Defining and assessing the effectiveness of civil society networks working on forest governance issues in Africa and Asia is based on the results of a 2021 study conducted by RECOFTC, the Field Legality Advisory Group (FLAG) and the Centre for International Development and Training (CIDT) of the University of Wolverhampton. The study explored the concept of ‘effectiveness’ in relation to civil society networks working on forest governance issues in 12 countries. Tropenbos International also contributed by undertaking interviews in Ghana and Liberia. The surveys were funded by the European Union and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) under the Forest Governance Markets and Climate (FGMC) Programme. Funding for the production of this report was also provided by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) as core donors of RECOFTC.

CIDT, FLAG and RECOFTC staff authored the report: Aurelian Mbzibain and Habiba Mohamed (CIDT), Horline Njike and Zora Touko Batupe (FLAG), and Nathalie Faure and Robin aus der Beek (RECOFTC). Saowalak Jingjungvisut (East West Management Institute) helped to analyze and process the data.

The authors are grateful to the members and leaders of the 14 civil society networks from Asia and Africa for participating in the study and the contributions from representatives of donor agencies, governments and international non-governmental organizations who shared their experiences.

The content of this special report is the responsibility of RECOFTC, FLAG and CIDT and does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

The views presented here are those of the authors and are not necessarily shared by RECOFTC or any of the agencies that support RECOFTC.