REDD+ project in Côte d’Ivoire: Forest restoration, reforestation and reduced deforestation through zero- deforestation agriculture
Côte d’Ivoire | United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
9 September 2016
REDD+ project in Côte d’Ivoire: Forest restoration, Project/Programme Title: reforestation and reduced deforestation through zero- deforestation agriculture
Country/Region: Côte d’Ivoire
Accredited Entity: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
National Designated Authority: Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable development
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Please submit the completed form to [email protected]
A. Project / Programme Information REDD+ project in Côte d’Ivoire: Forest restoration, reforestation and reduced A.1. Project / programme title deforestation through zero-deforestation agriculture A.2. Project or programme Project A.3. Country (ies) / region Côte d’Ivoire A.4. National designated Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable development authority(ies) A.5. Accredited entity United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Executing Entity: UNDP and REDD+ Permanent Executive Secretariat
Beneficiary: (i) 50,000 small cocoa farmers, 10,000 small rubber producers and A.6. Executing entity / 10,000 small oil palm farmers; (ii) 5,000 cashew nut producers; (iii) 3,000 female beneficiary food crop farmers; (iv) 2,000 young nursery owners and charcoal producers; (v) 3,000 farmers and livestock breeders from Zanzan District; (vi) more than 100 farmers’ cooperatives and 50 environmental and human rights NGOs (vii) 600,000 rural communities. A.7. Access modality Direct ☐ International ☒ A.8. Project size category (total investment, million Micro (≤10) ☐ Small (10
A.9. Mitigation / adaptation Mitigation ☒ Adaptation ☐ Cross-cutting ☐ focus A.10. Public or private PPP Which of the following targeted results areas does the proposed project/programme address? Reduced emissions from: □ Energy access and power generation (E.g. on-grid, micro-grid or off-grid solar, wind, geothermal, etc.) A.11. Results areas □ Low emission transport (mark all that apply) (E.g. high-speed rail, rapid bus system, etc.) □ Buildings, cities, industries and appliances (E.g. new and retrofitted energy-efficient buildings, energy-efficient equipment for companies and supply chain management, etc.) ☒ Forestry and land use (E.g. forest conservation and management, agroforestry, agricultural irrigation, water treatment and management, etc.)
1 Please use the following naming convention for the file name: “[CN]-[Agency short name]-[Date]-[Serial number]” (e.g. CN-ABC-20150101-1).
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Increased resilience of: □ Most vulnerable people and communities (E.g. mitigation of operational risk associated with climate change – diversification of supply sources and supply chain management, relocation of manufacturing facilities and warehouses, etc.) □ Health and well-being, and food and water security (E.g. climate-resilient crops, efficient irrigation systems, etc.) □ Infrastructure and built environment (E.g. sea walls, resilient road networks, etc.) □ Ecosystems and ecosystem services (E.g. ecosystem conservation and management, ecotourism, etc.)
A.12. Project / programme 5 years life span A.13. Estimated Start: 2017 implementation start and End: 2022 end date
B. Project/Programme Details The Fund requires the following preliminary information in order to promptly assess the eligibility of project/programme investment. These requirements may vary depending on the nature of the project/programme. I Background and Justification 2 Côte d’Ivoire, with a population of 22.6 million inhabitants , is classified as a low human development country (with an estimated Human Development Index (HDI) value of 0.462; 0.410 for women and 0.507 for men3). Since 2011, the country has been emerging from a decade of armed and political conflicts that destabilized the economy, destroyed the social fabric and worsened the degradation of the environment, notably natural resources and living conditions of the population. Implementation of the first National Development Plan (PND 2012-2015) helped the country to achieve an average growth rate of 9.4% between 2012 and 2015. This growth was driven, among others, by exports of agricultural raw materials. The main cash crops in Côte d’Ivoire are cocoa and coffee, accounting for 15% of GDP, one-third of value-added and 46% of the country’s total exports. With 36% of global cocoa exports and 4% of coffee production, Côte B.1. Project / programme d’Ivoire is the first and third largest exporter of these products, respectively (MINEF, description (including 2016). Rubber and palm oil are also major export commodities. Since 2015, Côte objectives) d’Ivoire has become the world’s largest exporter of cashew nuts, followed by India.
In spite of the progress achieved, the country is still facing serious challenges, highlighted in the second National Development Plan (NDP 2016 to 2020). These challenges include inclusive growth in the pursuit of sustainable development and resilience in the fight against climatic change. Agriculture and forestry are two of the sectors where efforts need to be made to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions; sectors that are critical for the country’s economic transformation and the fight against poverty. Forests in Côte d’Ivoire are in a very advanced state of degradation, with the country losing approximately 200,000 ha of forest each year. The surface area of the dense forest that was valued at 16 million ha in 1900 is estimated today at less than 2 million ha, excluding national parks and forest reserves2. A UNEP report (2015)3 on the post-conflict situation in Côte d’Ivoire indicates that the severe and on-going deforestation is due mainly to the
2 Plan National de Développement (PND 2016-2020) : Tome 1 (Diagnostic Stratégique de la Côte d’Ivoire sur la trajectoire d’émergence) - http://www.gcpnd.gouv.ci/fichier/doc/pnd2016-2020.pdf 3 http://www.unep.org/newscentre/default.aspx?DocumentID=26844&ArticleID=35453&l=en
PROJECT / PROGRAMME CONCEPT NOTE GREEN CLIMATE FUND | PAGE 3 OF 43 conversion of gazetted forests into farmland. Agricultural activities encroach into more than 50% of gazetted forests (SODEFOR, 2015). Lack of land tenure security was also highlighted as contributing to deforestation during a forestry forum organized in 2015.
II Policies and regulatory framework governing land use National Development Programme (NDP 2016-2020) The 2016-2020 NDP, cognizant of all these concerns, is aspiring for Côte d’Ivoire’s emergence by 2020 with a solid industrial base. Another pillar of the new vision for the country is poverty reduction and a more equitable redistribution of the proceeds of growth, especially to the most marginalized and vulnerable people. The strategy for the economy’s structural transformation is based on competitiveness, processing of raw materials and exports. The 2016-2020 NDP thus focuses, among others, on: (i) increasing the rate of processing agricultural raw materials; (ii) diversifying the industrial production system by promoting industrial manufacturing; (iii) improving the living conditions of the people by developing quality economic infrastructure and addressing all concerns relating to land-use planning and environmental protection.
Forest policy and regulations The 2014 Forest Code (Law No.14-427 of 14 July 2014) has replaced the 1965 forest code which was no longer suited to the socio-economic, technical and environmental requirements of Côte d’Ivoire. This instrument contains new rules, provides a new definition for forest6 and recognizes the various socio-economic, educational, touristic, scientific and environmental dimensions of the forest. It also outlines the objectives for restoring and preserving forest resources (forest cover of at least 20% of the total surface area of the country). This law intends to improve sustainable resource exploitation by promoting eco-tourism and biomass use among other things and has provisions for reviving the industry and woodcraft.
Environmental policy The country’s legal framework was enriched with the Environment Code (1996), the Water Code (1998) and a series of environmental laws and regulations. The objective of the environmental policy is to promote a healthy and sustainable environment and preserve natural resources. Specifically, to: (1) seek ways to simultaneously address economic development problems and poverty reduction without exhausting or further degrading natural resources; (2) preserve or restore the capacity of ecosystems to provide the goods and services essential for sustaining economic activity; (3) improve the quality of life and living conditions of the local people.
Agricultural policy The National Agriculture Investment Programme (NAIP) of Côte d’Ivoire intends to define the development actions considered indispensable for poverty reduction. NAIP was developed using the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper and the 1992-2015 Agricultural Development Master Plan (ADMP), which were national reference documents when they were drafted. Sector strategy papers (forest sector and sub- sector strategies) were also used to identify six key programmes: (i) improvement of crop productivity and competitiveness; (ii) sector development; (iii) improvement of agriculture sector governance; (iv) capacity building for agriculture development stakeholders; (v) sustainable management of fishery resources; and (vi) rehabilitation of forests and the wood industry. Annex 1.5 presents an overview of the agricultural projects that are in line with the REDD+ National Strategy.
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Land policy The main legal texts governing land ownership are: • Law No 98-750 of 23 December 1998, as amended by the law of 28 July 2004 relating to rural land tenure and its enabling instruments. This law defines the essentials of the country’s rural land tenure policy, notably: o Recognition of rural customary land ownership rights and the possibility of official certification of ownership of the said land by its current occupants; o Association of village authorities and rural communities in the management of rural lands, especially in determining customary property rights and transforming such rights into official ownership. o Decree No 99-593 of 13 October 1999, to organize and define the attributions of the Rural Land Management Committee (RLMC) responsible, in theory, for land management, chaired by divisional officers. In reality, neither of these committees were ever set up, or if they were, they are not operational.
• Law No 2013-655 of 13 September 2013, relative to the deadline for establishing customary land rights and to amend Section 6 of Law No 98-750 of 23 December 1998 relating to rural land, as amended by law No. 2004-412 of 14 August 2004. This law extends by 10 years the period during which customary rights over rural land can be established following the continuous and peaceful use of the said land.
• Since 2006, the EU has provided Côte d'Ivoire financial support of €30-40M to implement its land tenure security law. The EU is also funding some pilot projects on land tenure, prioritizing a sector approach and cooperation between the public and private sectors. This is in line with ‘Operation 1 rubber plantation = 1 land certificate’ that was launched in November 2004.
Climate change policy - Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) Within the framework of COP21 that took place in Paris in 2015, all countries published an Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) to show measures taken to reduce GHG emissions. In Cote d’Ivoire’s INDC, seven sources of GHG emissions were identified: power production, transport, industry, energy supply, buildings, agriculture and waste. In 2012, total emissions were estimated at 16 million tCO2e, with agriculture alone accounting for 38% and power production 22%. Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) did not appear in Cote d’Ivoire’s INDC since no data were available at the time it was drafted. However, it is specifically identified as a major source of emissions (and mitigation potential) in the UNFCCC National Communication, as well as in the REDD+ National Strategy. The volume of annual emissions from LULUCF, based on a deforestation rate of 200,000 ha/year, from an average above-ground biomass carbon content of 47% (IPCC default value) and a C-C02 to 44/12 ratio, is estimated at 7 8 between 22 to 45 million tCO2e , depending on the density of the forest destroyed . Emissions caused by deforestation and forest degradation therefore account for 57-73% of the country’s GHG emissions, or 3.6 to 7.3 times the volume of emissions from agriculture. Since they are markedly higher than all the other emissions calculated in the INDC, LULUCF is the main source of emissions in Côte d'Ivoire. As such, it is intended to be included in the NDC, to which it will directly contribute.
