You are here: / Joint Implementation Committee (JIC)

Tag Archive for: Joint Implementation Committee (JIC)

Minister for Lands and Natural Resources of Ghana, Mr. Samuel A. Jinapor, and Irchad Razaaly, Ambassador of the European Union to Ghana. Signing of the aide-memoire of the 11th JMRM meeting, 26 September 2023.Christophe Hertecant

Ghana and the EU advance toward FLEGT licensing in their joint effort to combat trade in illegal timber

The Ghana-EU Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) has reached a major milestone. During the meeting of the implementation body of the Agreement, the Parties took an important step toward issuing FLEGT licences, that will attest to the legality of Ghanaian timber products exported to the EU.

On 26 September 2023, a high-level Ghanaian delegation joined representatives of the European Union in Brussels to hold the 11th meeting of the Joint Monitoring Review Mechanism (JMRM) of the Ghana-EU VPA on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT). The FLEGT VPA is a bilateral trade agreement aiming at promoting trade in legal timber between both Parties.

This session of the JMRM was the first since May 2019, and the first to be convened outside Ghana. The JMRM includes Ghanaian public authorities in charge of forest administration, private sector and civil society, as well as the European Commission.

Minister for Lands and Natural Resources of Ghana, Mr. Samuel A. Jinapor, and Irchad Razaaly, Ambassador of the European Union to Ghana. Signing of the aide-memoire of the 11th JMRM meeting, 26 September 2023.
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources of Ghana, Mr. Samuel A. Jinapor, and Irchad Razaaly, Ambassador of the European Union to Ghana. Signing of the aide-memoire of the 11th JMRM meeting, 26 September 2023. Source: Christophe Hertecant

Negotiations and discussions were fruitful, leading to the agreement of a Joint Action Plan representing an important step toward readiness for FLEGT licensing. FLEGT licences attest to the legality of Ghana’s timber and will enable Ghana’s timber products to enter the EU market without having to go through due diligence steps. It means a significant facilitation for both exporters and importers, and improves the terms of trade in timber for the EU and Ghana alike. 

In 2016, Indonesia became the first country in the world to issue FLEGT licences; now Ghana is advancing rapidly toward the same goal, which will establish it as the first country in Africa and second in the world to issue FLEGT licences.

During the sessions, the Parties also reviewed the status of development of Ghana’s timber legality assurance system (GhLAS). They also took note of the further improvements made by Ghana on the electronic Wood Tracking System to serve now as a decision-making system instead of a simple tracking device.

Furthermore, Ghana has undertaken important legislative reforms in its forestry sector that enhance forest governance and enable the country to meet the terms of the VPA and ensure transparency, generating benefits for communities and clarifying the allocation of all timber rights.

In addition to these advances, Ghana is also addressing illegal logging in its domestic market, as well as regional trade and is rolling out a new system for tracking timber on the domestic market that involves both suppliers and traders, and requires proof of legality through the chain of custody.

Through the VPA, Ghana is controlling illegal timber trade, modernising timber operations and ensuring forestry brings employment in the formal economy and social benefits such as payments to communities through Social Responsibility Agreements. For the EU, the VPA contributes to achieving the goals of the EU’s FLEGT Action Plan which aims to improve forest governance and combat illegal logging.

Guyana and EU join forces to meet highest international standards on export of legal timber

On 27 October 2022, representatives of Guyana and the European Union convened at a Pre-Joint Monitoring and Review Committee (Pre-JMRC) meeting, to review progress of the implementation of the Guyana-EU Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT). The Agreement will help improve forest governance and sustainable forestry and verify the trade in legal timber.

During the meeting, the Parties indicated they will endeavour to sign the Agreement before the end of 2022. The VPA will raise industry standards and living conditions of the sector. After Guyana and the EU sign and ratify the VPA, its commitments will become legally binding.

Representatives of Guyana and the EU at the Pre-Joint Monitoring and Review Committee (Pre-JMRC) meeting to review progress of the implementation of the Guyana-EU Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA). Source: EFI

According to René Van Nes, Ambassador of the European Union to Guyana, “the VPA spearheads Guyana as a global pioneer of sustainable forest management”.

The signature and subsequent ratification will mark the end of a 10-year negotiation process. Guyana will thereupon join a selected group of African, American and Asian countries committed to the protection of their forests. Guyana will become the first VPA country in the Amazon region, and the second in the Americas, after Honduras; making it a frontrunner in sustainable forest management, adhering to the highest international standards.

The Honorable Minister of Natural Resources, Mr. Vickram Bharat, stated that “the Pre-JMRC meetings continue to highlight Guyana’s continued commitment to the VPA process and the broader initiatives to improve forest governance. He further stated that the VPA and the agreements reached are all part of the Government’s commitment under the Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030 aimed at promoting a green economy”.

The Parties agreed to focus their efforts on the further development and implementation of strengthened operational procedures for the sector, and a robust paper-based and digital traceability system of logs and timber that meets the VPA’s requirements. To ensure these priorities will be met in time, Guyana and the EU agreed on a detailed work plan.

The Parties also discussed how they will continue to engage with national and international stakeholders interested in VPA implementation. They committed to putting in place a range of tools to ensure that interested audiences can follow the developments and impacts of VPA implementation.

Representatives of the private sector and civil society, including indigenous peoples’ organisations, presented the issues they would like to bring to the table. Guyana and the EU also discussed next steps in the development of an approach to protect the traditional rights of Amerindian peoples.

