Ghana Cocoa & Forests Initiative National Implementation Plan 2022-2025 (NIP)

CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN 1 GHANA COCOA & FORESTS INITIATIVE NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN 2022-2025 CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN2 GHANA COCOA & FORESTS INITIATIVE NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN 2022-2025 REPUBLIC OF GHANA MINISTRY OF LANDS AND NATURAL RESOURCES CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN4 5 FOREWORD Martin Short President, World Cocoa Foundation On behalf of the World Cocoa Foundation, I wish to congratulate the government of Ghana for this 2022-2025 national implementation plan, part of the Cocoa & Forests Initiative. The World Cocoa Foundation convenes 35 cocoa and chocolate companies, amongst our approximately 100 members, to contribute to the Cocoa & Forests Initiative. We are proud of our collaboration with the government and the progress we have made together so far to eliminate deforestation and restore degraded lands in cocoa-growing areas. With this second national implementation plan, we welcome the next phase of our collective work. The private sector is committed to align its investments with the national priorities spelt out in this 2022-2025 national implementation plan and the Green Ghana Project. We will continue to work together through the Cocoa & Forests Initiative governance structure, hosted by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources. Where are we today? We have been transparent on progress and challenges every year, with joint public reporting. As shown in our 2021 annual report, the private sector reached 72% traceability1 in direct supply chains, and we want to accelerate our collaboration with the Ghana Cocoa Board on the Cocoa Management System so consumers can know where cocoa comes from and how it is grown. 1 Companies are applying more precise criteria for the traceability indicator, based on the volume of cocoa – rather than number of farmers – that meets requirements on unique farmer IDs, polygon mapping and tracing of cocoa. On behalf of the President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and the Government and people of Ghana, I wish to express our sincerest gratitude to the Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH), the World Cocoa Foundation, and all other CFI Partners, as well as the CFI National Secretariat, for the dedication and hard work which has produced this National Implementation Plan (NIP) for the second phase of the Cocoa and Forests Initiative (CFI). This Initiative, which seeks to end deforestation and forest degradation in the cocoa supply chain, is crucial to the protection of our forest resources, even as we seek to increase cocoa production. Available statistics indicates that globally, some one point six billion (1.6 billion) people depend on the forest for their livelihood; and in Ghana, about eighty-five percent (85%) of the population rely on the forest for some subsistence to meet their socio-economic needs. The protection of our forest resources is, therefore, of utmost importance and consequential. Apart from these socio-economic benefits, forests are also home to most of the earth’s terrestrial biodiversity, and crucial to our fight against climate change. With the climate crisis said to be reaching a tipping point, urgent and collective actions are needed to safeguard our planet, and the Cocoa and Forest Initiative is one of the many interventions we have adopted to address deforestation and forest degradation. I wish to commend the Signatories of the Joint Framework for Action (JFA), as well as civil society organisations and CFI stakeholders, for their investment, commitment and support over the years. This 2021–2025 National Implementation Plan builds on previous Plans, and presents actions and activities needed to restore and protect degraded forests, produce cocoa sustainably and also engage communities to ensure they are inclusive in decision making and their livelihoods are improved. The preparation of this Plan involved several consultations and engagements to ensure that the process was comprehensive, participatory and acceptable by all stakeholders. I am, therefore, confident that we will all embrace this Implementation Plan, and execute the necessary actions to ensure that we achieve the objective of the CFI. The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Government of Ghana remain committed to the process and looks forward to collaborate with all stakeholders to implement key policies, strategies and field-based activities in the NIP, especially, the National Forest Monitoring System, Cocoa Traceability, Tree Registration and Landscape restoration. Let us all continue to work hard to sustain the interest and momentum and make more investments to ensure enhanced impact on our cocoa landscapes and livelihoods of communities. The time for action is now. Let us therefore roll up our sleeves and get to work. PREFACE Agroforestry is rapidly developing, with more than 10 million multi-purpose trees distributed since 2018. And to ensure farmer livelihoods benefit, the private sector has delivered more than 7 million improved cocoa trees since 2018 and trained 350,000 farmers in 2021 to grow more cocoa on less land. Together with public and civil society partners, we are working in Hotspot Intervention Areas identified by the Ghana Cocoa Forest REDD+ Program. For example, eight World Cocoa Foundation members are active in a public private partnership in the Asunafo Asutifi region. But this is not enough, and we want to work even more closely with the government to prioritize satellite monitoring, resource mobilization and fundraising, public private collaboration in additional Hotspot Intervention Areas, and full implementation of the cocoa management system. Finally, we should never lose sight of the root causes of deforestation and child labour: farmer poverty and low cocoa prices. We will need to find the right strategic approach to tackle these issues together if we truly want to protect the environment and provide a living income to cocoa communities. Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor Minister for Lands and Natural Resources CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN6 7 PREFACE Jonas Mva Mva IDH Africa Regional Director - Landscape Twenty twenty-one was a remarkable year for Ghana and the rest of the world as it marked a gradual transition to normalcy as countries eased on COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. The challenging period prior to this witnessed the interruption and suspension of many project activities that adversely affected project planning and timelines. Nonetheless, the Cocoa & Forests Initiative (CFI) has proven its resilience by successfully transitioning to the second phase (2021-2025). The Initiative has experienced a stronger collaboration between cocoa Companies and relevant government institutions at the national and landscape level. CFI National Secretariat put much work into finalizing the 2021-2025 Implementation Plan, which builds on the achievements of the first phase (2018 -2020). IDH continues this journey with cocoa companies and governments to ensure that they live up to the strong commitments made to eliminate deforestation linked to cocoa production, increase sustainable cocoa production and contribute to farmers livelihood. We aim to help reach these goals by facilitating cooperation, aligning groups of stakeholders around the way forward and creating the conditions necessary for success. CFI is another example of a coalition of stakeholders convened by IDH. The year 2021 has seen successes and challenges and we wish to highlight a few. Companies supported farmers in restoration and reforestation programs with 213 hectares of Category 2 Forest Reserve areas restored. The Green Ghana Project introduced by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources in 2021 is an excellent example of government’s vision and desire to restore Ghana’s forest cover, aligns with CFI goals and as such gives guidance to the Initiative. However, while at the onset of 2021, the Initiative anticipated success in the area of Satellite Monitoring for forest management and cocoa sustainability progress has been slow. This year, the move to collaborate with public and private sector to plant and nurture twenty million (20M) trees across the country will give CFI partners the opportunity to get further collaboration with government. We look forward to exciting times as we work through the second phase of CFI 2021-2025. We would like to encourage the signatories of CFI, to maintain the ambition levels as we have no doubt that sustainable cocoa production can truly go hand in hand with forest preservation which we believe is of value to all of us, from local communities to the national economy and all the way through to international ecosystems. We look forward to the next steps of the CFI when it comes to cocoa traceability, the joint use of satellite monitoring and expediting joint investments. It is ever more important to stay committed and together move towards the same goal. LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ARS African Regional Standard CBNRM Community Based Natural Resources Management CEOs Chief Executive Officers CFI Cocoa & Forests Initiative COCOBOD Ghana Cocoa Board COP Conference of Parties CREMA Community Resource Management Area CSDS Cocoa Sector Development Strategy CSO Civil Society Organization ERP Enterprise Resource Planning EU European Union FC Forestry Commission FDMP Forestry Development Master Plan GAP Good Agricultural Practices GCFRP Ghana Cocoa Forest REDD+ Programme GDP Gross Domestic Product GFIP Ghana Forest Investment Programme GFPS Ghana Forest Plantation Strategy GRS Ghana REDD+ Strategy GSA Ghana Standards Authority GSGDA Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda HCS High Carbon Stock HCV High Carbon Value HIA Hotspot Intervention Area IDH Sustainable Trade Initiative ISSER Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research ISU The Prince of Wales International Sustainability Unit IUCN International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources JFA Joint Framework for Action KPI Key Performance Indicator LBCs License Buying Companies M&E Monitoring and Evaluation MESTI Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation MINEF Ministry of Water and Forests of Côte d’Ivoire MLNR Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources MOFA Ministry of Food and Agriculture MOU Memoranda of Understanding NGOs Non-governmental Organizations NIP National Implementation Plan NOC National Oversight Committee NS National CFI Secretariat NYD New York Declaration on forests RDF Resettlement Policy Framework REDD+ Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (conservation, sustainable management of forests, and enhancement of forest carbon stock) RMSC Resource Management Support Centre RPF Resettlement Policy Framework SDGs Sustainable