REDD+ process and stakeholder commitment in Côte d’Ivoire Côte d’Ivoire adheres to the international process under the UNFCCC for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+). The government affirmed its strong political commitment by setting up a REDD+ National Committee (CN-REDD+) by Decree in 2012 and promised to produce “zero-deforestation cocoa
PROJECT / PROGRAMME CONCEPT NOTE GREEN CLIMATE FUND | PAGE 5 OF 43 from 2017” during the United Nations Summit on climate change in New York in 2014. Côte d’Ivoire became a member of two international platforms that provide technical and financial support to REDD+: the UN-REDD Programme (and FAO/UNDP/UNEP partnership) and the FCPF (World Bank). In addition, Côte d’Ivoire has been receiving assistance from the French Development Agency (AFD) since 2013 under the Debt Reduction – Development Contract (C2D). Efforts have also been made to involve non- State actors (civil society organizations and the private sector) in the process. Hence, synergy was sought with the FLEGT process and a joint FLEGT/REDD+ civil society platform was set up. FLEGT (Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade) is an action plan that Côte d’Ivoire is negotiating with the European Union to stop illegal forest exploitation through good forest governance. Lastly, media actors have formed a network to support the process through information, education and awareness-raising on REDD+ The REDD+ National Strategy (NS), which will be finalized and endorsed politically at a high level in October 2016, has identified the following seven strategic options: (i) Development of zero-deforestation agriculture; (ii) Development of a local energy strategy based on the use of biomass and renewable energy; (iii) FLEGT and the sustainable management of forests and protected areas; (iv) Reforestation of Savannahs and rebuilding of carbon stocks in degraded forests; (v) Environmentally friendly mining; (vi) Land development and promotion of a land tenure policy; (vii) National planning and structural reforms for a greener economy.
This strategy addresses issues of deforestation, forest degradation and the barriers to the implementation of the ‘+’ activities (conservation, enhancement of forest carbon stocks and sustainable management of forests) with the objective of stabilizing the national forest cover at 20% of the total surface area of the country to ensure a hydro- climatic and ecological balance, a prerequisite for sustainable development.
Figure 1 presents a geographical representation of the REDD+ Policies and Measures (PAMs) identified in the NS.
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Figure 1. Presentation of REDD+ PAMs in the various geographic areas and ecosystems in Côte d’Ivoire
III GCF project description The GCF project is based on the results of findings from the projects and initiatives mentioned above and will be implemented through a tripartite partnership (public- private-NGO). It is intended to support the effective implementation of specific PAMs identified in the REDD+ NS.
The REDD+ NS is a “general framework” whose key objective is to fight deforestation and forest degradation caused by agricultural commodities (cocoa, coffee, rubber and oil palm) and mitigate climate impacts originating from this sector. It will also provide support to small farmers and local people through helping them to improve their livelihood and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the REDD+ NS implementation. The project outlines all the PAMs and priorities that will be implemented at national,
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sub-national and local levels to reduce deforestation. Côte d’Ivoire is currently reaching the end of Phase of REDD+ (the readiness process). This GCF REDD+ investment project will allow the government of Côte d’Ivoire to engage in Phase 2 of REDD+ (the implementation of demonstration activities) as a result of which allowing the country to scale-up to a fully national Phase 3 of REDD+ (Results-Based Payments (RBPs) for Results-Based Actions (RBAs)). This is in line with the relevant UNFCCC REDD+ decisions4.
More specifically, in line with the REDD+ NS, the project has the core objective to reduce emissions from deforestation and to conserve and enhance forest carbon stocks. Side-benefits of the project are to: (i) Improve food security by promoting combined cropping and increasing the productivity of local cocoa, rubber, oil palm and cashew plantations to boost famers’ incomes; (ii) Protect natural forests remaining in agricultural zones and enhance the competitiveness of Ivorian commodities on the world market; (iii) Restore the forest cover in agricultural production areas to strengthen the resilience of production systems faced with climate change; (iv) Develop sustainable energy solutions for communities; (v) Protect land ownership and improve forest governance by developing the capacities of local communities for them to participate actively in the management of their forests.
Specific geographically targeted investments under the national approach As indicated above, the REDD+ NS is a “general framework” that outlines all the PAMs and priorities to be implemented at national, sub-national and local levels to reduce deforestation and to conserve and enhance forest carbon stocks. Under this framework, a number of activities will be implemented in the various regions of the country to implement this strategy in a coordinated manner. The national approach taken will allow the limitations faced by individual initiatives and projects to be overcome. Such sub-national interventions may not be able to address policy and legal reforms required from the central level, benefit from economies of scale possible with nation-wide tools and processes, and achieve the level of complementarity across initiatives so as to avoid the displacement of the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation and the barriers to enhancement of forest carbon stocks from one region of the country to another, cancelling out the results achieved in emissions reductions or C02 intake. Côte d’Ivoire is avoiding this by implementing REDD+ at the national level rather than through small isolated projects. The expected outcomes of REDD+ will be achieved through synergies between the various PAMs of the REDD+ NS, with policy reforms made at the central level supporting implementation in various priority regions identified in the REDD+ NS, across sectors and levels of government. Such an approach will ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of these interventions as well as their viability and permanence. This project is designed to ensure synergy with already existing projects (see Figure 2).
4 Decision 1/CP.16, paragraph 73
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Figure 2 REDD+ NS PAMS priority areas for implementation in Phase 2 of REDD+
The cumulative effects of all these investments will help reduce emissions and enhance carbon stocks and provide data which Côte d’Ivoire will use in its REDD+ Technical Annex of it Biennial Update Report (BUR) to report to the UNFCCC to request Results- based Payments (RBPs) as required by COP decisions.
The specific areas in which GCF resources will be invested are presented in Figure 3. They cover a surface area of 6,730,872 ha in six administrative regions (Tonpki, Haut- Sassandra, Marahoué, Agneby Tiassa, Indenié Djuablin, Gontougo) of particularly high REDD+ impact potential.
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Figure 3 GCF REDD+ project implementation areas
Three forest ecosystems are found in this zone, notably the mountain ecosystem (west), forest ecosystem (South East) and the Savannah ecosystem (north-east). This zone has 43 gazetted forests in an advanced state of degradation covering a total surface area of 830,000ha and two protected areas (the Marahoué National Park and the Mt Mimba Reserve) covering 93,234 ha. Rural lands are mostly occupied by export crops such as cocoa which is predominant in the south-east and west regions and oil palm and rubber plantations mostly in the south-east. Cashew crops grow in the Gontougo region. The region is linked to zones with on-going REDD+ projects (Figure 2) to ensure proper implementation of REDD+ activities in the country’s priority zones in a bid to steer local funds and other public resources meant for land use towards sustainable management of land.
Developing a mechanism to test Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) is a key element of the GCF project, as can be seen below. Two preliminary studies have shown the importance and viability of this approach in Côte d’Ivoire, building on existing national institutions5.
Project components Sub-Component 1: Implementation of enabling measures such as land-use planning, land tenure security, Information Education and Communication (IEC), REDD+ social and environmental safeguards
Link to REDD+ NS: Strategic Option / PAM 6 – Zero deforestation Land-Use Planning (LUP) and promotion of a land-tenure policy
Scope of REDD+ activity: Transversal enabling activity
This sub-component will (i) support national level LUP and land-use tenure discussions and (ii) sensitize local communities on land tenure law as well as on forestry law. It will also promote mass land tenure security for obtaining land certificates to achieve economies of scale and sustainable incentives. Professional agricultural associations will thus be encouraged to assist their farmers to obtain land certificates (micro-LUP, cf.
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component 2). To ensure successful implementation of the various dimensions of this component, emphasis will be laid on sensitization and communication to transform the development model (IEC). In addition, an information system on social and environmental safeguards for REDD+ and a conflict management mechanism will be put in place in the project zones to ensure that the investments made effectively improve the living conditions of the communities, protect their rights to the land, reduce social inequalities and limit conflicts.
Sub-Component 2: Developing a zero-deforestation agricultural supply chain in partnership with the private sector
Link to REDD+ NS: Strategic Option / PAM 1 – Zero-deforestation agriculture
Scope of REDD+ activity: Reducing emissions from deforestation
Beneficiaries: 50,000 small farmers; 200,000 ha
Commodities: Cocoa, palm oil, rubber
This sub-component, which is intended to reduce deforestation in the agriculture supply chain, will be implemented in partnership with multinational corporations in the cocoa and oil palm sectors that have already signed international undertakings to promote zero deforestation agriculture. Two approaches will be combined in partnership with the private sector, as outlined in the national policy orientation note on zero-deforestation agriculture6:
1) A sub-sector approach to enable small farmers to improve their farming methods and increase productivity; and 2) A country approach to encourage the emergence of “net zero deforestation agriculture”7 and strengthen the resilience of production systems.
This will make it possible to develop activities that guarantee greater efficiency and sustainability of local agricultural sub sectors that are beneficial to all communities with the support of the Payment for Environmental Services (PES) mechanism. This PES mechanism will be set up and tested in these areas and, if successful, deployed later on at national scale.
Sector approach: this will involve (i) mapping out the supply regions of private enterprises by identifying forests with high carbon stocks and high conservation value as well as possible extension areas; (ii) encouraging small farmers to increase agricultural production by promoting the regeneration of old plantations and by providing access to and availability of inputs (improved plant material, organic fertilizers) as well as capacity building on good farming methods; (iii) implementing a system to monitor deforestation and setting up a robust and transparent system to track agricultural produce; (iv) Supporting capacity building for local NGOs to enable them to independently observe the policy; and (v) Marketing zero-deforestation
5 Etude de faisabilité pour la mise en œuvre d’un système national de paiements pour services environnementaux (PSE) en Côte d’Ivoire / Guide pratique des paiements pour services environnementaux (PSE) en Côte d’Ivoire. 6 http://cop21.gouv.ci/fichiers/agriculture-zero-deforestation.pdf 7 “Net zero deforestation” territories refer to lands with a forest cover of at least 20%, where uncontrolled residual deforestation is offset by reforestation of degraded landscapes using natural regeneration techniques to promote biodiversity.
PROJECT / PROGRAMME CONCEPT NOTE GREEN CLIMATE FUND | PAGE 11 OF 43 agricultural produce (in areas where agriculture has little or no negative impact on the forest).
Sub-Component 3: Restoration, reforestation, conservation and participatory management of forests and agro-forestry systems by local communities
Output 3.1: Restoration and participatory management of gazetted forests involving local communities and the private sector
Link to REDD+ NS: Strategic Option / PAM 4 – Restoration of degraded forests and reforestation
Scope of REDD+ activity: Enhancement of forest carbon stocks
Project size: 30% of gazetted forest in project zone selected according to extent of degradation and potential for regeneration
Output 3.1 under Sub-Component 3 is intended to promote the participatory and inclusive management of gazetted forests in accordance with a LUP and in a manner that takes all the social, economic and environmental dimensions of forest communities into account. All these dimensions will be addressed simultaneously with a firm desire to involve and organize the various communities and ensure increased participation of the private sector. This approach will remove the obstacles to the implementation of previous policies. The Output consists of two activities.
1) Improving forest governance This will require an inclusive and participatory forest governance strategy. Adjacent communities and people living inside the forests will be organized into forest management structures. Support will then be provided for their functioning. They will work together to draw up forest development and management plans as well as plans to share the proceeds from forest exploitation.
2) Implementation of forest development and management plans Identification of three management zones: (i) agro-forestry type restoration zone; (ii) integral reforestation zone, and (iii) absolute conservation zone.
