The first meeting of the Grant Evaluation Committee (GEC) for the Sustainable Forest Livelihoods (SFL) grants initiative for community-driven livelihood projects was held and organized by WWF-Guianas on October 3, 2025.
The purpose of the Committee is to establish a process that aligns with the goals of the SFL program for assessing and selecting project ideas submitted by local communities during the period from August to September 2025. The submissions received will be assessed for their viability and potential impact within the timber and nature-based tourism value chains.
Additionally, the committee will play a vital role in guiding individuals with selected project ideas in developing comprehensive project proposals for funding, thus supporting community-driven initiatives that will stimulate economic growth and promote sustainable forest management.
In Suriname, local communities in the Para District and Boven Suriname have responded positively to the call for submissions of project ideas, submitting a total of 91 project ideas. The selection of project ideas related to timber will take place on October 14, and those related to nature-based tourism will take place on October 15 and 16, 2025. Project guidance to proposals will start in the first week of November 2025.
The committee is composed of diverse stakeholders from government agencies and ministries, civil society organisations, NGOs, and Community Leaders representing the following organisations and institutions: De Vereniging voor Inheemse Dorpshoofden in Suriname Kabinet graman Sar, Kabinet graman der Saamaka, Conservation International, Nationale Ontwikkelingsbank, Ministerie van Regionale Ontwikkeling, Associatie van Surinaamse Fabrikanten, Stichting Bosbeheer & Bostoezicht, Suriname Hospitality and Tourism Association, Ministerie van Transport, Communicatie & Toerisme, and Kabinet Granman Saramaccaners. Presidential Tourism advisor, Rachel Pinas, was designated as an Observer.
The SFL program in Suriname is funded by the European Union, implemented by AFD - Agence Française de Développement and executed by the Foundation for Forest Management and Surveillance (SBB) and WWF-Guianas.
