Forest Connect Nepal Phase II

Starting Date:
April 1, 2011
Ending Date:
November 30, 2011
Location:
Nepal
Donor(s):
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Implementation Partner(s):
N/A

After the successful 3 years of first phase of Forest Connect Initiatives in Nepal from 2007 to 2010, ANSAB in partnership with FAO is implementing second phase of the the Forest Connect Nepal activities in Nepal.

This project, building on the past experience and considering the opportunities, challenges and constraints faced by SMFEs and producer’s groups, aims to continue to support SMFEs to create enabling policy environment, strengthen SMFEs including producer groups, and develop linkages among themselves and to responsible buyers and service providers to ensure their sustainability over the long run. ANSAB as a Forest Connect hub in Nepal also plans to disseminate its experience among the global Forest Connect members and other related development organizations through regular posting of outcomes and lessons in the FCN website.

The activities performed during this project period are:

  1. Facilitate the establishment of a bio-briquette producer association whose objective would be to build a sustainable and professional business system for the benefit of its members;
  2. Build the capacity of small and medium forest enterprises to carry out policy advocacy in order to address issues such as fees on privately grown non-timber forest products, commercialization, taxes, environmental impacts, trade and labour issues;
  3. Share information, knowledge and lessons learned about small and medium forest enterprises in Nepal with key stakeholders, including government agencies, through participation in meetings, workshops, policy fora and relevant enterprise networks;
  4. Prepare a narrative report analyzing and reflecting upon the experiences and outcomes of Forest Connect in Nepal.