Development Goals TFA Tropical Forests Alliance TWG Technical Working Group UN United Nations UNEP United Nations Environment Programme URL Uniform Resource Locator VSLA Village Savings and Loan Association WCF World Cocoa Foundation CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN8 9 CONTENTS Executive Summary Ghana’s cocoa sector continues to play a fundamental role in the country’s economy. The forest being the main fountain of cocoa production in Ghana, over a quarter of agriculture conversion in the country stems from cocoa expansion. The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) had established over a decade ago that cocoa farming is a direct driver of deforestation in Ghana. This is expected to result in the clearance of large areas of forest for cocoa cultivation, threatening the country’s forests. This implies that there is a need for collaborative approach and innovative intervention to tackle any sort of deforestation and forest degradation emanating from cocoa production. In order to sustainably manage cocoa production and protect the environment, the World Cocoa Foundation and the Sustainable Trade Initiative in collaboration with the International Sustainability Unit of the Office of the Prince of Wales have partnered with governments of Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire and some leading private cocoa companies to initiate the Cocoa and Forests Initiative (CFI). The initiative aims at providing the enabling environment for the cocoa sector players to positively contribute to the preservation of forests in Ghana and the country’s economy as well as protecting rural livelihoods. The CFI is an all-inclusive approach to deal with the complex problem of deforestation and forest degradation stemming from cocoa production with a main focus on three thematic areas: (1) forest protection and restoration, (2) sustainable production and farmers’ livelihoods, and (3) community engagement and social inclusion. These are categorized in a principal Framework for Action for Ghana and its National Implementation Plan (NIP) to guide actors and stakeholders in their commitments towards achieving the goals of the initiative. The Joint Framework for Action outlines the core objective of the CFI, which intends to create an enabling environment for the private sector to closely partner the government of Ghana and align with national objectives and strategies for reducing deforestation and forest degradation in the cocoa sector. Accordingly, national efforts will be complemented by the execution of individual private companies’ action plans concentrating on some or all the elements of the NIP. This emphasizes that agricultural production and forest management can go hand in hand in a sustainable manner to achieve sustainable development through the public and private partners in the cocoa sustainability and forest management sectors. Based on the ideology and value of maximising resources and avoiding duplication, this NIP will continue to avoid carrying out similar existing initiatives, ongoing projects and programs but aligns with existing government and private sector efforts such as the Ghana Cocoa Board and Forestry Commission’s REDD+ program on sustainable cocoa production, farmers’ livelihoods, Community Engagement and Social Inclusion as well as initiatives on reducing deforestation and forest degradation. The Initiative will thus contribute to long-term goals set by government and industry, using a phased approach. The first phase of the NIP was from 2018-2020 and it saw the restoration of over two hundred thousand hectares of forest area within cocoa landscapes and almost eleven thousand hectares of cocoa farms rehabilitated to enhance long-term productivity of high-quality cocoa in an environmentally sustainable manner. The average yield of cocoa has also increased from 450 kg/ha to 500 kg/ha. Community-based natural resource management structures were strengthened and community consultations and information sharing also prioritized. This 2021-2025 NIP will continue to focus on halting further deforestation and forest degradation in the six Hotspot Intervention Areas (HIAs) identified in the Ghana Cocoa Forest Landscape that has the highest deforestation rate covering 2.5 million hectares in the Ashanti, Ahafo, Central, Eastern and Western-North Regions of Ghana, which were also the focus of the previous NIP. Foreword 4 Preface 5 List of Abbreviations 7 Executive Summary 9 Implementation Timeline 12 Introduction 14 Implementation Strategy 19 Implementation Areas 20 Thematic and Focused Areas of Cocoa & Forests Initiative – Commitments, Actions and Activities 22 Theme 1: Forest Protection and Restoration 23 Theme 2: Sustainable Cocoa Production and Farmer Livelihood 29 Theme 3: Community Engagement and Social Inclusion 33 Performance Measurement And Monitoring 37 Monitoring And Evaluation Framework. 