Forest and Farm Facility (FFF)

TECHNICAL FINAL REPORT (Reporting Period: 16 February 2015 to 28 February, 2016)

Name of the Implementing Organization: Myanmar Environment Rehabilitation-conservation Network (MERN) I. Title of the project: Establishment of Regional level Community Forest Products Producer Association in Rakhine, Supporting MERN Membership Process for Forest and Farm Producer Groups and Developing an Effective Communication and Engagement Strategy

II. Description of the site where the project was implemented: The project was implemented in Southern Rakhine State, specifically based in Gwa township and Kyeintali sub-township where MERN implemented a project from 2011 to 2014. Gwa and Kyeintali are situated in Rakhine State of Myanmar (see annex-1). The project area is one of the less developing regions in Rakhine State which is also less developed compare to other states and divisions in Myanmar. Food security and livelihood conditions are, although, not the worst due to not too much dense population but it is still far from satisfactory level. Coastal mangrove forests which are nesting place for fish, prawn, etc., wood and energy source for local people and also contributing for Disaster Risk Reduction are degrading at alarming rate in southern part of Rakhine. Gwa Township covers the total area of 885.11 sq.miles in which Kyein-ta-li Sub-township contributes 300.08 sq. miles. Over 75% of the area in Gwa Township is covered with forest, total extent of 434,592 acres, including mangrove area. According to the forest management classification by Forest Department there is, although, no Reserved Forest in Gwa, two Protected Public Forests are existed and the others are Public Forest. Forest areas in Kyein-ta-li are also Public Forest with the total extent of approximately 349,015 acres in which about 15,000 acres of mangrove area is included. Under the Coastal Livelihood and Environmental Assets Restoration in Rakhine-CLEARR project which was implemented by MERN, 42 small holder producer groups, mainly CFUGs (Community Forest User Groups), have been successfully established. Therefore, it is in need of establishing a regional level sectoral-platform to be able to join community level to national level, specifically to CFNWG.

III. Participants / Beneficiaries: This project will cover over 42 Community Forest User Groups in consist of about 1200 members

IV. Objectives of the Letter of Agreement (LoA) The objective of this LoA is to establishing a state level producer association from existing community forestry user groups to engage in a national level cross-sectoral platform, while simultaneously strengthening MERN’s membership and communication strategy The expected outcomes of this LoA are:-

1. Strengthened human resources capacity of MERN and MERN membership process for forest and farm producer groups is operational 2. Communication strategy for existing and new members, including for the engagement and development of forest and farm producers groups, is established 3. Existing Community Forest User Groups (CFUGs) in Kyeintali and Gwa in Southern Rakhine region are strengthened for business development planning 4. Regional level Community Forest Products Producer Association (CFPPA) is well functioning in Rakhine region

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V. Brief Description of project implementation (as per proposed activities)

1.1. Support to existing Service Provider staff members and recruitment of one year program staff responsible for communication and membership development, under the overall leadership of the MERN CEO Aung Thant Zin (ATZ), the CEO of MERN is taking the responsibility of FFF-Myanmar Facilitator for the FFF Myanmar Program since its’ starting days. Under his supervision, the Program Manager of MERN also assisted in FFF Program activities, especially in market-led activities. Furthermore, a Program Officer was recruited for communication and member coordination under FFF support. The organization chart of MERN is given in Annex 1. In the beginning of network formatin, MERN composed of 17 local environmental NGOs. In 2015, It reached up 21 members and brief information is given in Annex 2. Now, Five local NGOs applied for membership: Myanmar Forest Association (MFA), Chin State-based Myanmar Enhancement to Empower Tribal (MEET), Ayeyarwady Delta-based Nature and Environmental Rehabilitation Network (NERN), Community Development Action (CDA), and Karuna Mission Social Solidarity (KMSS), a Karen organization. At least two other NGOs, from Karen State, China State, and Sagaing Division, have expressed interest in joining, reflecting a move to diversify MERN’s membership away from Yangon. According to the MERN Charter, CBO-Community Based Organizations can be a member of Observer status or Associate member status. The Central Executive Committee of MERN sees the Community Forest Products Producer Association as CBO so that they can be a Observer or Associate members of MERN if they applied. Due to focusig on formation of township and regional level CFPPAs, they haven’t apply yet to MERN for membership. Under the leadership of CEO-MERN, the Program Manager and Program Officer (Communication and Network Coordination) worked for FFF program implementation, coordination & collaboration with government, specifically with the Forest Department and Implementing Partners (ECCDI, SDF, SVS, MHDO, MCS, AYO, FREDA, etc.). They also participated in FFF Retreat/Annual Program Planning Meeting, Regional Training on Market Analysis & Development and the exchange visits. MERN team coordinated for FFF mid-term evaluation. During this project period, MERN team organized 2 trainings, 1 follow up training and 1 national exchange. CEO prepared and sent the Facilitator’s monthly reports and contributed in reports of trainings and national exchange with the assistance of Program Manager and Program Officer. CEO involved in FFF Country Coach’s Mission including meeting with the Director-General and senior officials of the Forest Department.

