Information workshop on IPLC Forest Facility in the Democratic Republic of Congo
The Rainforest Foundation Norway recently organized an information workshop in Mbandaka to present a new mechanism for accessing funds called the IPLC Forest Facility (IFF) in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The objective of this event was to raise awareness among local actors of this fund dedicated to local communities and indigenous peoples, with the aim of preserving the country’s high integrity forests.
The workshop took place from July 3 to 4 and brought together participants from Equateur Province, a region known for its rich forests. Kevin Sasia, Senior Program Manager, stressed the importance of holding this workshop in a province where local actors actively contribute to the conservation and protection of biodiversity.
The IPLC Forest Facility has a national scope and aims to support projects for the conservation and sustainable management of forest resources in two pilot areas: Equateur Province and Eastern DRC. It gives a central place to local communities and indigenous peoples in its governance in order to promote their ownership of the mechanism.
Patrick Saidi, coordinator of the Dynamics of Indigenous Peoples Groups (DGPA), expressed his confidence in this new fund, stressing that community conservation is not currently sufficiently supported. He hopes the IPLC Forest Facility will strengthen and consolidate conservation efforts led by local communities.
The IPLC Forest Facility will provide direct support to community forestry, protected area management and land use planning projects. This support will be provided in close collaboration with provincial and local authorities. Simplified and innovative procedures will be put in place to facilitate the awarding and monitoring of small grants, thus allowing interested communities to more easily access these funds.
The involvement of local actors is essential for the success of this mechanism. A focal point will be recruited at the landscape level to act as a link between the various stakeholders and ensure efficient execution of the projects.
During the workshop, the aspirations and expectations of each stakeholder were collected to guide the implementation of the IPLC Forest Facility. The participants expressed their desire to see this fund make a real contribution to the preservation of their forests and hope that its implementation will begin soon