37 Budget 44 Institutional and Governance Arrangements 48 Governance Structure 50 References 54 Annex 1 55 Annex 2 58 CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN10 11 The Joint Framework for Action establishes the basis for CFI interventions in Ghana. It entails a multi-stakeholder landscape approach, which will empower all stakeholders to progress towards national rollout while securing the remaining forests in Ghana in the immediate short-term. Hence, as a progression from the first phase, the CFI will focus on eight overarching core commitments, specifically: 1. Prohibit and prevent activities that cause or contribute to any further deforestation or forest degradation in the cocoa sector; 2. Respect the rights of cocoa farmers, including identifying and mitigating social risks, and sequencing the implementation of actions to minimize potential adverse social and economic impacts; 3. Promote the effective restoration and long-term conservation of National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Wildlife Resource Reserves, Forest Reserves, and unprotected off-reserve forest lands; 4. Strengthen supply chain mapping, with the end goal of full traceability at the farm-level; 5. Implement verifiable actions and time-bound targets on the basis of sound data, robust and credible methodologies, stakeholder consultation, and realistic timeframes; 6. Implement agreed actions in the context of a broader landscape-level approach, with strong links with similar initiatives in other commodities, and full alignment with the national REDD+ strategy, new Ghana Cocoa Sector Development Strategy II, and other relevant national strategies and plans; 7. Embrace shared responsibility to implement the Framework actions, including continued engagement in a multi-stakeholder process for dialogue on key issues, development of effective implementation plans, and joint learning and knowledge sharing; and 8. Provide effective monitoring and reporting on progress on commitments and actions to ensure transparency and accountability. The government of Ghana will continue to create an enabling environment through law enforcement, policy implementation, setting up a Fund and improve on the national traceability system. The effectiveness of the 2021-2015 National Implementation Plan is crucial for the subsequent phase and success of the CFI. The government of Ghana and private sector will make diverse investments in the targeted areas to protect the remaining forests while supporting farmers and local communities to prosper. This will contribute towards the preparation of partners of the Initiative for national rollout and make a positive impact in the long run as far as forest protection and sustainable cocoa production is concern. Summary of the main actions defined in the National Implementation Plan Forest Protection & Restoration ACTION 8: Enhancement of public-private collaboration at local and global level ACTION 1: Up-to-date maps on forest cover and land use for the cocoa growing landscape in Ghana ACTION 3: Acceleration of the development of land and tree tenure reform to retain naturally regenerated trees on off-reserve farmlands and in the farming landscape ACTION 2: Zero production & sourcing of cocoa from protected areas ACTION 4: Establishment of a national register of farms and trees ACTION 5: Restoration of degraded cocoa landscapes ACTION 6: Strengthening of forest law enforcement and governance ACTION 7: Mobilization of new sources of funds Sustainable Cocoa Production & Farmer Livelihood ACTION 11: Promotion of financial inclusion and innovation ACTION 12: Improvement in cocoa supply chain mapping and traceability ACTION 9: Promotion of investment in long-term productivity of high-quality cocoa ACTION 10: Support the development of National Implementation Guide for ARS 1000 Series of Standards to promote Climate Smart Cocoa and Crop diversification Community Engagement & Social Inclusion ACTION 16: Development of operational guidelines for resettlement and livelihood restoration ACTION 17: Operationalize social and environmental safeguards based on country driven approach ACTION 15: Development of gender- and youth-sensitive action plans ACTION 13: Promotion of information sharing, consultation and participation of cocoa farmers and their communities, ACTION 14: Promote community-based resource management and governance CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN12 13 IMPLEMENTATION TIMELINE ACTION 2: Zero production & sourcing of cocoa from protected areas ACTION 4: Establishment of a national register of farms and trees ACTION 5: Restoration of degraded cocoa landscapes ACTION 11: Promotion of financial inclusion and innovation ACTION 16: Development of operational guidelines for resettlement and livelihood restoration ACTION 17: Operationalize social and environmental safeguards based on country-driven approach DEC 2021 DEC 2022 DEC 2023 DEC 2024 DEC 2025 ACTION 8: Enhancement of public-private collaboration at local and global level ACTION 1: Up-to-date maps on forest cover and land use for the cocoa growing landscape in Ghana ACTION 3: Acceleration of the development of land and tree tenure reform to retain naturally regenerated trees on off-reserve farmlands and in the farming landscape ACTION 12: Improvement in cocoa supply chain mapping and traceability ACTION 6: Strengthening of forest law enforcement and governance ACTION 7: Mobilization of new sources of funds ACTION 9: Promotion of investment in long-term productivity of high-quality cocoa ACTION 10: Support the development of National Implementation Guide for ARS 1000 Series of Standards to promote Climate Smart Cocoa and Crop diversification ACTION 15: Development of gender- and youth-sensitive action plans ACTION 13: Promotion of information sharing, consultation and participation of cocoa farmers and their communities, ACTION 14: Promote community-based resource management and governance CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN14 15 INTRODUCTION Background Ghana’s chief agricultural export cash crops remains cocoa. The production of cocoa takes place in the forested areas such as the