1.2 Drawing up a FFF program work plan, coordination of existing FFF projects and meetings in Myanmar Before the FFF 2015-Retreat, CEO, Program Manager and Program Officer (Communication and Network Coordination) discussed and prepared the draft Workplan-2016. On behalf of Aung Thant Zin (ATZ), CEO-MERN and FFF-Myanmar Facilitator, Ms. Khin Nyein Nyein Mon, Program Officer (Communication and Network Coordination) attended at the FFF 2015-Retreat and she presented the work plan 2016 for Myanmar. According to the comments given on her presentation and with the support of Mr. Jhony Zapate, Country Coach for Myanmar, the draft work plan-2016 was further updated with the inputs of CEO-MERN and Program Manager. Then, the work plan was finalized with the FFF implementing partners in January 2016 in Yangon, Myanmar. The final work plan finalized with the FFF-IPs are given in the Annex 3.

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1.3 Field visits to emerging forest and farm producer organizations at township level in at least three states Three field visits were made to Southern Shan State in November 2015, to Ayeyarwady Delta in December 2015 and to Southern Rakhine in January 2016. The first visit was made to the Southern Shan State by leaving on 6 November, 2016 from Yangon. On 7 November, the FFF MERN team, comprising of FFF-Myanmar Facilitator, Program Manager and Program Assistant from MERN met with FFF-ECCDI Assistant Project In-Charge and the committee members of CFPPAs in Aungban. The progress of the project was discussed and holding the event of Southern Shan State level CFPPA formation was also discussed to be happened in December 2015. Then, the team visited to FFF-MCS project villages on 8 December and monitored the development of producer groups formed under FFF-MCS project. The trip was ended by going back to Yangon on 9 December, 2016. The second visit to Ayeyarwady Delta was done on 30 December 2016. The team comprised of 4 members; CEO-MERN & FFF Facilitator ATZ, Program Officer, Program Assistant and an Intern person. At first, the team visited to field office of Network Activity Group in Pya Pon Town and discussed about progress of a small grant project implemented by MERN & IUCN funded by EU. Then, the team proceed to Bogalay. The team met with FFF-SVS project in-charge and CFPPA members from project villages in Bogalay. Formation of sub-township level East Meinmahla CFPPA was discussed to be happened in first quarter of 2017 and business development and linkages for the CFPPAs were also discussed. The last trip to Gwa and Kyeintali in Southern Rakhine was undertaken from 15 to 18 January, 2016. The team comprised of 3 members; CEO-MERN & FFF Facilitator ATZ, Program Officer, Program Assistant. The team met with FFF-RCA-ECCDI project in-charge and CFPPA members in Kyeintali sub-township on 16 January and visited to two CFPPA villages. The team also met with CFPPA members in Gwa Township on 17 January and discussed to form Southern Rakhine CFPPA. Progress and other issues were also discussed. From three field visits it could support the CFPPAs for the approaches for business development and encourage them to be happened the formation of regional CFPPAs.

