ASEAN-Swiss Partnership on Social Forestry and Climate Change (ASFCC)

Supporting the ASEAN Working Group on Social Forestry (AWG-SF)

Since 2009, Switzerland has been a Partner of ASEAN through SDC’s support for the ASEAN Working Group on Social Forestry (AWG-SF). An intergovernmental network endorsed by ASEAN Senior Officials in Forestry (ASOF), AWG-SF promotes SF policy and practices among Member States. SDC supports AWG-SF to address interlinked issues of food security, poverty and climate change through the ASEAN-Swiss Partnership on Social Forestry and Climate Change (ASFCC).

Designed in consultation with Member States, the ASFCC partnership programme has two objectives: (1) SF approaches developed and integrated into the climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies of ASEAN and the Member States; and (2) Socio-economic benefits derived from the inclusion of communities, women and vulnerable groups in SF and climate change adaptation and mitigation measures. ASFCC consists of three basic components: (1) SF policy framework development; (2) knowledge sharing, capacity building and networking; and (3) learning interventions, research and assessment. Working closely with the ASEAN Secretariat and in collaboration with GIZ, ASFCC seeks to contribute to ASEAN’s Multisectoral Framework on Climate Change: Agriculture and Forestry towards Food Security and to the regional Plan of Action on Forestry Cooperation.

Partner organizations with diverse strengths and expertise support the implementation of AWG-SF activities under ASFCC. In phase 1 of ASFCC (2011-2013), implementation Partners currently include: (1) the Center for People and Forests (RECOFTC), a regional training center mandated to develop Member States’ capacity to develop SF/ community forestry and strengthen its regional linkages to climate change adaptation and mitigation; (2) the Non-Timber Forest Products Exchange Programme (NTFP-EP), a civil society support organization tasked with promoting the engagement of civil society, especially Indigenous Peoples, community forestry and other vulnerable groups in ASEAN; and (3) Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), a global research organization with the role of conducting research to inform policy and practice on climate change mitigation and adaptation in the context of SF. World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF) and Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) recently joined the partnership and strengthen ASFCC in its second phase.

Each Partner supports AWG-SF activities at the regional level and is assigned primary support roles in specific countries. The AWG-SF Secretariat which is hosted by Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry coordinates AWG-SF activities, leads ASFCC communication and knowledge dissemination and maintains contact with Focal Points in Member States. Overall technical guidance is provided by an Advisor who works closely with the ASEAN and AWG-SF Secretariats and Partners, liaises with ASEAN Member States (AMS) through ASOF and represents ASFCC in strategic international forums.

In the last three years (2011 to 2013) during the implementation of ASFCC phase 1, various activities to support development of social forestry in the region have taken place. RECOFTC, as one of the ASFCC partner, has delivered various activities towards the achievement of the ASFCC outcomes: coordinated social forestry framework, knowledge sharing and learning interventions, through training and capacity development, learning groups, action research, dialogues and active participation in various outreach events.

Please visit the AWG-SF website for more information.