About RAFT 3 - Indonesia
RAFT (Responsible Asia Forestry and Trade) is a regional partnership program of seven organizations: TNC (The Nature Conservancy), WWF (World Wild Fund), The Center for People and Forest (RECOFTC), TFF (Tropical Forest Foundation), IGES (The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies), TRAFFIC, The Wildlife Trade Monitoring Network and TFT (The Forest Trust). RAFT focuses on efforts to reduce deforestation and forest destruction in the Asia Pacific region. The program began in 2007 and has entered the third phase which is currently funded by the Australian Government.
In this third stage, RECOFTC - RAFT3 implements activities in 4 countries namely Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. In Indonesia, RECOFTC collaborates with KPH Jeneberang I and II as well as local partners to carry out community capacity building activities in business development. This activity was held in 3 districts namely Kab. Bantaeng, Kab. Bulukumba and Kab. Jeneponto. The main objective of this program is to strengthen community capacity in developing community forestry businesses through the Market Analysis and Development approach developed by FAO and RECOFTC.
The various activities carried out by this program include:
1. Strengthening capacity through:
Training uses the Training for Trainers method/facilitators. Local facilitators receive training on Market Analysis and Development which then accompanies community business groups. Local facilitators came from various institutions including KPH Jeneberaang I and II, the Sulawesi Region Social Forestry and Environmental Partnership (BPSKL), Forestry Extension Officer, Forestry Education and Training Center, Hasanuddin University and local NGO partners. The training covers the process of selecting potential products, market access, business planning and business start-up.
Study tour. Learning visit aims to provide direct learning from businesses that have been successful / more advanced so that business groups can get direct practical experience that can be embodied in the business run by the community.
Access financial / loans for businesses. One obstacle that is often faced by the community in starting a business is the obstacle in accessing business loans. Therefore, the business group is also facilitated to be able to access the revolving fund scheme from the BLU (Public Service Agency) Center for Forest Development Financing.
Accompaniment. Coaching in preparing business plans and business start-ups
2. Policy
Forestry business and management carried out by the community in the area of Social Forestry need to build cooperation with the FMU. One of the activities carried out in this program is to support the FMU Jeneberang II in the Formulation of the Long-Term Forest Management Plan (RPJHP).