2.1 Setting up a communication strategy together with forest and farm producer organizations, as part of a broader the Service Provider’s communication strategy The communication strategy was drafted by the FFF-Myanmar Facilitator with the support of Program Officer (Communication and Network Coordination) in January 2016. Then, the draft strategy was discussed within MERN team. Later in February, the draft was also discussed with the FFF Implementing Partners and some CFPPA members and comments are requested. The final draft could be prepared in the last week of February, 2016. The draft Communication Strategy is given in the Annex 4.

2.2 Dialogues with potential new members, including forest and farm producer organizations, about the issues they want to raise at national level, and a strategy to help them achieve it In November 2015, FFF-Myanmar Facilitator visited to Forest Resource Environment conservation and Development Association-FREDA in Yangon to discuss for organizing the Community Forest User Groups in Ayeyarwady to form township level associations a regional level associations. During the 3 field visits, the issues and constraints facing by the CFPPAs were discussed and put forwarded in CFNWG meeting.

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3.1 Organizing an inception workshop involving members of Management Committees of all CFUGs to raise awareness and educate them about community forestry and community forest enterprises The ECCDI and RCA project team organized an inception workshop of FFF project on 20-21 May, 2015 in Gwa Township. Government staff from Forest Department, General Administrative Department, and members of the Management Committees of Community Forest User Groups- CFUGs established under CLEARR project were invited and attended. In the Inception Workshop, the concept about FFF Program, potentialities of business development and formation of Township level and Regional producer associations were presented and discussed. Total of 84 participants (60 males & 21 females) attended. The workshop was concluded with the important decision of the formation of township and sub-regional level producer association during this project period.

3.2 Conduct socio-economic survey and market analysis in the local markets to identify the most promising products that can be produced by the CFUGs ECCDI project team conducted the socio-economic survey and market analysis was undertaken from 23rd to 29th December, 2015. The team conducted the market surveys comprised of the facts that most selling-buying products, where they come from and way of transporting modes, the maximum and minimum prices of whole sales and retailer sales were collected in local markets were done in three townships including Gwa, Kyeintali and YaeKyi.

3.3 Meet with FUGs to assess their capacities and decide products to produce At the end of the socio-economic survey and market analysis, Forest user groups met on 30 December 2015 in Gwa Township and discussed their opinions on their own capacities and the potential products.

3.4 Identify training needs and provide the following trainings-

Training needs were also assessed by discussing with the CFUGs during the period of socio- economic survey and market analysis. The required topics of the following trainings were prepared based on the needs assessed. The trainings were conducted at the Training and Education Hall of the RCA NGO, in Kyeintali Sub-Township. The following trainings were conducted continuously from 16th to 21th February, 2016 and a total of 45 participants comprising 30 females and 15 males in each training.

3.4.1 Technical trainings to be able to produce selected products (forest, non-forest and agricultural products that the Association wishes to produce) Training on “Planting bamboo in natural forest and establishing bamboo plantation” was conducted on 18 April, 2016 in Kyeintali. The training was led by U Htay Aung, retired Forest Officer from Forest Department. Training on “Producing bamboo charcoal and silviculture of bamboo” was conducted on 20th February 2016 in Kyeintali. The training was led by Daw Khin May Lwin, Bamboo Expert from Forest Research Institute, Forest Department. Training on “Crab breeding/raising” was conducted on 21st February, 2016 in Kyeintali. The training was led by U Htin Aung Kyaw, Fishery and Crab Expert from Fishery Department.

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3.4.2 Business-oriented trainings to build business capacity of the FUGs (potential entrepreneurs) The following business-oriented trainings were conducted from 20th to 22nd February, 2016 at the Training and Education Hall of the RCA NGO, in Kyeintali Sub-Township. A total of 45 participants comprising 30 females and 15 males attended. Training on “Market Analysis and Development” was conducted on 16-17 February, led by Myat Ko Ko Oo, Program Assistant from ECCDI who attended at the Regional MA&D TOT training in Vietnam in January 2015. Training on “Book Keeping and Financial Management” was conducted on 19th February, led by Daw May Me Moe Pwint Phyu, Finance Officer from MERN. Some presentations are given in the Annex 5.

