RECOFTC
Events

Enhancing smallholder readiness and compliance with Forest Risk Commodities regulations

Feb 19
2025
-
20
Location
Bangkok, Thailand

Ensuring no smallholder is left behind in deforestation-free trade

The introduction of Forest Risk Commodities (FRC) regulations, including the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), aims to ensure agricultural products are legally sourced and deforestation-free. However, these regulations present significant compliance challenges for Southeast Asian smallholders who produce commodities like coffee, rubber, wood and palm oil. Small-scale farmers often struggle with technical and financial requirements due to limited access to resources.

RECOFTC and partners are organizing this interactive workshop to address these challenges by providing smallholders with essential knowledge, tools and connections needed for FRC compliance. Drawing from over 10 case studies of good practices across the region and through a collaborative environment, smallholders and experts can learn from each other while developing practical solutions for sustainable integration into global value chains.

Objectives

The workshop will equip smallholders with practical strategies and collaborative solutions to improve compliance with FRC regulations and help them integrate into sustainable, deforestation-free supply chains.

Specifically, the workshop aims to:

  • Share good practices and solutions to ensure smallholders' compliance and inclusion in forest-risk commodity supply chains.
  • Facilitate discussions on traceability, legality, data governance, access to finance and partnerships within the forest-risk commodity sector.
  • Explore collaborative opportunities to scale sustainable practices and develop follow-up strategies.

Expected outcomes

By the end of this workshop, participants will have: 

  • a shared understanding of the challenges and opportunities related to FRC compliance
  • insights into effective practices for achieving improved FRC compliance
  • created clear and actionable messages and strategies to engage governments, donors and private sector actors

Expected participants

The workshop will bring together approximately 50 participants from Cambodia, Indonesia, India, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam including smallholder groups, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, civil society organizations and private sector representatives.

Format

The two-day workshop employs diverse interactive methods to ensure meaningful participation, including case study presentations, poster sessions, group discussions, and country-specific working groups. Translation support will be available to ensure all participants can engage fully in the discussions.

Agenda

Date: 19 February 2025 

Day 1: Understanding Forest Risk Commodity (FRC) compliance practices 

08:00 - 08:30 

  • Registration

08:30 - 12:00

  • Opening and welcome 
  • Workshop approach and expectations 
  • Overview of FRC compliance practices
  • Case studies on FRC in practice 

13:00 - 17:00

  • Group discussions on key opportunities and challenges 
  • Poster session and partner contributions 
  • Day 1 wrap-up 

Date: 20 February 2025 

Day 2: Defining the way forward 

08:30 - 12:00

  • Recap of discussions 
  • Defining a shared vision with smallholders at the center 
  • Pathways to achieving our vision and partner support

13:00 - 17:00

  • Country-specific priorities and next steps 
  • Regional programme and or network and future collaboration 
  • Closing

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RECOFTC’s work is made possible with the support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the Government of Sweden.