Through the VPA’s implementation, Guyana will further strengthen the sustainable use of its forest resources, reduce illegal timber trade and better modernise timber operations, thereby ensuring that forestry brings green jobs in the formal economy. The VPA also includes commitments to improve transparency, accountability, legislative clarity and other aspects of governance.

Good governance of Guyana’s forests is crucial to sustainable development. Moreover, it helps both Guyana and the EU contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, including by mitigating climate change and protecting biodiversity.

The next meeting of the Joint Monitoring and Review Committee is scheduled to take place in May 2023.

The first CCA meeting marked the official start of the implementation of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between Honduras and the European UnionSebastiaan de Smedt, European Forest Institute

The EU and Honduras begin implementing their agreement to combat illegal logging at their first meeting

On 12 September 2022, the first meeting of the Joint Implementation Committee (CCA by its Spanish acronym) was held in Tegucigalpa, Honduras to start overseeing the implementation of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance, and Trade (FLEGT).

During the meeting the EU and Honduras signed the first act of the Aide Memoire of the CCA. This marked the official start of the implementation of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement.

The first CCA meeting marked the official start of the implementation of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between Honduras and the European Union
The first CCA meeting marked the official start of the implementation of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between Honduras and the European Union. Source: Sebastiaan de Smedt, European Forest Institute

The CCA also agreed to prioritise actions that will yield concrete results in the short term. This includes the development and implementation of a robust traceability system for the transport of timber. With the help of technology it will be possible to address the falsification of transport documents. The CCA also agreed to accelerate the development and implementation of simplified procedures for the approval of forest management plans and the harvest of forest products.

The proceedings of the meeting are available publicly in the Aide Memoire (in Spanish).

The CCA oversees the VPA and is co-chaired by the National Institute for Forest Conservation and Development, Protected Areas and Wildlife and the European Union. The CCA includes the participation of various Government ministries and institutions, the private sector, including small forest owners, civil society organizations, indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples, and donor partners that support the implementation of the agreement.

The 13th Joint Implementation Committee was held on 2-3 June 2021 in Brazzaville

The Republic of the Congo and the EU release 2020 annual report on VPA progress

The Republic of the Congo and the EU have released a joint report on progress in implementing the Voluntary Partnership Agreement from January to December 2020.

The 13th Joint Implementation Committee was held on 2-3 June 2021 in Brazzaville
The 13th Joint Implementation Committee was held on 2-3 June 2021 in Brazzaville. Source: Delegation of the European Union to Congo, Brazzaville

The report describes progress made with the timber legality assurance system, institutional improvements, stakeholder engagement, communication, transparency and monitoring of the agreement.

The report is available in French: Rapport annuel conjoint 2020 sur la mise en œuvre de l’APV FLEGT en République du Congo

More information:

European Forest Institute

Liberia and EU review VPA progress and challenges

The Joint Implementation Committee (JIC) overseeing the EU-Liberia Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade has met this week in Monrovia to review progress and challenges in implementing the agreement.

The JIC — whose Liberian members include representatives of government agencies, the private sector, civil society — met in Monrovia from 25 February – 1 March.

The VPA aims to improve forest governance, address illegal logging and promote trade in verified legal timber products.

Hon. Harrison S. Karnwea, Chairman of the FDA’s Board of Directors and Ambassador Hélène Cavé of the EU Delegation to Liberia shaking hands after the signing. Source: Emmanuel Tobey, European Forest Institute

The JIC discussed progress made in implementing a system to verify the legality of Liberia’s timber products from forest to point of export. Several stakeholders noted the potential for this system to provide a commercial boost to the forest sector, which is already a key contributor to the Liberian economy.

The JIC also discussed challenges, such as the Government of Liberia´s delay in disbursing the legally required share of the land rental fee to the National Benefit Sharing Trust Board (NBSTB) due to budgetary constraints.

The EU highlighted that Liberia’s legal framework for sharing of benefits with logging affected communities is exemplary, and that the National Union of Community Forestry Development Committees (NUCFDC), the NBSTB, the Government and all stakeholders should work together towards effectively implementing them, so as to be an example of best practices for other countries.

The JIC agreed that more discussion is needed and that a mechanism needs to be established to facilitate future disbursements from the budget.

The VPA Secretariat presented the VPA transparency requirements and both parties stressed the importance of the availability of information on the forest sector. The Forestry Development Authority (FDA) committed to make disaggregated information available to the public. The JIC also endorsed a specific communications strategy so as to reach out to the forest stakeholders and the broader public about VPA-related issues, including progress achieved and areas for improvement.

Gertrude Nyaley, Manager of the Community Forestry Department at the Forestry Development Authority and Kou Dorliae, Deputy Minister of Justice on Economic Affairs (from left to right) during the meeting. Source: Emmanuel Tobey, European Forest Institute

The JIC meeting was co-chaired by Ambassador Hélène Cavé of the EU Delegation to Liberia and Hon. Harrison S. Karnwea, Chairman of the FDA’s Board of Directors.

Participants from Liberia included representatives of ministries and agencies of the Liberian Government, the NGO Coalition of Liberia, the Liberia Timber Association, the National Union of Community Forestry Development Committees, and the National Union of Community Forest Management Bodies.

International partners including the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Bank also attended the meeting.

About the VPA Africa – Latin America Facility

The VPA Africa – Latin America Facility supports the implementation of the EU FLEGT Action Plan with a focus on Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs). The Facility contributes to combating illegal logging and strengthening forest governance while encouraging sustainable economic development in countries that produce or process timber and export to the EU. The Facility is hosted by the European Forest Institute (EFI) and was established in November 2019.

Disclaimer

This website has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Union.