4.1 Mobilize CFUGs to recognize the benefits of associations or group work ECCDI-RCA project team visited to the project villages where the CFUG or producer groups are based. The team share the information about the strength and benefits of working as an association or a group. They also discussed the business development through working together as a group. Total of 45 CFUGs who are forest & farm producer groups in Southern Rakhine were mobilized and the mobilizing visits were made between 22nd and 30th August, 2015.

4.2 Catalyze a process through which the formation of a township level community forest products producer association (CFPPA) in GWA township takes place, including selecting the management committee, drawing up the roles and responsibilities, and business planning After mobilizing with the producer groups, the meeting for formation of township level Community Forest Products Producer Associations (CFPPAs) were made at the end of the August in Gwa Township. Total of 51 members attended and 3 township-level CFPPAs were formed including Gwa Township, Kyeintali Township and Thandwe Township on 31st August 2015.

4.3 Forming Regional level CF Products Producer Association (CFPPA) in Rakhine region including selecting the management committee, drawing up the roles & responsibility and business planning At the end of February 2015, 3 township level CFPPAs comprising 45 CFUGs agreed and formed Southern Rakhine CFPPA. The chairman and committee member of the Southern Rakhine CFPPA are as follow.

Sr. Name Responsibility Mother CFPPA Remark 1 U Kyi Than Chairman Kyeintali-2 2 U Thein Naing Secretary Kyeintali-3 3 U Soe Win Member Yammar kyun 4 U Ohn Shwe Member Pone hnyet 5 U Than Sein Member Chinkywin

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4.4 Coordinating and cooperation with other regional associations and national level cross-sectoral platform (CFNWG) The committee member of the Southern Rakhine CFPPA met with cooperative association of Gwa Township just after formation the association. They also met with the member of the district CF Unit who are government staff of Forest Department for strengthening the community forestry activities and related issues. Although, Southern Rakhine CFPPA hasn’t have direct access with CFNWG, MERN was making coordination within them. The Focal Person from Forest Department who is also executive member of CFNWG is going to visit to Southern Rakhine and will meet with CFPPA members.

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Please answer the following questions, describing the situation before and after the project. Describe what changes you have achieved. What worked well or did not work well in the project that you want to share

DESCRIBE HOW YOU FORMED A FOREST FARM PRODUCER GROUP 1. How many forest producer groups did you form and where? (with how many male and female members?) (I1.1.1) Total of 45 Community Forest User Groups-CFUG were organized and strengthened as producer groups in Southern Rakhine State. Based on the 45 FCUG, 3 township level Community Forest Product Producer Associations-CFPPAs are formed and finally Southern Rakhine CFPPA was formed. Total of 675 members including 515 male and 160 female members were consisted in.

2. Did the group(s) adequately represent everyone? (Women? Youth? Marginalised groups?) (I1.1.2)

It can be said that the groups represented for everyone such as women, youth and marginalized groups.

3. How many of the leaders were women? (I1.1.4) Normally, there are 2-3 women involved in executive committee.

4. How many meetings did the group hold to decide on their priorities and what were they? (I1.1.5)

As they have just formed the CFPPAs, the meetings held were about 3 times each but mostly focus on information sharing and solving the issues.

5. What encouraged people to join or discouraged them and why? (RQ1.1) Consortium approach, business development and benefit sharing will be encourage them to join in the group.

6. How can representativeness in producer organisations be increased (e.g. for women, youth etc)? (RQ1.1) In the awareness raising events, there will be some explanation about the tangible and intangible benefits, availability of sources for forest products and non-forest products from the community forest and access to financing. Women and youths participation is given as priority and their advice and suggestions are valued. The management committee organize them to let them know their roles and responsibility and trained them to involve in planning. By this way the representatives become increased.

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DECRIBE HOW YOU HELPED THEM DEVELOP A BUSINESS 7. To what products did your producer organisations add value and how (or did they simply sell raw material)? (I2.1) The forest products such as poles, posts and fuelwoods, non-wood forest products such as Nippa palm and its leaf, liquid, honey, etc., and fishery products such as shrimps, crabs, fishes were added as valued products. Up to the present, they are simply sold out as raw material.

8. Did forming a group help producers to access finance (and for what)?(I2.2) Forming as a group can be access finance. The example can be given the formation of cooperative groups under cooperative law. The cooperative groups can access to the finance from cooperative bank.

