The Steering Committee of the EU-funded Sustainable Forest Livelihoods (SFL) Programme recently held its fourth meeting in Guyana, gathering to assess the programme's progress, address challenges, and formulate strategies for future initiatives.
Key Highlights from the Meeting:
Community Impact Assessment Tool Pilot: The SFL programme is piloting a community impact assessment tool to evaluate and enhance its effectiveness at the local level.
Grant Investment Mechanism: Progress has been made, with the team finalising 12 community grants to support groups in Regions 2 and 10. These grants focus on bolstering nature-based tourism and the timber value chains.
Value Chain Interventions: Advancements were reported in various value chains, including honey production, timber, agroforestry, and nature-based tourism. Key grantees, such as the Rupununi Livestock Producers Association (RLPA), the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), and the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), presented their on-the-ground activities, highlighting the programme's tangible impacts.
Committee members expressed satisfaction with the achievements made thus far in fulfilling the programme’s goals within local communities. A central topic of discussion involved identifying opportunities to connect SFL grantees with additional technical and business support, which is crucial for enhancing their long-term sustainability and success.
The growing interest in sustainable livelihoods in Guyana prompted committee members to stress the necessity for accessible knowledge products. They emphasised the importance of documenting lessons learned from the SFL's investments and planned to include these materials in the programme's communications pipeline.
The Steering Committee is composed of representatives from various organisations, including the Guyana Manufacturing & Services Association Ltd, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Natural Resources, WWF-Guianas, the Forest Products Association, the Guyana Forestry Commission, the Delegation of the European Union in Guyana, Agence Française de Développement (AFD), and the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs.
As the SFL Programme continues to develop, the collaboration amongst stakeholders reflects a collective commitment to fostering sustainable livelihoods and advancing local community resilience in Guyana.
