD+ Region Country Date PID Prepared Estimated Date of Approval AFRICA Africa 07-Mar-2018 Initiation Note Review Financing Instrument Borrower(s) Implementing Agency Decision Public Disclosure Copy Investment Project Central African Forests The review did authorize the COMIFAC Financing Commission preparation to continue Financing (in USD Million) SUMMARY -NewFin1 Total Project Cost 0.00 Total Financing 0.00 Financing Gap 0.00 DETAILS -NewFin2 B. Introduction and Context Country Context Deforestation and forest degradation are the second leading cause of global warming, responsible for about 15 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, which makes the loss and depletion of forests a significant climate change-related issue. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) 2015 Global Forest Resources Assessment estimates that the world's forests store 296 gigatons (Gt) of carbon in both above- and below-ground biomass. During the period 1990-2015, carbon stocks in forest biomass worldwide decreased by an estimated 11.1 Gt, mainly because of the conversion to other land uses and forest degradation. The highest densities of carbon are found in the forests of South America and West and Central Mar 07, 2018 Page 2 of 9 The World Bank Forest Dependent Peoples Capacity Building Program on REDD+ Africa, which is also where the most extensive forest area losses occurred in the 2011-2015 period. The Congo Basin forests represent a carbon stock of 24-39 Gt in the aboveground biomass alone. Avoiding deforestation and forest degradation in the Congo Basin will not only conserve the stored carbon, but will further generate other vital benefits for its 80 million inhabitants, such as conserving biodiversity, providing a buffer to climate change impacts, reducing and reversing land degradation, ensuring water services and preserving the lifestyle and culture of forest dependent peoples. Forest dependent peoples (FDP) include Indigenous Peoples/ Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved Traditional Local Communities who are dependent on the forest for historical, cultural, religious, and social reasons. Research has shown that Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) is a potentially effective way to reduce net emissions through increased carbon sequestration. Civil society, including forest dependent peoples, plays an increasingly important role in Central Africa in designing and implementing policies in all sectors and by doing so, contributes to achieve development goals Public Disclosure Copy and reduce poverty. REDD+ Readiness activities, in particular, involve a high degree of consultation amongst various stakeholders, including forest dependent peoples, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and the private sector. The participation of forest dependent peoples is therefore critical for REDD+. However, public participation in REDD+ requires a deep understanding of the objectives of REDD+, the related risks, and opportunities, and of FDPs' potential role in the process. Therefore, it is necessary to build capacities on the various technical aspects of REDD+ mechanisms and policies as well as on the organizational and institutional elements to strengthen the governance of forest dependent peoples’ networks and organizations. Sectoral and Institutional Context CEFDHAC and COMIFAC The Conference on Dense and Humid Ecosystems of Central Africa (CEFDHAC) was established by the Declaration of Brazzaville adopted by the Central African Forestry Ministers in 1996. CEFDHAC aims to promote the conservation and sustainable management of the Central African forests and serves as a sub- regional forum promoting dialogue, knowledge exchange, and collaboration between all stakeholders involved in the sector. Therefore, since 1996, CEFDHAC has been the joint platform to coordinate forest policies in Central Africa and regroups governments, parliamentarians, public administration, private sector actors, NGOs, and civil society organizations (including forest dependent peoples). In the Yaoundé Declaration of 1999, Central African heads of state recognized that the protection of the Congo Basin forest ecosystems was an integral part of the regional development process. In 2005, they adopted a treaty enacting the guidelines for increased harmonization of forest-related policies and establishing the Commission of Central African Forests (COMIFAC). COMIFAC was mandated with the guidance, coordination, and alignment of policies and decision-making