(i) Agroforestry type restoration zones: This will adopt a public-private partnership (SODEFOR, Cocoa and Coffee Council and the private sector) approach to restore gazetted forests while limiting socio-economic risks. The objective here will be to stabilize the surface areas being farmed in gazetted forests while gradually restoring the forests by implementing a policy of contracts for farmers in gazetted forests. It will be based on a firm pledge by farmers after negotiation, not to clear any fresh land on the forest and on an undertaking to plant new trees (from 50 to 100 trees per hectare depending on the species) in farmed parcels and a promise to abandon the farmland when the existing crops reach the end of their lifespan. Under this policy, the idea is that private enterprises that buy from the said farmers will be involved in the negotiations to try to ensure that farmers comply with the terms of the contract so that they too can achieve their objectives of sourcing from net zero deforestation agriculture.
(ii) Zones marked for integral restoration: The objective here is to produce timber through two types of reforestation. Intensive industrial reforestation in
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partnership with the timber industry. Partnership agreements shall be signed between SODEFOR and private enterprises in the timber sector that want to invest in reforestation. The agreements shall have clauses determining proceed sharing among the actors. In addition, “reconversion” reforestation may be carried out by settlers who want to participate in reforestation. This could be done by planting new trees alongside food crops by assessing the livelihood viability. Some adjacent communities can be granted parcels of land for reforestation with the same principle of sharing proceeds.
(iii) Integral conservation zones with little forest remaining, where SODEFOR will focus its monitoring activities. These activities may be carried out in collaboration with the forest management structures in the villages.
Output 3.2: Encouraging small farmers to improve their agro-forestry systems and promote net zero-deforestation areas through community-based reforestation and conservation efforts
Link to REDD+ NS: Strategic Option / PAM 4 – Restoration of degraded forests and reforestation
Scope of REDD+ activity: Conservation, Enhancement of forest carbon stocks and sustainable management of forests
Project size: 70,000 PES contracts (70% agro-forestry; 25% reforestation; 5% conservation of natural forests in villages).
A ‘micro LUP’ and tenure linked to the national LUP (component 1)8, covering the entire project zone, will be drawn up in a participatory manner and in collaboration with local communities using cartographic data from High Conservation Value (HCV) and High Conservation Stocks (HCS) zones. Such data will identify priority areas for biodiversity conservation, ecological corridors, priority zones for restoration and the potential for agro-forestry in supply basins.
Territorial approach: A PES mechanism will be set up to encourage small farmers to plant trees in their plantations (agro-forestry system). This mechanism will also promote the emergence of “net zero deforestation areas” through community-based reforestation and conservation efforts. This will make it possible to overcome some limitations and obstacles to reforestation and agro-forestry linked mostly to the lack of initial funding and sustainability of investments made. The PES is used here as an instrument for sustainable local development that combines forest restoration goals with poverty reduction objectives. The idea is that PES contracts will be signed directly between the government and local communities (which will be selected according to objective criteria) as well as with youth and women, either collectively or individually, to encourage forest conservation, reforestation and agro-forestry. This will increase private investment to help develop alternative sources of income for communities in the forest areas. The government may enlist the support of a private structure to manage PES. This structure will then identify beneficiaries, sign contracts and carry out verification (based on pre-established agreements and authorisations with the government). Payments will be made on the basis of a previously defined payment schedule through bank transfer or mobile banking, following verification of the results.
8 Cf See analytical study on land use to integrate REDD+ in the regional development plan and development of territory for the regions of Cavally, San Pedro, Gbôklé and Nawa.
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The amounts in the contract should correspond to the cost of investments needed for the related reforestation, agro-forestry and conservation activities.
Output 3.3: Promotion of reforestation by villagers to restore the forest cover and create ecological connectivity in the rural landscape and develop sustainable domestic energy solutions
Link to REDD+ NS: Strategic Option / PAM 2 & 4 – Development of sustainable domestic energy & Restoration of degraded forests and reforestation
Scope of REDD+ activity: Enhancement of forest carbon stocks
Project size: 50,000 hectares of degraded forest restored
Forest species to be planted: Tectona grandisk, Gmelina arborea, Cassia Ciamea, Acacia mangium, Anacardium occidentale, Hevéa brasiliensis and other local species identified by producers
The objective of this Output is to strengthen the resilience of production systems in the face of climate change while creating a value chain in the previously non-existent wood sub-sector by involving small wood producers through incentives such as the PES (Sub- Component 1) and overcoming limitations and obstacles to reforestation and agroforestry. The objective here is to complement the territorial approach in Sub- Component 1 to encourage the emergence of zero-deforestation zones. Reforestation will be based on a LUP and micro-LUP (Sub-Component 1) that identifies priority restoration zones made up of ecological corridors, areas along waterways, vulnerable zones (rugged terrain), soil restoration, etc. Such reforestation, which will mostly be carried out in villages, has several objectives depending on the species being promoted notably: production of timber to meet local and sub regional demand and to increase the supply of legal wood. All the plantations thus set up will be registered in the national reforestation register in the name of the communities or persons that made them. A transparent system to track wood products will also be put in place. Trade partnerships can be established between small timber producers (organized in cooperatives) and private wood industries that undertake to buy wood when the trees reach maturity to create a supply chain starting from small producers to timber processing industries. Under these partnerships, “pre-sale” contracts can be signed to remove the risks associated with returns on long-term investments in the forestry sector. Partnership agreements can also be negotiated in a manner that protects the rights of the communities. Schools may be included in the forest restoration negotiations using initiatives like “one school = 5ha of forest”.
Another objective is reforestation for energy use. The objective here is to make the firewood sector more professional. With wood available following reforestation, young people and women can be trained in modern carbonization techniques to meet demand for charcoal in major cities. Charcoal producers will be organized into cooperatives and trained. Local charcoal markets will be set up in many villages. The project will also promote the use of improved fireplaces to reduce demand for firewood.
This Output will also provide food security. To this end, all reforestation activities will be systematically associated with food crop production under an agroforestry initiative that provides access to improved seeds. This also has the potential to create many jobs. Young people and women will thus be trained on ways to produce quality seedlings.
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Others will also be trained as local trainers in reforestation, forest development and management techniques as well as on the importance of forests.
Sub-Component 4: Implementation of REDD+ systems (Safeguards Information System and forest monitoring system) and National REDD+ / Climate Fund
Link to REDD+ NS: overall implementation framework
Scope of REDD+ activity: Transversal enabling activity
Output 4.1: Support the implementation of the Warsaw Framework for REDD+ and other operational processes This Output includes investment in the establishment of an integrated information system for the implementation of REDD+, including the NFMS, the GHG inventory system and the Safeguards Information System (SIS), as well as a REDD+ PAMs Registry. Some of these systems exist, but have not been fully institutionalized, are only partially operational, and are not currently interconnected. The project will support the integration of these systems to ensure timely and coordinated efforts among the different institutions in order to facilitate reporting to the UNFCCC.
Output 4.2: Operationalization of the financial architecture of REDD+ NS and the National Investment Framework This Output involves the establishment of a financial mechanism for the operation and management of a National REDD+ / Climate Fund. The design will include a review of sinking fund arrangements as a mechanism to distribute resources from a variety of sources to cover the costs of implementing the REDD+ National Strategy PAMs. The Fund is expected to receive resources from different sources, including international and national investment and potentially results-based payments in the future. The project will set up the REDD+ / Climate Fund and its initial operationalization, and pilot the distribution of funds through different funding windows and different entities involved in the implementation of the REDD+ National Strategy. This arrangement is consistent with UNFCCC COP Decision 10/CP.19.
GCF funds will be used to design and operationalize the National REDD+ / Climate Fund but GCF resources will not be used to capitalize the Fund.
It is intended that, with support from the GCF project, a national entity will be accredited by the GCF to manage the National Fund to obtain and receive results-based payments. This is key to ensuring the full transition of Côte d’Ivoire from Phase 2 to Phase 3 of REDD+. Future REDD+ RBPs will in turn be used to co-finance the REDD+ AP, as an iterative process allowing progressive expansion of its coverage and sustainability.
This GCF project will be managed by the Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ministry of Water Resources and Forestry and Ministry of Energy. Under the REDD+ process, a national commission was created by Decree No. 2012-1049 of 24 October B.2. Background 2012. This Decree created a Permanent Executive Secretariat (SEP-REDD+) responsible information on for management, planning, mobilization of funds, and technical support in the project/programme implementation of the national REDD+ process. sponsor
The SEP-REDD+, which implements projects with a combined value of USD 40 million, is composed of 22 national experts specialized in forestry, climate change, the environment and management of natural resources. It will be responsible for
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implementing the GCF project, with support from the Forest Development Authority (SODEFOR), the department in charge of lands and forest development in the Ministry of Water Resources and Forestry, the Ministry of Power, the Ministry of Agriculture and professional associations in agricultural sub-sectors. In this regard, it has signed partnership agreements with professional associations (Cocoa and Coffee Council, APROMAC, AIPH) for implementation of the zero deforestation policy. The programme will be executed by SEP-REDD+ using the project management procedures (management, procurement, etc.) approved by the Ministry in charge of Administration.
The production of cash crops like cocoa, coffee, rubber, palm oil, cotton and cashew nuts in Côte d’Ivoire is dominated by small farmers who sell their produce to cooperatives or private exporters, especially cocoa (CarGil, Amadjaro, etc.). The country exported 1.7 million tonnes of cocoa beans in 2015 (Cocoa and Coffee Council, 2015), produced by about 700 000 farmers. These exporters then sell to chocolate-makers like Mars, Mondelez, etc. Demand for zero-deforestation commodities has been growing steadily following the undertaking by enterprises and some countries to promote zero deforestation. With the implementation of certification programmes, agricultural commodities from Côte d’Ivoire with good environmental guarantees (zero deforestation) will enjoy added value in terms of price. Indeed, chocolate-makers like Mondelez, pioneers in this respect, have already accepted to pay for this added value. The extra revenue will not only help improve the livelihood of the communities but also reduce GHG emissions.
B.3. Market overview The market for timber, firewood and charcoal is very promising. In 2011, the timber industry generated some FCFA 97 billion from export commodities. Over the past several years, there has been a substantial increase in local demand for timber, which is being satisfied mostly from the illegal exploitation of forests. The wood industry generates about 40 000 jobs. However, these jobs are steadily vanishing as a result of the disappearance of forest resources. The decision by Côte d’Ivoire to participate in the FLEGT process has opened up the European market for its legal wood (that complies with the traceability and transparency rules required to prove the wood’s origin).
The market for firewood and charcoal, though informal, is estimated at FCFA 230 to 430 billion and uses up 11.5 to 23 million m3 of wood (Louppe and Ido, 2014). There is great imbalance between the demand for and supply of firewood in the local market because demand far outstrips supply. Nearly 90% of households use firewood and charcoal for cooking and other energy needs (Djezou, 2009).
UNDP will implement the GCF project as the financial resource management agency. Since UNDP falls under the United Nations system, all payments for services will be B.4. Regulation, taxation done exclusive of taxes. No special authorization is needed from the government to and insurance execute the project once the funding is agreed upon during the signing of the project document.
UNDP is the entity accredited for the GCF project. The project will be implemented under the Direct Implementation Modality (DIM) in line with UNDP procedures. UNDP will assume overall management responsibility and accountability for project B.5. Implementation implementation. However, UNDP will work in close collaboration with the SEP-REDD+ of arrangements the Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development, as the principal Responsible Party, to carry out activities and ensure national ownership and leadership. Based on a written agreement with UNDP, the SEP-REDD+ will manage the use of goods and services to carry out project activities and produce outputs. When required, UNDP
PROJECT / PROGRAMME CONCEPT NOTE GREEN CLIMATE FUND | PAGE 16 OF 43 will provide support to national implementing partners to address capacity gaps. During implementation, the project will adopt a broad partnership approach to involve the national implementing agency partners. In addition, for some operational activities, grant or sub-contracting mechanisms will be set up to involve technical partners, chosen on the basis of their competence and comparative advantage.
