Photo: Juan Gabriel Soler/Fundación Gaia Amazonas
Norway is announcing new partnerships with civil society organisations from across the world to protect tropical forests. Through funding from Norway’s International Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI), the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) has awarded 29 new grants to civil society organisations, with a total allocation of approximately NOK 500 million (approximately USD 55 million) per year over three years.
’Reducing deforestation and protecting forests requires a global effort from everyone. Civil society groups around the world play a very important role in this work’, said Minister of Climate and Environment Andreas Bjelland Eriksen.
Tropical forests are essential for a stable climate, rich biodiversity, and the wellbeing of forest-dependent communities. Protecting them is not only an environmental priority, but a smart investment in global stability, resilience, and sustainable development.
The portfolio will support tropical forest countries’ efforts to reduce deforestation, address environmental crime, strengthen environmental defenders and the rights and livelihoods of Indigenous Peoples, and local communities, and advancing sustainable agriculture production and trade in some of the world’s most valuable and vulnerable forest regions.
The agreements span the world’s largest rainforests in Latin America, Africa and Southeast Asia, and range from local, on-the-ground action to regional and global initiatives targeting markets and finance and supporting the ambitions and policies of national governments.
Targeted efforts with tangible results
The allocations are part of NICFI’s long-term strategy to protect tropical forests and advance sustainable development. Civil society organisations play a decisive role in this work –as partners for public authorities, as watchdogs, as innovators of new ideas and practices, and as direct supporters of Indigenous Peoples, and local communities.
The agreements are the result of a thorough selection process among 373 proposals, where documented results, strong local anchoring and the ability to deliver measurable impacts have been key criteria. The portfolio includes bold ideas and ambitious projects. While not all are expected to meet their goals, selection has been done with a view to deliver breakthroughs from the portfolio overall.
‘To preserve rainforests over time, efforts must be locally anchored and deliver development benefits on the ground. That is why we support key actors who know the areas well, can demonstrate documented results, and are able to intervene and innovate where the needs are greatest. This leads to better impact of funds and more targeted development assistance,’ said Gunn Jorid Roset, Director General of Norad.
Four main areas of support
The 29 agreements are structured around four thematic pillars that together address the main drivers of deforestation and solutions.
1. Ambitious policies for sustainable forest and land use
Several organisations receive support for national and local policies aimed at reducing forest loss. This includes support for improved implementation of climate and nature goals, greater use of knowledge about ecosystem services, and broader societal engagement for forest protection. Independent journalism and research-based knowledge sharing are also important elements.
2. Strengthened rights and livelihoods for Indigenous Peoples, and local communities
A substantial share of the funding supports efforts for countries to meet their International Land Tenure Commitments, including through the Forest and Land Tenure Pledge, both of which Norway signed up for at the Forest Climate Summit in Belem. This will happen by improving protection for environmental and human rights defenders, and increasing access to finance for Indigenous Peoples, and forest-dependent communities. Evidence shows that forests managed by Indigenous Peoples often experience significantly lower deforestation rates. Strengthening their rights and economic opportunities therefore also represent highly effective climate and biodiversity policies.
3. Reduced forest crime
Several agreements focus directly on combating organised environmental crime, including illegal logging, corruption and illegal mining. The supported organisations contribute through analysis, monitoring, investigations and information-sharing that can be used by law enforcement agencies and judicial authorities. Increased transparency and improved data make it harder for criminal networks to operate with impunity.
4. Sustainable commodity production, trade and finance
Deforestation is closely linked to the production and trade of commodities such as beef, soy, palm oil and timber. NICFI therefore also supports initiatives working on supply chain traceability, improved corporate practices and increased accountability in the financial sector. These efforts will complement NICFI’s engagement in support of agricultural transition to deforestation-free commodity production in producer countries. Efforts also include support to smallholder farmers’ transition to deforestation-free commodity production. The goal is to help create markets that demand and reward deforestation-free products.
Civil society as a force for change
The civil society organisations receiving support represent a wide range of expertise and approaches – from local grassroots organisations to leading global civil society organizations, as well as international research institutions. What they share is the ability to turn political commitments into action on the ground.
‘With this commitment, we support ambitious tropical forest countries in implementing their policies and reaching their commitments. This is targeted, results-oriented international cooperation that makes a real difference,’ said Bjelland Eriksen.
The allocations also aim to strengthen cooperation between civil society, authorities and the private sector in tropical forest countries, with a view to achieve lasting results and enable countries to meet their climate and nature commitments.
NICFI and Norad have allocated substantial resources to civil society organizations since 2008. Norad will manage the new agreements on behalf of NICFI. The Norwegian Government recently extended NICFI until 2035.