in conservation and sustainable management of the forest ecosystems of its ten member states (Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sao Tome and Principe, Mar 07, 2018 Page 3 of 9 The World Bank Forest Dependent Peoples Capacity Building Program on REDD+ and Rwanda). To execute its mandate, COMIFAC drafted a Convergence Plan (2005-2015), which was updated in 2015 (2015-2025). The Council of Ministers of COMIFAC can rely on an Executive Secretariat, based in Yaoundé, to operationalize its decisions, and work collaboratively with CEFDHAC, as foreseen in the 2005 Treaty. In 2007, COMIFAC was recognized as the specialized organism of the Economic Community of the Central Africa States (ECCAS) for all activities related to forest and environment. While some CEFDHAC stakeholders created their own coordination bodies (such as COMIFAC for the government, the Congo Basin Forest Partnership for the donors, the private sector through its various professional organizations), other stakeholders started building sub-regional thematic networks under CEFDHAC. Thus, specialized networks were created under the umbrella of CEFDHAC for the following themes: Women, Indigenous Peoples, Youth, Parliamentarians, and Training institutes. Other networks are under creation but not officially registered as CEFDHAC's. Public Disclosure Copy The Regional Network of Local and Indigenous Populations for the Sustainable Management of Forest Ecosystems in Central Africa (REPALEAC) is one of those official CEFDHAC networks. Established in 2003, it represents over 200 Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities' organizations of eight Central African countries from both the sub-regional and the national levels. REPALEAC aims to promote the critical role played by Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in sustainable forest management. It recently established its Strategic Framework for 2017-2025 which sets its expectations for REDD+. FCPF The Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) is a global partnership of governments, businesses, civil society, and Indigenous Peoples launched in 2007 focused on facilitating the implementation of REDD+. It comprises 47 partner developing countries (18 in Africa, 18 in Latin America and the Caribbean, and 11 in the Asia- Pacific Region) and 17 financial contributors from both the public and private sectors. The FCPF has two complementary funding mechanisms: the Readiness Fund, which assists developing countries in preparing to participate in a future, large-scale system of positive incentives for REDD+; and the Carbon Fund for testing a program of performance-based incentive payments in pilot countries. The World Bank is the FCPF's Trustee as well as one of its Delivery Partners. A series of regional dialogues between the FCPF, Indigenous Peoples, and Civil Society's representatives led to the request and later the creation of the FCPF Capacity Building Program (CBP) to provide forest- dependent communities as well as civil society with (i) research and publication of knowledge products on REDD+; (ii) awareness raising on REDD+ policies, concepts, and processes; (iii) coordination, communication and information sharing systems within and across countries; (iv) collaboration between CSOs, FDCs’ organizations and national REDD+ decision makers; (v) recognition and respect for local knowledge that is critical in climate change adaptation and mitigation; and (vi) understanding of the threats to land tenure and local livelihoods in the context of REDD+. After being initially implemented directly by the World Bank in a first phase (2008-2016), the CBP is now implemented through regional intermediary organizations. In Africa, Phase II is currently executed by Mainyoito Pastoralist Integrated Development Organization (MPIDO, project P155373 for US$774,583, Mar 07, 2018 Page 4 of 9 The World Bank Forest Dependent Peoples Capacity Building Program on REDD+ approved in May 2016) and Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA, project P155374 for US$356,440, approved in April 2016). In March 2017, an additional US$ 5 million was allocated to the Program. For this additional resource, and following a request from representatives of Central Africa, it was proposed that COMIFAC would be added as a third intermediary for forest-dependent groups of Central Africa, building on the experience of an existing WB/GEF REDD+ regional project (project P113167). The proposed project seeks to finance the extended CBP