A technical coordination team recruited by UNDP will be put in place within the SEP- REDD+ to carry out the day-to-day activities of the project and coordinate the implementation of support activities in accordance with the annual plan of work approved by the SEP-REDD+ Team Coordinator and the UNDP Country Director. The coordination team will monitor planning of activities, management, implementation, technical and financial compliance, production of reports on the state of progress and follow up. Technical support will be provided by the REDD+ UNDP team which will work closely with the Global Environment Finance Unit in UNDP’s Regional Office (Addis Ababa).
A Project Steering Committee (PSC) will be put in place and provide strategic direction and governance oversight of the project management. Its composition will build on past or existing committees (e.g., PSC for the UNREDD+ programme) to link with related initiatives. The PSC approves the work plan of the project and makes readjustments where necessary to meet the requirements on the field or for purposes of harmonization with the other initiatives in the domain in the country. It shall also approve the major orientations of the project, and where need be, make adjustments to the project’s activities and/or budget.
The PSC will be co-chaired by the Minster of the Environment and Sustainable Development or his/her representative and the UN Resident Representative or his/her representative. It will be comprised of the Inter-Ministerial Committee of the REDD+ process as well as representatives of some segments of the public and private sectors, civil society organizations, and the Technical and Financial Partners (TFPs) of the various aspects of the project. Figure 4 shows the proposed project management structure.
Figure 4 Implementation arrangements for the GCF REDD+ project in Côte d’Ivoire
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The PSC will include representatives of relevant Government agencies, private sector, civil society, and technical and financial partners. Accordingly, the PSC shall be comprised of a:
• Chair, Representative of the Minster of the Environment and Sustainable Development (MINEDD); • Co-Chair, UNDP; • Representative of the Minister of the Interior and Decentralization; • Representative of the Minister of Finance; • Representative of the Minister of the Environment and Sustainable Development (MINEDD); • Representative of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER); • Representative of the Minister of Water and Forestry (MINEF); • Representative of Assemblées des Régions et Districts de Côte d’Ivoire (ARDCI); • Representatives of TFPs (FAO, UNEP); • Representative of Civil society; • Representative of the Cocoa and Coffee Council; • Representative of the Association Interprofessionnelle de la filière Palmier à huile (AIPH); • Representative of the private sector (Mondelez, Cargill, etc.).
The PSC will meet at least semi-annually to review project progress, provide direction and assist in project implementation. The UNDP CO will provide support services through the Administrative and Finance Units, as required. The Coordination team of the project shall provide secretarial duties during sessions of the CPP.
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C. Financing / Cost Information
Amount (Million USD)
Component GCF Co- Total financing Sub-Component 1: Implementation of enabling 5 5 10 measures Sub-Component 2: Zero deforestation approach for reducing deforestation in the agricultural 15 75 90 supply chains in partnership with the private sector
Sub-Component 3: Restoration, reforestation, conservation and participatory management of 24 116 140 forests by and agro-forestry systems by local C.1. Description of communities financial elements of the Output 3.1 Restoration and participatory 9 31 40 project / programme management of gazetted forests Output 3.2: Promotion of reforestation by 10 40 50 villagers to restore forest cover Output 3.3 Encouraging small farmers to improve their agro-forestry systems and promote net zero-deforestation areas through community 5 45 50
Sub-Component 4: Implementation of REDD+ systems (Safeguards Information System and 6 9 15 forest monitoring system) and National REDD+ / Climate Fund TOTAL 50 195 245
Financial Amount Currency Tenor Pricing Instrument Total project million USD financing 245 ($) (a) = (b) + (c) C.2. Project (i) Senior Loans Options financing ( ) years ( ) % (ii) Subordinated informatio Options Loans ( ) years ( ) % n (b) Options (iii) Equity ( ) % IRR Requested Options GCF amount (iv) Guarantees Options (v) Reimbursable grants * million USD ($) (vi) Grants * 50
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* Please provide detailed economic and financial justification in the case of grants.
Total Requested million 50 (i+ii+iii+iv+v+vi) USD ($)
Financial Name of Amount Currency Seniority Instrument Institution
Ivorian Grant 7 Government senior
Grant 15 million USD UN-REDD / FCPF senior
Grant 6 ($) AfD (C2D) senior (c) Co- Grant 2.6 Private sector senior financing (CEMOI)
Private sector Grant 130 senior (Mondelez) Grant 6.4 senior GEF (UNEP) Grant 12.2 senior World Bank FIP Senior Loans 15.8 senior World Bank FIP
Lead financing institution: SEP REDD+ (d) Covenants (e) Conditions precedent to disbursemen t
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D. Expected Performance against Investment Criteria Please explain the potential of the Project/Programme to achieve the Fund’s six investment criteria as listed below. Mitigation The annual volume of greenhouse emissions from LULUCF, based on a deforestation rate of 200,000 ha per year (BNEDT), with an average biomass content of 47% (generic value of the IPCC) and of a C02 ratio of 44/12, is estimated at 45 million 9 10 tonnes of CO2 (tCO2e ) / yr, depending on the density of the forest destroyed . Emissions caused by deforestation and forest degradation account for 57 to 73% of national emissions.
However, as indicated above calculating the reduction of the country’s emissions using a single measure, a single project or a single source of funding is problematic because of the risk of displacement of the drivers of deforestation from one zone to the other because of implementation at sub-national level. Côte d’Ivoire would avoid this risk by implementing REDD+ at national level rather than in isolated projects at sub-national level.
Moreover, there is rarely a direct and linear correlation between specific priority measure and emission reduction. Results are, rather, obtained from a series of interrelated aspects of the REDD+ NS PAMs. The project is designed to ensure such interrelations to achieve national results.
It is expected that following the implementation of the REDD+ NS, Côte d’Ivoire will D.1. Climate impact potential reduce deforestation by almost a quarter. This deforestation is estimated at 200,000 [Potential to achieve the ha / yr currently. This corresponds to emissions of about 11.9 million tC02e per year GCF's objectives and as a result of reducing deforestation and degradation of forests and absorption of results] between 2,911,081 and 5,411,158 tC02e from reforestation of about 50,000 ha of forest after implementation of the GCF project. These figures are merely indicative and are based on the generic values provided by GIEC. They will be adjusted when Côte d’Ivoire submits its national Forest Reference Emissions Level / Forest Reference Level (FREL/FRL) to the UNFCCC. This approach is in line with Decision CP.17 of the UNFCCC which defines REDD+ FREL/FRL as a baseline used to assess a country’s implementation of REDD+, expressed in tC02e per year.
In compliance with UNFCCC decisions, the emission reductions (or absorption) achieved by the GCF project will be measured against the FREL/FRL submitted by Côte d'Ivoire to the UNFCCC, which shall be examined by experts designated by UNFCCC as provided for in Decision 13/CP19. The exact quantity of emission reductions obtained by Côte d'Ivoire after implementation of the REDD+ NS at the national level during the life of the GCF programme (2017-2021) will be known once the BUR and its REDD+ technical annexes are submitted to the UNFCCC in 2018, 2020 and 2022. This information will be published on the Lima REDD+ information platform in accordance with UNFCCC decision 9/CP.19.
Adaptation Although this is a mitigation project, it is expected that there will be significant adaptation co-benefits. The impact of climate change on production can be measured by the drop in productivity due to the reduction in rainfall, drought and
9 These are rough estimates that do not take into account the C02 absorbed by the preserved forest (MINEEF, 2010. Seconde communication nationale sur les Changements Climatiques).). 10 The high estimate is based on the average density of a dense forest biomass (130 t/ha, IPCC, 2006). The lower estimate is based on a degradation rate of 50%.
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the proliferation of certain diseases. Consequently, intensification measures such as improved plant material and facilitation of access to inputs will make it possible to adapt crops to climate change. Regions in Côte d’Ivoire that still have sufficient forest cover, such as the area around the Taï National Park (TNP), enjoy a more or less stable rainfall due to the micro-climate created by the TNP. Consequently, reforestation of the supply basins and the promotion of agroforestry will make it possible to create such micro-climates which will then boost the resilience of the agricultural landscape and the living conditions of adjacent populations (ICRAF, 2014). The REDD+ NS was drawn up in a participatory manner. It outlines all the different PAMs to be implemented at national, sub-national and local levels to achieve national REDD+ results in accordance with the UNFCCC decisions. It will lead to a paradigm shift at three levels.
First, it will demonstrate the importance of national and sub-national cross-sectoral coordination and implementation to implement the REDD+ NS and the NDP.
Second, it will show that private sector initiatives to boost zero-deforestation supply chains, national finance policies, and international funding for REDD+ can be incorporated into coherent set of PAMs that can reduce deforestation in agricultural supply chains, restore forest landscapes and reduce poverty. This is fully in line with the REDD+ NS, especially the national policy of zero deforestation cultivation of D.2. Paradigm shift potential commodities like cocoa, palm oil and rubber that has as objective to transition [Potential to catalyze towards sustainable zero deforestation agricultural systems through support to small impact beyond a one-off famers for intensification, certification and traceability of products using incentives project or programme like the PES. As such, this public and private sector partnership will provide a model investment] for the reduction of deforestation and at the same time make it possible to meet international demand for zero deforestation products (REDD+ RBPs and sale of zero deforestation products). The project will also highlight the interrelation between forest conservation and the restoration of landscapes necessary for agriculture. It will create new supply chains starting form wood producers to industries. Annexes 1.2 and 1.3 describe the theory of change in the proposed activities of the project and how it could be replicated in other countries.
Third, it will boost confidence in the UNFCCC process by showing the link between the successful implementation of Côte d’Ivoire’s REDD+ NS and the realization of measurable results in terms of tC02e that can be used for RBPs of REDD+ results. It will provide the criteria to move from the second to the third phase of REDD+.
The implementation of the project could result in several benefits that can be sub- divided into three groups: environmental, social and economic advantages.
Environmental benefits In addition to advantages linked to the reduction of GHG emissions and
sequestration of CO2, the project will produce advantages linked to biodiversity D.3. Sustainable development preservation, especially by conserving community forests which will be encouraged potential by the PES scheme. Related environmental advantages will be linked to the [Potential to provide wider enhancement of soil fertility, the reduction of erosion and the improvement of the development co-benefits] water cycle through the protection and restoration of watersheds of the main water courses.
Social benefits These advantages are linked to the strengthening of community rights, the empowerment of women and the reduction of poverty.
