Private sector partnership

At RECOFTC, we work with private sector partners who share our belief in a future where people live equitably and sustainably in and beside healthy, resilient forests. Through our collaboration, we strive to achieve the goals of our Strategic Plan 2018-2023, which are aligned to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN Agenda 2030 and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

Nearly 1.6 billion people worldwide and more than 450 million in the Asia-Pacific rely on forests for their livelihoods. No single organization or approach can succeed in ensuring that forest communities and forests thrive. Nor can one organization provide the diverse solutions we need to mitigate and adapt to climate change, transform conflict into collaboration, overcome poverty and food insecurity, achieve gender equality and social inclusion, protect the Earth’s biodiversity and develop sustainable livelihoods and economies. To succeed, we must bring to bear the ideas and energy of all stakeholders: local communities, governments, civil society and private sector. When we work together, we accelerate progress toward thriving forest communities and thriving forests, sustainable economies and a world free of the threats posed by climate change.

We work with forest sector companies, big and small, as well as investors, technology-startups and many others. As the drivers of economic development, our private sector allies offer innovative solutions that can be piloted and scaled up. Through our collaboration, forest communities benefit from clear and secure tenure and use rights, opportunities to expand and improve their products, and access to markets. Ultimately, these benefits enable them to chart their own paths to development, attain their own aspirations and contribute to the global imperatives of restoring landscapes and mitigating climate change.

Companies benefit in many ways as well, most especially by creating stable and secure environments for business and de-risking investment. Through our partnership, they are able to implement green corporate philosophies, philanthropic initiatives, and corporate social responsibilities on the ground. In addition, they build reliable and sustainable supply chains and expand markets.

Companies say they value our expertise, multi-stakeholder processes, and the trusting relationships we have forged with forest communities, governments and civil society organizations throughout the Asia-Pacific region. They see us as the trusted broker bridging the science-policy divide and gaps among communities, countries, international organizations, alliances such as ASEAN, and donors.

Standards and principles

Our engagement with companies is guided by Environmental, Social and Governance Standards (ESG) and the principles of relevance, additionality, development and risk. We assess and mitigate all risks related to partnership including financial, reputational and the capacity of our institution, private sector partner and forest communities. Before entering a partnership, we ensure that the initiative will:

Contribute to achieving RECOFTC’s strategic plan and the UN Sustainable Development Goals
Respect global, national and other environmental and social safeguards as well as free prior and informed consent
Provide transparent access to information for all stakeholders while respecting the privacy of individuals and corporate requirements for confidentiality
Empower stakeholders, reduce conflict, respond to community aspirations, respect legitimate decision-making roles, promote sustainable natural resource use and foster local ownership
Not violate human rights, harm community well-being, engage in illegal activities, lead to landscape degradation or produce human, animal or plant health hazards

RECOFTC's objectives

Foster self-reliant and resilient forest communities
Mobilize public and private funding and investments for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises
Develop sustainable products
Reach and expand markets
Increase income and job opportunities
Innovate and apply new new technologies and cost-effective solutions
Pilot green economic solutions that can be applied at scale
Promote social inclusion and gender equity

Benefits for private sector

Implement social and environmental safeguards that improve reputation, increase conscious-consumer markets, de-risk investments and increase profits
Build relationships with neighboring forest communities and other stakeholders that transform tension and conflict into collaboration
Build the capacity of forest communities to provide a reliable and sustainable supply of high-quality products and raw materials
Build the capacity of employees to resolve conflicts, attain FPIC, rehabilitate landscapes, and build sustainable livelihoods and enterprises
Meet international social and environmental market standards such as ISO, FSC and PEFC
Advocate for governmental policies and regulations that mutually benefit forest communities, the environment, and the private sector
Provide knowledge and training to enhance resilience of local communities to climate change
Develop and conduct social assessments for social inclusion and gender equality