Knowledge Sharing

Knowledge Sharing

Enhanced communication mechanism and knowledge exchange (Picture: courtesy of CIFOR)

Ensuring effective internal and external communication is a critical task for ASFCC. Effective internal communication, such as the use of information and communication technology (ICT) and strategic meetings, will ensure that the progress is planned according to the ASEAN member states' needs, activities coordinated and results shared.
 
External communication is crucial to spread key messages on social forestry for wider audiences in the region and to promote the progress of our work. RECOFTC has been continuously supportive to the AWG-SF Secretariat in ensuring the role of the Secretariat as nodal communication point for smoother flow of information.
 
At the initial stage of ASFCC phase I, RECOFTC provided technical support for the AWG-SF Secretariat in developing the 'Communications and Networking Strategy' that will enable AWG-SF to facilitate cooperation and support exchange between diverse stakeholders.
 
The strategy identifies the communication and networking priorities of AWG-SF as follows:

 

1. Adequate information and knowledge are important to make informed policy decisions and to promote the scaling up of social forestry best practice.

 

2. Information and knowledge networks can facilitate the learning process and build relationships across a range of stakeholders to achieve social forestry goals.

 

3. Communicating and networking expand stakeholder participation in the sustainable management of forests.

 
The communication strategy of AWG-SF is aimed at engaging audiences that are internal and external to the network. While internal activities will target the AWG-SF Secretariat, ASEAN member states, donors and supporting partners, the external activities will try to reach out to broader group of policy makers, civil society organizations, research institutions and the private sector.
 
RECOFTC has been actively developing key messages to ensure a dynamic exchange of information with target groups through various communication tools. RECOFTC has produced briefs, lessons learned from various capacity development activities and documentation of best practices. In phase III, it is proposed that ASFCC should focus equally on climate change adaptation and mitigation by capacitating and enabling vulnerable communities to practice more diversified and adaptive management of forest resources, especially non-timber forest products (NTFPs).