Phase II for forest-dependent peoples in Central Africa for a total of US$ 750,000. The selected Recipient Organization for this project is the Central African Forests Commission (COMIFAC) based in Cameroon, and the beneficiaries are the constituents of REPALEAC based in Cameroon, DRC, RoC, CAR, and Gabon. Relationship to CPF Public Disclosure Copy This financing will support the REDD+ agenda which is included in each of the five countries' CPF. Each country has been significantly engaged in REDD+ and Climate Change related programs, namely the Forest Investment Programs, Readiness and/or Carbon Fund windows of the FCPF, and the Central African Forest Initiatives (CAFI). Some countries have even established an Emission Reduction Program area where they will develop the REDD+ jurisdictional approach. Table 1 below summarizes the status of the REDD+/Climate Change portfolio in each country: Phase 1 of REDD+: Readiness Phase 2 of REDD+: Phase 3 of REDD+: FCPF Readiness Fund / CAFI Investment Investment Result Based payments and ER- Country investment plan FIP (WB portfolio) / CAFI Program area preparation / FIP FCPF Carbon Fund (investment) Investment Plan preparation REDD+ Readiness Preparation grant for US$ 3.8 million; Invited into CF pipeline CAFI REDD+ Investment on 06.22.16. Cameroon Plan: US$ 380,000; FIP Investment Plan, US$ Letter of Intent signed 0.2 million; (P124293) CAR REDD+ Readiness for US$3.8 million and CAFI CAR N/A REDD+ Investment Plan for US$1 million (P156721) Mar 07, 2018 Page 5 of 9 The World Bank Forest Dependent Peoples Capacity Building Program on REDD+ FIP Investment for US$ 36,9 million + CAFI for Invited into CF pipeline US$ 18 million on 04.11.14 (P128887) REDD+ Readiness ER-PD selected into the DRC Preparation grant for US$ Forest Dependent Portfolio 04.11.14 Mai Ndombe 8.8 million Communities Support ERPA in negotiation Project for US$6 million + CAFI US$1.8million (P149 049) REDD+ Readiness Preparation grant for US$ Invited into CF pipeline 8.8 million; on 06.19.14 Public Disclosure Copy CAFI REDD+ Investment Investment Project for Sangha- RoC ER-PD selected into the Plan for US$ 620,000; US$ 51 million (P163361) Likouala FIP Investment Plan for Portfolio provisionally on US$250,000; 06.22.17 (P124292) Request for the Readiness Gabon Preparation grant N/A N/A submitted on 7/28/17 C. Project Development Objective(s) Proposed Development Objective(s) The Project Development Objective (PDO) is to increase the capacities of forest dependent peoples to participate in REDD+ processes and policies. Key Results The project will finance activities at the regional, sub-regional, national, and local level. It will target forest dependent peoples' networks and organizations and focus on their representativeness, their knowledge of REDD+ processes and policies, as well as on their communication, governance, and structuration. The financed activities will expand or complement the ones previously financed by P155373. Result: The following documents have been established and validated by the REPALEAC national and regional bodies: 1. Five national implementation plans to support REPALEAC's sub-regional Strategic Framework for the sustainable development of Indigenous Peoples (including financing plans and financing gaps) Mar 07, 2018 Page 6 of 9 The World Bank Forest Dependent Peoples Capacity Building Program on REDD+ 2. A national and regional roadmap for fundraising and partnerships; 3. A capacity building Plan for strengthening REPALEAC at the regional and national level, including the organizational capacities in order to be effectively involved in REDD+ activities. Additional knowledge management activities will be carried out with PACJA and MPIDO to promote pan- African collaboration. D. Preliminary Description Activities/Components The Forest Dependent Peoples Capacity Building Program on REDD+ Project will be financed through a US$ 750,000 Grant from the FCPF Capacity Building Program, and implemented by the Central African Forests Public Disclosure Copy Commission (COMIFAC), which is located in Cameroon. Financed activities will be grouped into the following three components: Component 1: Strengthening the Participation of Forest Dependent Peoples in REDD+ Policies (US$ 0.5 million) Sub-component 1a: Capacity Building and Improvement of Governance at National Level (US$ 0.3 million) Sub-component 1a will support capacity building activities and the improvement of governance of forest dependent peoples' organizations in each of the five FCPF