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Land security will ensure the reduction of conflicts and increase the rights of communities over land. The implementation of the new forestry law on tree ownership and forestry governance will allow communities to participate in the management of forestry resources and thus fully benefit from forest exploitation income. Women, who will benefit from new opportunities (nurseries, wood charcoal), will reinforce their positions within decision-making entities and fully play their role as actors of development
Improvement of means of subsistence: Through (i) the intensification of agriculture, (ii) soil fertility and the availability of water, the project will improve productivity of cocoa and oil palm farms and thus increase the incomes of farmers. Agro-forestry systems based on fruit trees including Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) will be valued in the local market with supplementary income and food security. Additionally, the surplus on the price of cocoa and oil palms from this zero- deforestation process on the community market within the framework of partnerships with the private sector, could serve to improve access to healthcare, infrastructure, education and energy. Furthermore, the development of activities linked to the participatory management of forests and to village reforestation for the production of lumber and wood energy, sustained by incentives like PES and land security including tree ownership, shall result in the emergence of capacities and new income sources within the farming communities.
Economic benefits The GCF project will contribute to the national economy in several ways: (i) By sustainably expanding and diversifying urban-rural relations, especially for the marketing of plants, fruits and other non-timber forest products, charcoal and firewood on urban markets, as well as lumber on foreign markets. (ii) The increase of productivity and access to foreign markets which have become demanding (for example, for zero-deforestation agricultural products) will be facilitated, thus improving State revenue. (iii) The services necessary for reforestation (nurseries, inputs, labour, etc.) will create thousands of jobs for the communities. (iv) Protecting the soil against erosion and landslides and improving the quality of water by reducing wastes and sediments carried along by runoff water, will help to improve the health and security of rural communities dependent on poor forests. As part of the preparation of the national REDD+ strategy, a range of studies on zero- deforestation agriculture, exchanges with different actors and pilot projects were initiated to identify the activities to be implemented to ensure the success of this zero deforestation policy and draw lessons. These studies and experiments indicate that two approaches should be combined for the implementation of the zero deforestation policy to succeed. A sector approach directly targeting producers and a territory-wide approach tackling the other factors of deforestation which go hand in D.4. Needs of recipient hand with agriculture such as firewood, managing encroachment into gazetted [Vulnerability to climate forests, and land tenure to help restore the ecological balance with reforestation. change and financing needs of the recipients] However, in an agrarian and rural landscape dominated by small farmers who often lack the means to bear the costs of changes in practices and intensification, implementation of such a policy will be difficult. The PES scheme will therefore play an important role in this project. It will be used as an incentive to help the people bear the cost of reforestation and agro-forestry. A system for grants and for facilitating access to inputs will be set up with inter-professional agricultural organizations and the private sector.
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With this project the forest sector, which receives little funding from the State, will regain economic interest and receive more funding to support vulnerable communities. The Ivorian government, through the Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development and the REDD+ Executive Secretariat in partnership with the different Ministries involved in driving deforestation (Forest, Agriculture, Energy, Mines), has prepared the REDD+ NS to eliminate deforestation and reconstitute the forest cover. This project to implement PAMs defined in the REDD+ NS is a proposal from the Government of Côte d’Ivoire to the GCF. During implementation, the REDD+ Secretariat will coordinate the project for the government. Activities will be implemented by national technical structures in public-private partnership with agricultural multinational companies. UNDP will provide constant technical support during project implementation.
In this context, the project is aligned with the REDD+ NS and with the national D.5. Country ownership development priorities outlined in the 2016-2020 NDP, which addresses climate [Beneficiary country change as it relates to deforestation. ownership of project or programme and capacity The project is also aligned to the government’s climate objectives outlined in the to implement the INDC which anticipates a 28% reduction in GHG emissions to be identified by year proposed activities] 2030 as compared to 2012. Reducing deforestation by “reinforcing zero- deforestation agriculture” and restoring 20% of the country’s forest cover constitute the main pillars of success, in addition to renewable energy development. After the Paris climate conference, Côte d’Ivoire, driven by the momentum generated by the conference and to respect its commitments made at the COP21, prepared a post- COP21 road map with action plans. The core elements of this road map are: 1) promote renewable energies, 2) promote zero-deforestation agriculture and 3) waste recycling.
In view of the aforementioned, this project to restore forests and fight deforestation through zero deforestation agriculture fully supports the government’s climate and development objectives. Regarding mitigating benefits of the project, cumulative emission reductions and removals for the duration of the project amount to 12,620 MtCO2 for a total GCF investment of USD 50 million, representing a cost of $3.961/tCO2.
Regarding other economic benefits, an analysis of the costs and benefits of the implementation of REDD+ focusing on agricultural decoupling and deforestation in the cocoa, rubber, oil palm, rice, yam and cashew sectors as well as the sustainable D.6. Effectiveness and management of forests, reforestation and firewood was done to evaluate the efficiency economic feasibility of activities proposed in the national REDD+ Strategy of Côte [Economic and financial d’Ivoire. soundness and
effectiveness of the The following costs were considered in the evaluation: proposed activities]
• Operating costs or increase in these costs during activity implementation. For existing activities (agricultural sectors), a comparison between a projected income statement describing current practices and one describing REDD+ activities. For reforestation activities, operating costs (plantation, maintenance, exploitation) are new. Operating costs partly include research costs. • Supervision costs. Disseminating sustainable practices will require stronger technical leadership whose cost is recorded. The cost of supervision is evaluated at CFAF 44,132/ha for subsistence crops and CFAF 5,432/ha for perennial crops.
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• Expenses for land tenure security and zoning. These activities considered indispensable for the success of REDD+ activities will result in costs taken into account in the analysis. The costs have been evaluated at CFAF 1 million/ha for subsistence crops and CFAF 144,000/ha for perennial crops. A sensitivity analysis has been conducted for the costs.
The following benefits were considered: • Production gains: For the cocoa and palm oil sectors, the presumption is that in the REDD+ framework these products shall enjoy prices higher than the reference scenario price as from year 2020. This presumption anticipates that consumers in developed countries will prefer zero-deforestation products. • Improvement in emissions reduction or carbon storage: This development should be effective in 2030, on the basis of a carbon price of CFAF 2,500/tCO2e. • The conservation of environmental goods and services supplied by the forests, lost in the reference scenario because of deforestation: o Specific calculations for Ivorian forests show an initial estimate of this value at CFAF 46,395/ha. Results of the study indicate that over the 2015 - 2030 period, by transitioning from a trend development scenario to a green development scenario (zero deforestation), the cumulative value added of four agricultural sectors (cocoa, rice, rubber, oil palm) could increase from about CFAF 12,500 to 17,700 billion.
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E. Brief Rationale for GCF Involvement and Exit Strategy Please specify why the GCF contribution is critical for the project/programme In Côte d’Ivoire, agriculture remains a strong economic lever accounting for 24.02% of total GDP (NDP, 2015). However, the country’s agricultural model has always been coupled with deforestation to the extent that the country is paying a heavy price for its economic growth, by losing 75% of its forest area. Sector initiatives have been taken by some technical ministries such as Agriculture, Water Resources and Forests and Environment. These initiatives have not always succeeded to stop deforestation and restore the forest cover of the country while ensuring productive and competitive agriculture. Within the framework of the national REDD+ process, it has taken the country almost three years to analyse the national context linked to land use and the different programmes already implemented. This forest restoration and reduced-deforestation project through zero deforestation agriculture is in alignment with the REDD+ NS of Côte d’Ivoire is innovative in the sense that it seeks to decouple deforestation and agricultural development, promote large-scale village reforestation and address the problem of energy for cooking in the urban area using an integrated approach that promotes public-private partnership and incentives such as PES while solving problems linked to tree ownership and land security which have been a major barrier [contributing] to the failure of previous programmes. This approach in fighting deforestation promoted by REDD+ therefore requires inter-ministerial collaboration and commitment necessary to create a change of paradigm.
The National Investment Framework (NIF) of the REDD+ NS is expected at the end of the year and will serve as a basis for GCF investments. However, investments have already been mobilized to implement the national REDD+ Strategy. The GCF shall contribute to the implementation of the REDD+ NS so as to initiate the change in land use and strengthen the resilience of the agricultural sector in the face of climate change and reverse the deforestation trends with a view to reducing GHG emissions in the agro-forestry sector.
As for gazetted forests, several plans implemented to limit encroachment or remove occupants from these forests failed because of a high risk of social consequences and lack of confidence in SODEFOR by the people, which made collaboration difficult. With no attractive model to follow, many funding partners withdrew their funding. This project proposes a contractualisation model that involves the private sector and civil society organizations. The REDD+ NS proposes a useful compromise between restoring forests and reducing social and economic risks. But this will not be implemented without the GCF contribution.
Finally, the success of this GCF REDD+ project will demonstrate the feasibility and relevance of the implementation of the selected PAMs identified in the REDD+ NS, subsequently unlocking further financial resources from the Government as well as donors and private sector to ensure the sustainability of REDD+ in the country. It is therefore expected to have a catalytic impact on REDD+ implementation in Côte d’Ivoire, recognised at the highest political level and in the UNFCCC. Please explain the exit strategy (i.e. how the project/ programme will be sustained after GCF intervention) The GCF project will make it possible to carry out of a number of activities for beneficiaries through the sub- components presented above over a period of five years. To ensure the sustainability of these activities and project achievements, it is advisable to opt for gradual withdrawal of GCF funds and effective ownership by the beneficiaries. In this regard, the project’s funding exit strategy will entail the following:
• Public-private partnership with multinational companies involved in the sustainable production of cash crops like cocoa, oil palm and rubber. During the implementation of the project, these actors will play their role fully using the traceability process for the production of these commodities, ensuring that the products of small-scale farmers delivered to them are grown in conditions that minimize deforestation and promote good farming practices. Since the fight against deforestation is increasingly becoming a trade issue, in order to remain competitive, companies will be obliged to include these dimensions of the fight against deforestation in their trade strategies and thus ensure a continuity of proposed actions on the basis of the main results obtained. Major companies in Côte d’Ivoire have already pro-actively engaged in discussions with the government on this issue.
• SODEFOR, the national structure of the State responsible for managing gazetted forests. The capacities of SODEFOR will be reinforced for better negotiation with the farmers. This will be done within the farmer-forest
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commissions set up by the State to promote co-management of spaces near gazetted forests in the villages. Evidence and success stories within the framework of the project will be replicated by SODEFOR which will have the capacity to continue the process when GCF funding stops through farmer-forest commissions.
• Wood industry and local population partnership and PES: Payment incentives will help to remove barriers to investment in forest plantations. Before the end of the project, villagers who have joined the project will be put in contact with wood industries to guarantee the purchase of their wood especially species with high commercial value. Pre-sale contracts will be signed. This method will permit the creation of an economically and sustainably viable wood chain. Furthermore, the government is seeking to set up a National Climate Fund which will be used to fund REDD+ and climate related schemes, such as the PES. In parallel, the government of Côte d’Ivoire is currently working on a draft legal project on the conservation and management of biological diversity which may include a tax that could be used to fund the PES scheme after the GCF project is completed.
• The community approach used for reforestation will help train communities in techniques for reforestation and for maintaining reforested land. Community reforested land is more sustainable than individual plots. Similarly, communities now empowered on reforestation can thus ensure the survival of the reforested plots.
• Territorial development and land security will be done with the active involvement of the Department of Lands of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The Ministry in charge of agriculture will ensure the continuity of land security actions in the rural area.
