New agreements with climate and forest organizations from 2016
‘We received a number of proposals of very high quality. I am happy to extend the support to the civil society organizations that work to reduce emissions from deforestation in developing countries until 2020,’ says Tine Sundtoft, Minister of Climate and Environment.
This is the third time that Norad sends out an open call for grants to civil society organizations through the climate and forest project. Norad received more than 500 applications from organizations all over the world. Inger Brodal, Assistant Director of the Civil Society Department, is very satisfied with the outcome of this application round.
‘We have selected the best projects to help reduce deforestation and achieve a more equitable distribution of resources. We look forward to following up the efforts of the selected partners over the next five years,’ she states.
Brodal refers to the thorough and positive nature of this process.
‘Norad representatives have visited a number of the applicant organizations and examined the work they are doing in the forest countries. Norad has also maintained a close dialogue with the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment and the Norwegian embassies.’
More support for rights and for combatting crime
‘Civil society has proved to be a very good channel for achieving results for forest protection,’ the Minister states.
The new group of partners in civil society will continue the work on two of the thematic priorities from the previous funding period; efforts directed at the private sector and the international climate negotiations. In addition, the organizations will focus on the rights of indigenous peoples and other local populations and on combatting illegalities and corruption in the forestry sector.
These are areas in which civil society plays a key role. Many of the projects in the current project portfolio have helped achieve a historical decision by the Indonesian Supreme Court to give indigenous peoples the right to their traditional lands.
- See video at the end of this page: Court ruling puts customary-based communities on the map in Indonesia
In general, civil society now plays a larger role and engages more widely in dialogue with the authorities when it comes to forest issues in Indonesia.
‘Evaluations show that indigenous- and environmental organizations that manage support from the Climate and Forest Initiative are able to reach local communities, politicians and the private sector in an efficient manner. Through in-depth knowledge of the field and by use of creative tools, civil society is able to increase support for our common global effort to protect the rainforest,’ Minister Sundtoft concludes.
Shaping their own development
Another example of what has been achieved in the current portfolio is provided by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), which has documented money laundering, illegal logging and timber trade in the forestry sector. Because of their reports, the US Department of Justice is seeking criminal charges.
‘Over many years we have seen how civil society helps reinforce the ability as well as the willingness of both the authorities and the private sector to reduce deforestation. These projects will help provide local populations with an opportunity to shape their own development,’ Brodal explains.
- Read more about the four thematic areas related to the call for proposals
Meeting in June
As early as June next year, all of the organizations will have an opportunity to meet at the Oslo REDD Exchange. This conference was last arranged in 2013, with more than 500 participants from all over the world.
‘Since we have just completed an important three-year project period and started a new one, the Oslo REDD Exchange will provide an arena where the new partners can learn from the experience that has been gained. This will enable us to produce the best possible results from the new portfolio,’ Brodal concludes.
Norad intends to enter into agreements with the following organizations for the period 2016-2020
- Aidenvironment
- AIDESEP-Interethnic Association for the Development of the Peruvian Rainforest
- Amazon Conservation Association
- Amazon Environmental Research Institute - IPAM
- Amazon Institute of People and the Environment - Imazon
- Amazonia Network of Georeferenced Socio-Environmental Information (RAISG)
- Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP)
- BBC Media Action
- CDP Worldwide
- Center for Global Development
- CIFOR
- Climate Policy Initiative
- Conservation International Foundation
- Development Fund of Norway
- Earth Innovation Institute
- Environmental Defense Fund, Inc.
- Environmental Investigation Agency
- European Federation for Transport & Environment
- Fauna & Flora International
- Forest Trends
- Fundacion Soidaridad Latino Americana (FSLA)
- Global Witness
- Governors’ Climate & Forests Task Force Secretariat
- Indigenous Peoples' Alliance of The Archipelago (AMAN)
- International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA)
- INTERPOL
- Mongabay
- National Wildlife Federation
- OPIAC
- Rainforest Foundation Inc.
- Rainforest Foundation Norway (RFN)
- Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI)
- Stichting Solidaridad
- The Forest Trust
- The Nature Conservancy
- The Samdhana Institute
- TuK Indonesia
- WALHI (Indonesian Forum for Environment)
- World Wildlife Fund, Inc.