eligible countries. The objective is to obtain the validation of national operationalization plans for the implementation of REPALEAC's strategic framework 2018-2025. These plans will be developed through national and local level activities with representatives of REPALEAC's national networks. In addition, when relevant, capacity building activities will be financed in the areas impacted by REDD+ investments (Emission Reduction Program areas) to enhance participation of local organization and the emergence of local leaders. Implementation Arrangement: This sub-component will be executed under the responsibility of COMIFAC, with the possibility for COMIFAC to subcontract or sign MOUs with REPALEAC's national network in each country, for the execution of a list of activities. Sub-Component 1b: Capacity Building and Improvement of Governance at Regional Level (US$ 0.2 million) Sub-component 1b will strengthen REPALEAC's institutional and organizational capacities to become a capable coordination body and the main counterpart for REDD+ consultations related to forest dependent peoples in the Congo Basin. In particular, it will help REPALEAC (i) convene regional workshops to evaluate, aggregate, and coordinate the national operationalization plans, (ii) effectively report at the international level on the participation of FDPs in the various national REDD+ processes based on the feedback from the Mar 07, 2018 Page 7 of 9 The World Bank Forest Dependent Peoples Capacity Building Program on REDD+ country-level constituents and (iii) set up an effective sub-regional coordination of FDPs activities related to REDD+ in Central Africa including arbitration, conflict resolution, and dissemination of lessons learned. Implementation arrangement: Sub-component 1b will be executed by COMIFAC, as a fiduciary agent, in coordination with REPALEAC, which would be in a steering role. Component 2: Knowledge Management and Program Coordination (US$ 0.25 million) Sub-component 2a: Knowledge Management (US$ 0.1 million) This sub-component will focus on the facilitation of knowledge exchange and management at the regional level between Anglophone and Francophone countries, if possible targeting the local leaders identified in the REDD+ programs areas. This will be achieved through regional activities with MPIDO and PACJA. Public Disclosure Copy Sub-component 2b: Program Coordination (US$ 0.15 million) This component will finance the overhead costs of the COMIFAC team that will manage the project during the 18-month project duration. Project management includes procurement, financial management, environmental and social safeguard compliance assurance, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and reporting, and preparation of annual work plans and budgets acceptable to the World Bank. This component will also finance an annual audit of the project account by an external auditor and any costs related to the execution of a grievance redress mechanism. M&E will take place at the project and national levels in accordance with the project's results framework using information which COMIFAC will collect. COMIFAC will synthesize the information into quarterly progress reports which it will submit to the World Bank. SAFEGUARDS E. Safeguard Policies that Might Apply Safeguard Policies Triggered by the Yes No TBD Project Environmental Assessment OP/BP 4.01 X Natural Habitats OP/BP 4.04 X Forests OP/BP 4.36 X Pest Management OP 4.09 X Physical Cultural Resources OP/BP 4.11 X Indigenous Peoples OP/BP 4.10 X Involuntary Resettlement OP/BP 4.12 X Mar 07, 2018 Page 8 of 9 The World Bank Forest Dependent Peoples Capacity Building Program on REDD+ Safety of Dams OP/BP 4.37 X Projects on International Waterways X OP/BP 7.50 Projects in Disputed Areas OP/BP 7.60 X CONTACT POINT World Bank Contact : Loic Jean Charles Braune Title : Sr Natural Resources Mgmt. Spe Telephone No : 473-9639 Email : Public Disclosure Copy Borrower/Client/Recipient Borrower : Central African Forests Commission Contact : Raymond Ndomba Ngoye Title : Executive Secretary Telephone No : 237699027067 Email : ndombangoyeraymond@yahoo.fr Implementing Agencies Implementing COMIFAC Agency : Contact : Raymond Ndomba Ngoye Title : Executive Secretary Telephone No : 237699027067 Email : ndombangoyeraymond@yahoo.fr FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT The World Bank 1818 H Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20433 Telephone: (202) 473-1000 Web: http://www.worldbank.org/projects Mar 07, 2018 Page 9 of 9