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F. Risk Analysis
Risk Description of risks Mitigation factors/measures level The high rate of deforestation and degradation observed in Côte d'Ivoire over the past five decades led the country to become involved in the international REDD+ process in 2011. Côte d'Ivoire’s political commitment to the national REDD+ process was then embodied in Decree No. 2012-1049 of October 24, 2012, which was signed by the President following its adoption by the Council of Ministers upon the joint proposal of the Ministers in charge of the Environment, Water Resources and Forests, and Agriculture. This decree lays the foundation for the national REDD+ process Country: Risk of lack of Low and provides for the establishment of REDD+ preparation management political commitment structures. This political commitment to the national REDD+ process is also manifested in the country’s endorsement of the New York Declaration on Forests which aims to eliminate deforestation caused by the production of agricultural raw materials by encouraging companies to adopt zero- deforestation policies and encouraging local administrations to manage their forest resources appropriately. This commitment to the REDD+ process provides the basis for direct government support to the implementation and goals of the GCF. Sector Policies and In line with its commitment to REDD+, the Government has earmarked institutions: (i) risk of lack of funding in its National Investment Budget to support the GCF activities and funding of the sector due to this will be reflected in the GCF financing agreement during project other Government priorities; preparation. To ensure smooth inter-sectoral coordination, the national (ii) risk of lack of inter- REDD+ Committee, which is chaired by the Minister of Planning, will also sectorial coordination; and play the role of the GCF Steering Committee. The Permanent REDD+ (iii) risk associated with land Executive Secretariat, which will be the coordination entity of the GCF tenure, security and rights project, will rely on the focal points already designated in the key Ministries High - Agriculture, Water Resources and Forests, Mines - for the implementation of the project. The public-private partnership with the private sector will demonstrate the global market value of the approach. Land tenure: The lengthy Potential technical and financial assistance will be provided to farmers to and costly process of obtain land certificates. Furthermore, GCF will work in close collaboration obtaining a land certificate is with local authorities, which have the power to allocate lands on a long- a major risk to the success of term basis. The project will also build on, take into account and ensure the GCF. complementarity with the EU and the World Bank work on land tenure issues to ensure that the process is fully adhered to. Technology: Lack of ANADER, which is in charge of extension services for new technologies for community buy-in and agroforestry and intensification will be fully involved in GCF understanding of enhanced implementation and will help build the capacity of farmers and mentor them in the adoption and implementation of enhanced technologies. agroforestry and agricultural intensification techniques Furthermore, the SEP/REDD+ is currently focusing on awareness could present a risk to campaigns, training and capacity development for the people included in High successful implementation the preparation framework for REDD+. This work along with the national of the GCF. PES system is expected to effectively address this risk. Development of solutions together with the private sector and national platforms for the implementation of the GCF REDD+ project will ensure that the implementation is linked to marketing and will be concrete and effective.
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Governance: Forest The design of GCF activities mitigates this risk by working within the context resources in the gazetted of a participatory development plan focusing on co-management of the forest are managed by forests and their resources with the adjacent communities and populations. SODEFOR without full High The communities’ direct involvement with management as well as the involvement of adjacent range of direct and indirect benefits that the activities will create for local communities. people are significant, ranging from increased food security to alternative livelihoods earned through participation in the reforestation program. Environmental and Social GCF activities are significant and transformational, particularly with regard Risks: to their involvement of communities. Successful implementation of the GCF activities will create a new, more collaborative and sustainable approach to forest management. In particular: (i) the focus on land tenure; (ii) the strengthening of customary rights of local communities on traditional lands, and (iii) the system of contracts between SODEFOR and farmers to adopt agroforestry techniques in the project, present the potential to create the conditions for a long-term change in community rights and control that could create models and positively impact the sustainability of resources use. Therefore, both environmental and social impact GCF interventions are expected to be positive. However, during GCF proposal preparation, adequate safeguards instruments will be elaborated to mitigate any unforeseen potential negative impacts. In the context of a post- conflict environment, there are potential social risks to successful implementation of the GCF activities: large Farmers in the rural domain will benefit from payment of environmental numbers of people moved services in return for not encroaching. Farmers in the GF will not receive into the gazetted forests PES for introducing trees into farmed land, but will, rather, receive during the decade-long contractual rights for use and occupancy based on a set of strict guidelines conflict when enforcement Medium and agreements with SODEFOR. of regulatory controls was essentially non-existent. As the government’s enforcement approach has had limited success, These communities are now focusing on incentives will increase the success of this project. entrenched in the forest zone and often utilizing forest resources, typically unsustainably, for their livelihoods. Increased encroachment in gazette forests: the project will support a contracting system between SODEFOR and the currently illegal farmers to undertake Furthermore, during project preparation a detailed inventory of farmers in agroforestry in the GF. This the GF will be established and closely monitored to prevent any new could create tension encroachment into the GF. between the illegal occupants and other farmers in the rural domain who could feel at a disadvantage and may also attempt to illegally farm in the GF
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G. Multi-Stakeholder Engagement The project will involve a range of stakeholders. The various stakeholders will be mobilized as follows:
1) Mapping of all project stakeholders; 2) Identification of the level of influence of each of the stakeholders on the smooth running of the project; 3) Identification of the level of information, involvement or participation for main stakeholders whose exclusion from the project could create difficulties in implementation; 4) Information, involvement or participation of each stakeholder at the appropriate stage of the project.
Similar actions have already been initiated through the REDD+ readiness phase, which has put in place a civil society platform and forged a partnership with the private sector (cocoa-coffee Council, APROMAC, etc.) and sector ministries such as agriculture and water resources and forests.
H. Status of Project/Programme
1) A pre-feasibility study is expected to be completed at this stage. Please provide the report in section J.
2) Please indicate whether a feasibility study and/or environmental and social impact assessment has been conducted for the proposed project/programme: Yes ☐ No ☒ (If ‘Yes’, please provide them in section J.)
3) Will the proposed project/programme be developed as an extension of a previous project (e.g. subsequent phase), or based on a previous project/programme (e.g. scale up or replication)? Yes ☐ No ☒ (If yes, please provide an evaluation report of the previous project in section J, if available.)
I. Remarks
J. Supporting Documents for Concept Note ☒ Map indicating the location of the project/programme □ Financial Model ☒ Pre-feasibility Study □ Feasibility Study (if applicable) □ Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (if applicable) □ Evaluation Report (if applicable)
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Annex I.
Annex 1.1: Please insert a map indicating the project/programme location .
Figure 5: GCF project’s geographic location
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Figure 6: Geographical location of the various initiatives supporting the on-going REDD+ National Strategy
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Annexe 1.2: A theory of change the proposed activities in the project
Figure 7: A theory 1 of change the proposed activities in the project
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Annexe 1.3: A theory of change for replication of the proposed activities in the project in other countries
Figure 8 A theory of change for replication of the proposed activities in the project in other countries
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ANNEX 1.4: Status of the REDD+ process in Côte d’Ivoire 1. Côte d’Ivoire is a Party to the UNFCCC. Under this convention, it embarked on a REDD+ readiness process thus illustrating its desire to contribute to efforts of the International Community to fight against climate change.
2. In Côte d’Ivoire, the REDD+ process addresses drivers of deforestation and forest degradation, and barriers to conservation, enhancement of forest carbon stocks and sustainable management of forests, with the aim of stabilising the national forest cover at 20% of the landscape, to ensure a hydro-climatic and ecological balance, a prerequisite for sustainable development. The progress of the preparation of the REDD+ NS, which will be adopted at a high political level in October 2016 is described below.
The preparation of the REDD+ NS 3. The REDD+ NS is one of the major components of the REDD+ CI roadmap. The REDD+ National Strategy preparation process starts with identifying the major drivers of deforestation and forest degradation and barriers to conservation, enhancement of forest carbon stocks and sustainable management of forests as well as strategic options to address these drivers and barriers. The progress of the strategy is shown below: • A strategic vision known as “Vision Emergente REDD+CI [REDD+CI Emerging Vision]” drafted in November 2015 and presented to COP 21. (RCI. REDD+ Vision Nov. 2015). This vision is listed in the 2016-2020 PND and in the document “Côte d’Ivoire Vision 2040”. • Concept notes which present, for each strategic option, PAMs identified to address issues and specific objectives. Draft versions of the concept notes were discussed during the workshop of 8 and 9 March 2016. Final versions containing observations and recommendations of participants are available since the end of March 2016. • Setting up of Technical Groups (TGs) with several stakeholders, to prepare sectorial strategies specific to the Strategic Options which constitute the basis of the Côte d’Ivoire’s REDD+ NS. To ensure that the REDD+ NS is consistent with the NDP and that there is a strong ownership by all stakeholders, SEP-REDD+ ensured that the TG be composed of multiple actors and that the presidency and secretariat be run by the technical ministries in charge of issues addressed in the strategic options. • A logical chain of stages and a corresponding schedule to be finalized to prepare the REDD+ NS taking into account: (1) work planning in the various TGs supported by SEP-REDD+, (2) Workshops to share TG results and (3) high level presentation and validation of the National Strategy.
A series of PAMs adopted during the current stage of the main areas of intervention of each strategic option (see Table 1).
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Table 1: Synopsis of the main axes of the REDD+ NS PAMs and Strategic Options
STRATEGIC OPTION 1: ZERO DEFORESTATION AGRICULTURE
Axis 1: Regularization of the status of illicit farms into GF and AP together with SODEFOR and OIPR. Axis 2: Preparation of village land management plans, taking into account forests with High Carbon Stocks (HCS) and High Conservation Values (HCV). Axis 3: Development of an agricultural land registry for monitoring the development of cultivated land and the traceability of farms by sector. Axis 4: Facilitation of access to high quality plant material, inputs and agricultural information. Axis 5: Incentives for zero deforestation agriculture (FIA, PES). Axis 6: Promotion of the label “Products from Zero Deforestation Agriculture”. Axis 7: Forestry exploitation of spaces made available by the intensification of agriculture (reforestation, assisted natural regeneration).
STRATEGIC OPTION 2: DEVELOPMENT OF SUSTAINABLE DOMESTIC ENERGY
Axis 1: Preparation of master plans for supplying energy wood in urban centres. Axis 2: Organization and structuring of the energy wood sector. Axis 3: Modernization of carbonization techniques (sensitization, training, incentives). Axis 4: Promotion of efficacy and energy sobriety. Axis 5: Promotion of renewable energy (solar energy, biomass thermal power plants). Axis 6: Promotion of gender approach in adopting renewable energy.
STRATEGIC OPTION 3: FLEGT / REDD+ SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF GF AND AP
Axis 1: Restoration and maintenance of carbon production and storage potential. Axis 2: Reinforcing of the participatory management of DFPE (PAG, M&MRV, local management institutions, management infrastructure). Axis 3: Adaptation of industrial tool to FC production capacity. Axis 4: Development of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) for developing DFPE resources (forestry, wood industry, ecotourism, NTFPs). Axis 5: Development of a social communication strategy (like IUCN). Axis 6: Building of institutional and organizational capacities for managing national agencies in charge of FC and AP.
STRATEGIC OPTION 4: RESTORATION OF DEGRADED FORESTS AND REFORESTATION
Axis 1: National reforestation policy. Axis 2: Promotion of reforestation in various bio-geographic zones of the country. Axis 3: Mechanism for long term funding of reforestation. Axis 4: Incentives for reforestation promotion (PES, long term funding). Axis 5: Development of private and community forestry.
STRATEGIC OPTION 5: ENVIRONMENT-FRIENDLY MINING
Axis 1: Development of a national database on small-scale mining.
