USAID SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT FY2023 QUARTER II Report

The project is implemented by DAI Global, LLC, and is funded by the United States Agency for International Development. The project has five main objectives, each with specific targets and indicators. Objective 1 aims to improve and expand community forest management, with a target of establishing 20 community forest management areas by the end of the project. Objective 2 seeks to increase conservation-friendly enterprises in forest-dependent communities, with a target of supporting 50 enterprises by the end of the project. Objective 3 aims to increase the functionality of law enforcement systems for forest crimes, with a target of reducing forest crime by 30% by the end of the project. Objective 4 focuses on improving production forest management practices, with a target of increasing forest cover by 10% by the end of the project. Objective 5 aims to mobilize domestic resources for forest management and protection, with a target of securing $10 million in domestic funding by the end of the project. The project has made significant progress in the first quarter of FY2023, with notable achievements in community forest management, conservation-friendly enterprises, and law enforcement systems. In community forest management, the project has established 10 community forest management areas, with a total area of 10,000 hectares. In conservation-friendly enterprises, the project has supported 20 enterprises, with a total investment of $1 million. In law enforcement systems, the project has trained 50 law enforcement officials in forest crime investigation and prosecution. The project has also made progress in cross-cutting activities, including gender equality and social inclusion, communications, environmental mitigation and monitoring, and climate change adaptation. The project has established a gender equality and social inclusion working group, which has developed a gender equality and social inclusion action plan. The project has also established a communications working group, which has developed a communications strategy. The project has also implemented an environmental mitigation and monitoring plan, which has identified potential environmental impacts and developed mitigation measures. The project has also made progress in stakeholder participation and coordination, with regular meetings with USAID and other donor-funded projects. The project has also established a stakeholder engagement plan, which outlines the project's engagement strategy with stakeholders. The project has also made progress in management and administration, with the establishment of a project management unit and a procurement plan. The project has also implemented a financial management system, which has improved financial reporting and management. For the next quarter, the project plans to focus on reviewing progress towards mid-term targets, cross-objective collaboration to accelerate results, and identifying opportunities for improvement. The project will also continue to implement its cross-cutting activities, including gender equality and social inclusion, communications, environmental mitigation and monitoring, and climate change adaptation. The project will also continue to engage with stakeholders and implement its stakeholder engagement plan. The project has a total budget of $20 million, with a duration of five years. The project is expected to achieve significant results, including improved community forest management, increased conservation-friendly enterprises, increased functionality of law enforcement systems, improved production forest management practices, and mobilized domestic resources for forest management and protection.