This contribution corresponds to SDC’s strategic priorities on water and climate change, as specified in the “0.5% ODA/GDP Message. It is also in line with the Mekong Regional Strategy 2007-2012, “Rural Livelihood and Natural Resource Management” strategic objective: to support the development of livelihood in the uplands and other poor and rural areas in terms of increased food security, income and environmental sustainability. The proposal is coherent with the new SDC Mekong strategy 2013-2017 in terms of improved access to land and forest.

The project in brief

Area of responsibility	RECOFTC is an international not-for profit organization that specializes in capacity building for community forestry, based in Bangkok/Thailand. Its core function is to strengthen capacities and knowledge of stakeholders (Governments, nongovernment organizations, civil society, the private sector, and local people) to foster community engagement in forest governance and sustainable forest management in the Asia-Pacific region.
Switzerland's and the organisation's strategic priorities and their coherence	This contribution corresponds to SDC’s strategic priorities on water and climate change, as specified in the “0.5% ODA/GDP Message. It is also in line with the Mekong Regional Strategy 2007-2012, “Rural Livelihood and Natural Resource Management” strategic objective: to support the development of livelihood in the uplands and other poor and rural areas in terms of increased food security, income and environmental sustainability. The proposal is coherent with the new SDC Mekong strategy 2013-2017 in terms of improved access to land and forest.
Results of the organisation's previous engagement	SDC contributed to the budget of RECOFTC from 1987 to 2008 (joint Asia II/NRU funding). For the 2008-13 RECOFTC strategy period, SDC initially opted for an earmarked contribution (Reo II => responsibility of GPCC) to build up the ASEAN Social forestry Network (ASFN), in which RECOFTC is a key partner. The main results RECOFTC achieved in the past partnership phases are: It is now widely recognized in Asia that communities can be enabled and mandated to manage forests sustainably themselves. Successful experiences have been documented and distributed.Social forestry as a conservation and management approach is being tested in several Asian countries. The capacity of Governments and other organizations to support forest management was enhanced. The link between devolved forest management and Climate Change Mitigation has been demonstrated. The role of local and indigenous people including women in addressing climate change has been widely recognized.
Results of Switzerland's engagement in previous phase	Enlargement of donor base of RECOFTC
Medium-term outcome of organisation's current engagement	Impact: Countries in the Asia-Pacific region increasingly integrate the well-being of local people and environmental sustainability in their national forest programs and development strategies, and support the effective engagement of local people in forest governance and management. Outcome 1: Lessons learned in improving forestry practices and major issues affecting community forestry in the Asia-pacific region are identified, analyzed, and shared with practitioners and decision makers at local and international level. Outcome 2: High quality capacity buidling programs, products and services are designed and delivered with partners to key stakeholders in order to increase their capacities and skills in forest governance and management, enhancing forest based lievilhoods and maintaining forest-based environmental services. Outcome 3: Effective regional communication and knowledge management support (i) the development, marketing, and dissemination of RECOFTC products; (ii) the sharing of lessons learned in improving community forestry practices; (iii) the formulation and implementation of policies; and (iv) the establishment of new, and strengthening of existing partnerships. Outcome 4: Efficient corporate and support systems exist to foster innovative program planning and delivery; to ensure that programs and core functions are well-coordinated; and to ensure that RECOFTC’s outcomes and impacts are monitored and evaluated.
Effect in Switzerland	Establish RECOFTC as a gender friendly and sensitive organization
Directorate/federal office responsible	SDC
Credit area	Development cooperation
Project partners	Contract partner International or foreign NGO SDC Field Office
Budget	Current phase Swiss budget CHF    1’530’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    1’511’393
Switzerland's ranking in the DonorOrder	4
Donors	SIDA and NORAD share SDC’s overall orientation on social forestry. During the time when SDC was not present in the governance mechanism (2008-2012), SIDA led most of the Partner & Policy dialogue. Gender equality mainstreaming - SDC’s policy dialogue focus for the current partnership phase - was brought up during the review of the last strategy period and is a shared priority of all 3 major donors. The average annual core budget of RECOFTC for the 2008-13 strategy periods is roughly 3 million USD. Main donors are SIDA (35%) NORAD (19% Own funds (35%) SDC (9%) Thai Government (2%)
Coordination with other projects and actors	SIDA and NORAD share SDC’s overall orientation on social forestry. During the time when SDC was not present in the governance mechanism (2008-2012), SIDA led most of the Partner & Policy dialogue. Gender equality mainstreaming - SDC’s policy dialogue focus for the current partnership phase - was brought up during the review of the last strategy period and is a shared priority of all 3 major donors.
Project phases	Phase 5 01.07.2012 - 30.09.2013   (Completed)

Further technical details

• Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation	FORESTRY AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY
  Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation	Forestry development Agricultural water resources Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) development
  Cross-cutting topics	The project promotes biodiversity. Crisis prevention The project takes account of democratisation, good governance and human rights as cross-cutting themes.
  Type of support	Official development assistance (ODA)
  Type of collaboration	Bilateral cooperation
  Finance type	Aid grant
  Aid Type	Core contribution
  Tied/untied aid	Untied aid
  Project number	7F02706