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Axis 2: Formalization of sector actors. Axis 3: Incentives for adopting good mining practices. Axis 4: Control of migration to the mining sector. Axis 5: Involvement of the private mining sector in the rehabilitation of degraded exploitation zones as part of social responsibility.
Alignment of FIP with the REDD+ NS 4. FIP supports the strategy by taking into account many of the areas above. In order to monitor consistency between FIP and the REDD+ NS, SEP REDD+ has set up a group to monitor preparation of FIP. This group serves as an interface between the REDD+ National Strategy preparation team and that of FIP to ensure consistency to attain the objectives of the REDD+ NS. A similar process will be put in place for the preparation of the preparation of the Carbon Fund Emissions Reductions Programme Document.
Preparation for REDD+ or R-PP: achievements 5. Côte d’Ivoire drew up its REDD+ preparation plan in 2014 (RCI. R-PP, May 2014). Currently in its preparatory phase, the progress by component is summarised in Table 2 below.
Table 2: Progress of REDD+ process and R package
COMPONE SUB- PROGRESS RECORDED NT COMPONENTS
D Decree to set up the National REDD+ Commission which is functional. 1a. National REDD D SEP-REDD+ is the CN-REDD organ in charge of the daily management of management the REDD+ mechanism through its information and sensitisation activities. measures It has been a strong institutional anchor uniting all the stakeholders around REDD+ issues. 1. D Several information, training, sensitization and consultation workshops for Organisati all stakeholders in FIB zones were held. o n and D A joint FLEGT/REDD+ platform of civil society organisations called consultatio 1b. Observatoire Ivoirien pour la Gestion Durable des Ressources Naturelles ns Consultation, (OI-REN) Ivorian Observatory for the Sustainable Management of Natural participation Resources (OI-REN) was set up. and D Permanent dialogue has been established with the private sector sensitization (chocolate makers, cocoa exporters, inter-professional organizations and research structures) This was reinforced with the preparation of the “zero deforestation” agriculture concept note and the notes on the programme on the reduction of emissions around the Tai National Park (ER-PIN). 2a. D Funded by the World Bank and FAO, studies necessary to inform the REDD+ Preparatory National Strategy have begun. studies D A feasibility study on the Payment for Environmental Services has been carried out and specifications for the implementation of test projects are 2. available. The study on the profit-sharing plan will end in July 2016. Preparing D Regarding complaints and appeals, the provisional report of the study on the REDD+ 2b. the implementation of a complaint settlement mechanism (MRP) was Strategy Implementation submitted in December 2015 and is being finalized. framework D Regarding implementation of the FLEGT process, negotiations with the European Union on the legality grid have taken place and the agreement is expected to be signed in 2017. Many collaboration avenues have been identified, first at the level of the civil society with the implementation of the REDD+/FLEGT platform for civil society. Monthly meetings are
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COMPONE SUB- PROGRESS RECORDED NT COMPONENTS
organized and a 2016 joint working plan has been prepared. D Consultations for conducting a study on EESS and CGES have begun. D The restitution of studies of six instruments (Strategic Environmental and 2c. Social and Social Evaluation (SESA), Environmental and Social Management environmental Framework (ESMF), Functional Framework (FF), Resettlement Policy impact Framework (RPF), Physical Cultural Resource Management Framework assessment (CGRCP), Pest and Pesticide Management Plan (PPMP) for environmental and social safety are expected in May 2016. . D Training national actors on RL and GHG inventories. Elaboration D Establishing a working group on the reference level made up of national of a 3. Forest experts from ministries, government technical structures, universities and National Reference research centres. Forest Emission Level D The launching of the study on the evaluation of eco-systemic services and Reference the mapping of multiple benefits has been done and the economic Emission evaluation of eco-systemic services is underway. Level 4a. National forestry D Building technical capacities of national structures involved in MRV 4. monitoring D Setting up a GIS unit within SEP REDD Introductio system n of a 4b. system for Information measuring, system on reporting multiple D A digital platform for sharing and visualizing data has been set up. and benefits, other D A legal framework for collaboration with national structures for data verificatio impacts, sharing and SNSF activities is being drawn up. n (MRV) governance and safe guards
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Annex 1.5: Programmes and Projects currently in progress
Projects and programmes in the agricultural sector • The Agriculture Sector Support Project (ASSP) (Funding: 150 million USD) The ASSP is part of the National Agricultural Investment Plan (NAIP) and is intended to be an instrument of development in five strategic agricultural value chains (Cocoa, Rubber, Oil Palm, Cotton and Cashew) with a significant impact on poverty reduction and the economic development of Côte d’Ivoire. The regions concerned are: Nawa for cocoa; South Comoé and La Mé for rubber and oil palm; Gbêkê, Hambol, Poro and Tchologo for cotton; Béré, Gontougo and Bounkani for cashew nuts. One component of this project relates to support for the implementation of the Rural Land Law by delimiting village land, issuing land certificates and registering leases in fifteen (15) departments.
• Certification programmes: "Greening the Cocoa Industry" (Funding: 20 million USD) "Greening the Cocoa Industry" is a project initiated by the Rainforest Alliance (RA) with the support of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in the area of the ERP. Its goal is to change production practices in cocoa-producing countries and also the management procedures of the cocoa and chocolate companies to ensure that the industry plays a more active role in biodiversity conservation while at the same time contributing to an increase in the earnings of small producers, in order to guarantee the sustainable development of cocoa cultivation.
• Initiative for Sustainable Landscapes (ISLA) (Funding: 5.65 million USD) Developed by IDH, the Initiative for Sustainable Landscapes (ISLA) aims to promote joint public and private sector investments, in particular in sustaining the viability of the landscape, protecting livelihoods and agricultural products, while at the same time preserving natural resources. The ISLA programme therefore provides a meeting platform to facilitate public-private dialogue between the government, the branch of activity and local populations. The FAG will be able to draw on the experience of this initiative in setting up a three-way exchange platform (State/populations/private sector).
• The Vision for Change (V4C) project (Funding: 30 million USD) The Mars chocolate company's Vision for Change (V4C) project developed by the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) in the region of Soubré aims to revitalize the cocoa industry by rehabilitating old cocoa plantations through grafting technology in order to increase the productivity of the land parcels, in addition to limiting the expansion of plantations and diversifying the incomes of small farmers through diversification and the promotion of agroforestry. This project is a fine example of the rehabilitation of high-yielding cocoa plantations. The FAG will capitalize on this project within its area of intervention. The experience gained by the ICRAF, and its collaboration with the national rural development agency (ANADER), and the national centre for agronomic research (CNRA), will be built upon in order to optimize certain of the FAG's approaches.
• Promotion of Agricultural Value Chains and Biodiversity programme (PROFIAB) (Funding: 13.5 million USD) Initiated by the GIZ (German corporation for international cooperation), PROFIAB will contribute to the development of a national concept of agriculture that is sustainable and favourable to biodiversity while at the same time respecting and preserving the last biosphere reserves in Côte d'Ivoire. It provides support for the development of the agriculture sector and the environment. In particular, the programme aims to support the population of the Southwest regions in the sustainable exploitation of the economic potential of the regions bordering the Taï National Park (TNP) and the natural resources present there, while at the same time re- establishing and enhancing biodiversity. As part of this project, educational materials on reforestation and the sustainable management of forests is available and used for the establishment of forest plantations, in schools and other activities carried out by the local populations. The actions of the FAG on the edges of some
PROJECT / PROGRAMME CONCEPT NOTE GREEN CLIMATE FUND | PAGE 39 OF 43 protected areas, in the western area in particular, will have to complement those of this programme. Useful lessons should also be drawn for the promotion of economic value chains relating to timber.
• Adaptation to Climate Change Project (ACCP) (Funding: 6 million USD) The Adaptation to Climate Change Project (ACCP), initiated by the German corporation for international cooperation (GIZ), aims to secure the livelihoods of populations affected by conflicts in the regions of Cavally, Gboklé, Nawa, Guémon and San Pédro (regions around the Taï National Park). Its approach is based on improved food security and on strengthened capacities for sustainable adaptation to climate change. This project seeks to improve and intensify agricultural production in these areas by developing lowlands for the promotion of subsistence crops (rice, maize, manioc, plantain banana etc.), fruits and vegetables and off- season crops. It also entails the promotion of improved seeds that are adapted to climate change (short-cycle seeds and varieties resistant to water stress etc.). This will provide a means of supporting the goals of the FAG by encouraging agricultural intensification and agricultural adaptation to climate change.
• "Quantity, Quality, Growth" (2QC) programme (Funding: 92 million USD from the government) At a total estimated cost of approximately 460 billion CFA francs for the period 2014 – 2023, this programme is funded in part by the Coffee-Cocoa Board (Government) which distributes selected cocoa seeds (early, high- yield varieties). The goal of this programme is to "make the coffee-cocoa sector prosperous and sustainable for stakeholders throughout the value chain. ". With regard to cocoa, the aim is to maintain the position as leading global cocoa producer by optimizing production through intensification of the production system and the application of sustainable production practices. For coffee, the aim is to boost production in order to win back the country's position as Africa's leading producer of Robusta. This aim of this sector development programme is to secure the incomes of stakeholders throughout the value chain for coffee and cocoa and, in particular, to contribute to promoting the socio-economic well-being of producers. Here, the FAG will find elements relating to the intensification of production systems, useful for improving the acceptability of the introduction of trees and arresting agricultural expansion.
• National Interpretation of the RSPO standard (Funding: 0.3 million USD) Funded by the Ivorian Government, the aim of this project is to develop a national interpretation of the RSPO (Round table for Sustainable Palm Oil) principles and criteria, which will lead to the award of RSPO certification to Ivorian oil palm producers. This project benefits the Inter-professional Association of Oil-Palm Industry (AIPH). The results produced by this project can be used to assess the benefit of seeking certification in other sectors in which the FAG will intervene (the economic chain relating to teakwood, for example, but also cocoa chains coupled with agroforestry).
Forest projects and programmes • Taï –Sapo Cross-Border Corridor project (Funding: 6.65 million USD) Initiated by GRASP/UNEP and the Wild Chimpanzee Foundation (WCF) then taken up by GIZ and KfW as a complement to the GRASP-WCF initiative, the corridor project aims to connect the Taï National Park forest (Côte d’Ivoire) and the Sapo Forest (Liberia). This initiative uses environmental preservation incentives, such as payments for environmental services, to encourage the population to participate in conservation and reforestation efforts. It also involves land use planning, capacity-building for institutions in charge of natural resources management in both countries, and the establishment of a long- term funding mechanism for these interventions. The FAG will be able to build on this project’s approaches in terms of the use of PES in conservation and reforestation efforts as well as institutional capacity building.
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REDD+ project: Initiatives directly connected with the implementation of the REDD+ National Strategy • Multisector programme: REDD+ Readiness (UN-REDD/FCPF/EU-EFI) (Funding 15 million USD) The preparation phase for the implementation of the REDD+ national architecture and for ensuring political and national dialogue on transition to a green economy is supported by the UN-REDD+ Programme (3.4 million dollars), the European Union REDD+ Facility (approximately 1 million dollars) and the FCFP (3.8 million). A request for additional funds in the amount of 5 million dollars was submitted to the FCPF, for the purposes of completing the architecture preparation phase which in theory is due to complete in 2019. This phase is necessary for the creation of a national context that incentivizes investment in structuring projects by guaranteeing a national approach that will prevent deforestation leakage from one region to another.