9. Did groups improve how members found buyers? If so how? (I2.1.1) The FFF project implementing partner ECCDI helped CFPPAs in coordination with business groups. Therefore the CFPPAs have partnership with Bamboo & Rattan Exporter Association and they can sell their products.

10. Did the group develop (and write down) a proper business plan? (I2.1.2) The CFPPA-Kyeintali developed the business plan based on the bamboo production.

11. What were the most effective ways of increasing knowledge about how to develop businesses? (RQ2.1)

Before the project, communities did their business activities in traditional and/or ad hoc ways. The project team ECCDI & RCA had provided both technical and business trainings to at least four representatives from each CFUG. The most effective ways of increasing knowledge about how to develop businesses are through conducting trainings, workshops and exchange visits.

12. How did producers gain access to finance and what can be done to improve their control over finance? (RQ2.1)

Although the producers did not gain direct access to finance, they got a link between the producers i.e. CFUGs and the Myanmar Rattan and Bamboo Entrepreneurs Association for the production of rattan and bamboo value added products. This arrangement will ultimately lead to securing investment from entrepreneur. Giving trainings on business management to the community producers can improve their control over finance. MERN will also provide assistance to CFUGs in financial management

13. Is funding being allocated to producer groups’ priorities? (RQ2.1)

Due to not a long project period, the producer group could not save any kind of funding so that it hasn’t seen how they allocate their fund. However, the funding form FFF was able to use in their priorities.

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DESCRIBE WHAT YOU LEARNED FROM THE EXCHANGE VISITS 14. Describe one highlight from any Myanmar exchange visits your producer organisation took part in? (I2.3.1) There was no internal exchange event in Myanmar/ 15. Describe one highlight from any exchange with another country? (4.1.2) An exchange visit involving CFPPA members, Cooperative members, Forest Department staff was conducted to Vietnam in October, 2015. It gave the participants the opportunity to openly express their views and issues. Such exchange meeting and visit of experiences could contribute significantly to the success of the project.

16. What new practices, plans and systems did you use afterwards? (I2.3.2)

In Myanmar, people are using timber with the thick sizes. It was learnt from Vietnam that small timber are also valuable both for constructions and furniture.

17. What made the exchange visits useful for you? (RQ2.3)

By conducting local and international exchange visits, good practices from other places/organizations can be studied, adapted and adopted

18. What topic should exchange visits focus on and why? (RQ2.3) Exchange visits should focus on how to ensure community’s socio-economic and environmental development in a sustainable manner

19. How frequent, and how long, should these exchanges be? (RQ2.3)

Exchange visits should be conducted as frequently as possible. Exchange visits within country should last 3 to 5 days and the international exchange visits should last at least 7 to 10 days

20. What kind of participation (places, numbers and types of people) works best? (RQ4.1)

Multi-stakeholder (government, non-governmental organizations and local communities) participation works best. About 10, maximum 15 should be good size and it would like to propose to Thailand.

VI. Summary of budget execution Please see in financial report

VII. Key learning from the implementation CFUGs are very much interested to commercialize their CFs. This project build on the success of CLEARR project which was run by MERN. Under CLEARR project a total of 44 CFUGs who are forest farm producer groups were formed and 3 Township level associations could be formed under this project, but could not have assisted them in production and marketing of the products of their choice on ground. Still aware of the project activities and their prospects and other CFUGs have expressed willingness to join the project in its follow-up phase.

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The key learning, therefore, is "we must demonstrate practically that the CF commercialization could really bring about economic, environmental and social benefits in the community’s interest", and we must not fail to achieve it. If this goal is achieved, the market-led approach to community forestry in Myanmar will be very much promising.

VIII. Recommendations (If considered appropriate, recommendations should classify the different types of recipients thereof) To build up the business capacity some funding support should go to CFPPAs directly.

Annexes:

1. MERN Organization Chart 2. MERN Member’s brief 3. FFF Myanmar Workplan 2016 4. FFF-MERN Draft Communication Strategy 5. Some presentations from trainings

Prepared by –

Aung Thant Zin CEO-MERN

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