SFL Programme Advances with Second Steering Committee Meeting in Guyana.

On November 7, 2024, the Steering Committee of the Sustainable Forest Livelihoods for Communities in Guyana and Suriname programme (SFL), funded by the European Union in partnership with the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), and executed by WWF-Guianas, convened for its second meeting in Guyana.

The main objective of the meeting was to present the SFL costed workplan, provide updates on communications activities, and seek feedback and advice on SFL’s ongoing implementation.

The meeting began with remarks from Ms Layla El Khadraoui, the Forest Policy Officer at the European Union Delegation in Guyana. This was followed by a brief statement from Mr Pierre Bourguignon, the AFD Country Representative for Suriname and Guyana and Mr Edward Goberdhan, Commissioner at the Guyana Forestry Commission. The speakers emphasized the importance of collaboration and the necessity of finding synergies to achieve common goals.

Ms. Sara Henry, WWF-Guianas - SFL Assistant Programme Coordinator presented the costed work plan and outlined its strategic importance, which encompasses four value chains: agroforestry, timber, nature-based tourism and honey production. These initiatives support sustainable livelihoods and effective forest use practices in the targeted Regions 2, 9, and 10.

The Committee members were also introduced to the new SFL branding and visibility strategy.

The meeting concluded with a roundtable discussion where members of the Steering Committee and project partners provided recommendations to strengthen the programme’s timely roll-out, underscoring the need for continued collective effort to overcome upcoming challenges.