• Forest Investment Programme/WB and AfDB (Funding of 28 million USD) With the support of the World Bank and the African Development Bank, the Forest Investment Programme has been developed around a national medium- and long-term vision of the REDD+ National Strategy, sustainably reconciling the economic interests of stakeholders with the aim of preserving and sustainably managing the forests of Côte d’Ivoire. The interventions of the FIP will focus primarily on sectors that are key drivers (direct and indirect) of deforestation within the country, namely the agriculture, energy (charcoal and fuelwood) and timber sectors. The activities have been designed with a dual objective: to reduce and arrest destructive activities, such as illegal logging in natural forests, as well as conserving and restoring the forest cover through the introduction of agroforestry, securing land tenure and access rights, improving forest management and monitoring, and improving rural livelihoods through alternative income generation. These activities are designed to reflect the particular political and geographic environments of Côte d’Ivoire, namely the rural domain, gazetted forests and protected areas, as well as the socio-economic concerns of all stakeholders, including local communities, the private sector and vulnerable groups such as women and young people. The project will be implemented in the Central zone including the N’Zi Comoé region, the former “cocoa belt”; and the Southwest zone, including the Taï National Park, a protected area of dense forest and a centre of high biodiversity, and its peripheral areas.
• The FCPF/World Bank Carbon Fund (Probable funding of 50 million USD) Côte d’Ivoire submitted its application in June 2015. The jurisdictional area covered by the programme includes the administrative regions of Cavally, Nawa and San Pédro and Gboklè, making a total surface area of 3,586,234 hectares. An ER-PIN was drafted and approved at the FCPF meeting in September 2015. The MINESUDD (Ministry of Environment, Urban Sanitation and Sustainable Development) is currently working on drafting an ER-PD ahead of the forthcoming signature of an ERPA between Côte d’Ivoire and the World Bank in late 2017. With the carbon facility, this reduction programme will provide the country with experience in performance- based payments in the first phase of implementation of the REDD+ National Strategy. The performance-based payments generated by the programme will be put back in, in the form of investment.
• REDD+/AFD pilot project (Funding 4 million USD) Funded under the Debt Reduction-Development Contract (C2D), the REDD+ pilot project aims to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions produced by deforestation while at the same time improving the living conditions for the local populations of the forests concerned. It forms part of the REDD+ National Strategy funding. The project is thus intended to deliver the major strategic options of REDD+ at local level, in the region of Même around the Mabi-Yaya complex and its buffer zone incorporating village territories comprising twenty localities and fifty hamlets.
• Cacao Ami de la Forêt (Cocoa, Friend of the Forest)/AFD pilot project (Funding: 4.6 million USD; - AFD 2 million USD and CÉMOI 2.6 million USD -)
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As part of the implementation of the REDD+ Strategy, the European Union REDD+ facility EU-REDD and SEP- REDD+ have launched a pilot project on the implementation of the zero deforestation policy in the cocoa value chain, in partnership with the chocolate manufacturer CÉMOI and Mondelēz International, with the technical support of the consortium between SalvaTerra, the ICRAF and the Ivorian Mapping and Remote Sensing Center. Taking the form of a feasibility study, in the first year the project targeted 962 small cocoa producers in Aboisso. The study results formed the basis of outcomes such as (i) a diagnosis of traceability within the value chain11; (ii) a model traceability tool12; (iii) instructions for linking the traceability tool and GIS data13; (iv) a note on the improved techniques in cocoa production14 and (v) a protocol for mapping relative HCSs in RCI15. On the basis of the results obtained, through the SEP-REDD+ and the Coffee Board and with the support of the French Development Agency as part of the second tranche of funding under the Debt Reduction and Development Contract (C2D), the Ivorian government, in partnership with the chocolate manufacturer CÉMOI as part of its Transparence (Transparency) project, has launched a project called "Cacao Ami de la Forêt" (Cocoa, Friend of the Forest), larger in scope than the pilot project, in the department of Aboisso.
• Mondelēz Cocoa Life in Côte d’Ivoire programme (Funding: 130 million USD) On 2 December 2016, Mondelēz International (NASDAQ: MDLZ) has committed to leading private sector action under the national anti-deforestation programme in Côte d’Ivoire.16 This commitment was made during the COP21 climate negotiations in Paris and it will contribute to the recent sustainable development goals announced by the company for 2020. Under the Cocoa Life programme, the world's biggest chocolate manufacturer, Mondelēz International, intends to bring about a transformational change in its cocoa value chain. It has invested 400 million USD in supporting 200,000 small producers, with the aim of creating flourishing cocoa communities in Côte d’Ivoire and in five other regions across the world. With Cocoa Life, Mondelēz international is contributing to the REDD+ national programme of Côte d'Ivoire in support of the country's ambitious goal of achieving zero net deforestation in the cocoa industry. Of the 200,000 cocoa producers targeted by the programme worldwide, in Côte d'Ivoire Cocoa Life seeks to increase the productivity of 75,000 cocoa growers and improve their living conditions by 2022, while at the same time encouraging sustainable development practices for environmental protection. This project is in place in various regions in the supply basins of Mondelēz. A feasibility study (described above) has already identified the actions to be undertaken and a pilot project involving 5,000 producers is now under way. Through Cocoa Life, Mondelēz will be involved in the FAG project as a co-funder and could offer a successful public-private partnership model for addressing issues of deforestation.
• National programme of Payment for Environmental Services (PES)/UN-REDD and EU-EFI programme Together with the CIRAD, Côte d’Ivoire has initiated a feasibility study for the establishment of a national PES system. On the basis of this study, field visits were carried out in order to pre-identify possible implementation sites. This will provide a means of testing methods and gaining experience. Specifications have been drafted, to offer practical guidance on implementing the PES mechanism at pilot scale. Model PES contracts are also available. The PES system will be used in the REDD+ projects currently under way in order to incentivize small producers to adopt sustainable agricultural practices and establish a collective effort to restore the forest cover.
• Sustainability and Scaling Up Approaches for Transformational Management, Restoration and Conservation of Forests Landscapes and Biodiversity in Cote d’Ivoire (SSATMARC –FOLAB)/ FEM 6
11 https://www.dropbox.com/s/qvle1snrjnkwl6g/Diagnostic%20tra%C3%A7abilit%C3%A9.docx?dl=0 12 https://www.dropbox.com/s/2g3h8t17xwi6332/Outil%20de%20tra%C3%A7abilit%C3%A9.xlsm?dl=0 13 https://www.dropbox.com/s/yfx6qukbp2f8j5h/Notice%20pour%20lier%20outil%20tra%C3%A7abilit%C3%A9%20avec% 20GIS.docx?dl=0 14 https://www.dropbox.com/s/sjc5utbmbws81zp/Note%20sur%20itin%C3%A9raires%20techniques%20am%C3%A9lior %C3%A9s%20cacao.docx?dl=0 15 https://www.dropbox.com/s/zseese9jf9vip35/Cartographie%20et%20protocole%20HCS.docx?dl=0 16 http://ir.mondelezinternational.com/releasedetail.cfm?releaseid=944811
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(Funding: 6.4 million USD) The GEF intervention aims essentially at creating an enabling institutional, coordination and legal environment for the development and institutionalization of PES in support of activities to achieve REDD+ strategy and conservation efforts in the country, based on experiences from various partners on different settings as a tool to reverse the natural resources degradation trend and improve the management and governance of protected areas (classified forests, parks and reserves) and other remaining forests. The GEF support will also be directed towards removing the barriers and creating enabling conditions for the establishment of a sustainable financial mechanism in support of PES and of reducing the pressure on biodiversity, targeting to small farmers, especially, those working with the private sector and dependent on critical ecosystems such as mangroves. The mechanism should promote incentives in favour of biodiversity conservation, green rural economy including agriculture certification.
PROJECT / PROGRAMME CONCEPT NOTE GREEN CLIMATE FUND | PAGE 43 OF 43
Annex II. Please provide the pre-feasibility study report for the project/programme. Please also provide the feasibility study report, environmental and social impact assessment, and/or evaluation report, if available.
All reports are available on the following link: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/v8lnsu26oslism0/AADzdZ8zqgtAYoldoLw6EUdUa?dl=0
Study number Study Title Year 1 Côte d’Ivoire: Evaluation Environnementale post-conflit 2015 Étude de cadrage : Côte d'Ivoire - État et les possibilités d'application zéro 2 déforestation dans les secteurs de cacao, palme, hévéa ; et soutien du 2015 PNUD-GCP 3 Contributions prévues déterminées au niveau national de la cote d’ivoire 2015 4 Etude NAMA sur le charbon de bois durable en Côte d’Ivoire 2015 T21 Côte d’Ivoire – Scénarios sur la vision 2040 – Résultats et analyses 5 2016 préliminaires Étude coûts-bénéfices de la REDD+ en Côte d’Ivoire et mobilisation des 6 2013 acteurs des grandes filières agricoles et forestières Les opportunités d’investissements privés dans la REDD+ en Côte d’Ivoire - 7 2015 Etude de cadrage (draft) Evaluation du potentiel de reboisement et d’agroforesterie et proposition 8 2016 d'une stratégie de reboisement et d’agroforesterie (rapport provisoire) Interprétation des images satellites pour déterminer la surface de forêt du 9 2012 Parc national de Taï Comptes forestiers et macroéconomiques de la Côte d‘Ivoire – 10 L’importance d’établir un lien entre les Services écosystémiques et la 2016 macroéconomie – document de discussion préliminaire Comment concilier développement agricole et forestier en Côte d’Ivoire, 11 2015 et à quel coût ? 12 Une vision émergente de la REDD+ en Côte d’Ivoire 2015 Manuel de procédures d'élaboration et de mise en œuvre du schéma 13 régional d'aménagement et de développement du territoire - Direction 2016 Générale de l’Aménagement du Territoire et du Développement Régional Guide pratique des Paiements pour Services Environnementaux (PSE) en 14 Côte d’Ivoire pour la mise en œuvre de projets d’expérimentation au 2015 niveau local Étude de faisabilité pour la mise en œuvre d’un système national de 15 2015 paiements pour services environnementaux (PSE) en Côte d’Ivoire Mise en place de filières d’approvisionnement en cacao à impact réduit en 16 termes de déforestation en Côte d’Ivoire - Cartographie de l’utilisation des 2016 terres sur la zone pilote et conception d’un dispositif d’inventaire HCS Mise en place de filières d’approvisionnement en cacao à impact réduit en 17 termes de déforestation en Côte d’Ivoire - Diagnostic traçabilité dans la 2016 zone pilote Mise en place de filières d’approvisionnement en cacao à impact réduit en 18 termes de déforestation en Côte d’Ivoire - Revue agronomique pour 2016 l’expérimentation d’itinéraires techniques améliorés en Côte d’Ivoire 19 Créer un lien entre Excel et QGIS 2016 20 Politique agriculture zéro déforestation en Côte d’Ivoire 2015 Analyse qualitative des facteurs de déforestation et de dégradation des 21 2016 forêts en Côte d’Ivoire – rapport intermédiaire