Ashanti, Bono, Bono East, Ahafo, Western North, Western, Eastern, Central and Northern parts of the Volta Region of the country. Ghana is the second highest cocoa producing country in the world, after Côte d’Ivoire, with the sector producing about 970,000 metric tons of cocoa in 2017 (COCOBOD, 2017) and having a market share of about 20 percent (Goodman, 2017). The Ghanaian economy over the years has benefited significantly from the cocoa sector and has contributed immensely to the development of the nation. The country received USD2.71 billion from the export of cocoa in 2017. Ghana has a reputation for the high quality of its cocoa beans in the international market (Roldan et al., 2013). Though the sector’s overall contribution to national gross domestic product (GDP) is about 3 percent, it makes up about 20-25 percent of total export earnings, provides about two-thirds of cocoa farmers’ incomes and supports the livelihoods of approximately four million farming households (Ghana Statistical Service, 2015; ISSER, 2017). Moreover, cocoa production has been vital to poverty reduction in the country over the past decades. Poverty prevalence among cocoa farmers dropped from 64 percent in 1991 to 24 percent in 2006 compared with the national poverty incidence and poverty among non-export (food crop) farmers, which declined from 52 to 29 percent and 68 to 46 percent, respectively, over the same period (Ghana Statistical Service, 2007). The impact of cocoa on rural livelihoods encourages farmers to increase cultivation by expanding cocoa land areas at the detriment of the forest. Ghana serves as a home to about 6.3 million hectares of forests, which play a crucial role in regulating climate and providing other critical ecosystem services. As a forest crop, cocoa needs these forests to thrive. Nonetheless, cocoa production has been identified as one of the main drivers of deforestation. More than one fourth of agriculture conversion in the country is from cocoa expansion. According to the UNEP (2008), cocoa production is a driver of deforestation in the country. The sustainability of cocoa production is of concern to both government and the private sector but the alarming rate of deforestation and forest degradation in a bid to enhance productivity is disquieting. Thus, critical interventions are needed to deal with deforestation and forest degradation stemming from cocoa production. In 2017, twelve leading cocoa companies signed the Cocoa & Forests Initiative Statement of Intent in London, committing to halting deforestation and forest degradation related to the cocoa value chain, with an initial focus on Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana: the two world’s largest cocoa producing nations. Following this commitment, Joint Frameworks for Action were developed for Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, facilitated by the Prince of Wales International Sustainability Unit (ISU), The Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH), and the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF). Currently, 35 leading cocoa and chocolate companies, representing 85% of global cocoa usage have joined together in the Cocoa & Forests Initiative (CFI) to end deforestation and restore forest areas. The Cocoa & Forests Initiative (CFI) began implementation in 2017, after the Signatories of the Joint Framework for Action committed to end deforestation and forest degradation in the cocoa supply chain through no further conversion of any forestland for cocoa production. The purpose of CFI is to provide the enabling environment for cocoa players to positively contribute to the preservation of forests in Ghana. The main objective of CFI, as outlined in the Joint Framework for Action, is for the private sector to partner with the government of Ghana and align with national strategies and objectives for reducing deforestation in the cocoa sector. This initiative is based on frameworks for action and action plans for the private sector and public sector (Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana) that outlines strategic actions focusing on three key themes to: protect and restore forests, promote sustainable cocoa production and farmers’ livelihoods, engage communities and boost social inclusion. The first National Implementation Plan (NIP) for Ghana was developed around these three key themes stemming from the Joint Framework for Action signed in 2017 and implemented between 2018 and 2020. Under the first NIP, both the public sector and the private sector have contributed significantly towards halting further conversion of forest areas for cocoa production. Government in collaboration with partners is pursuing policies to ensure zero sourcing of cocoa from national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and wildlife resource reserves which a core part of the CFI commitments. Progress have been made through the Tree Tenure Policy to give farmers 100% ownership of trees they plant as well as naturally occurring trees registered under their care. Due to this progress made, private sector has supported farmers to register their trees, which is aimed to be scaled up in the NIP 2021-25. In pursuance of the commitment to promoting investment in long-term productivity of high-quality cocoa in environmentally sustainable manner, as a way of mitigating the risks to climate change, promoting additional incomes, and viability of the local economies. The average yield of cocoa increased from 450 kg/ha in (2017/2018) to 500 kg/ha (2019/2020). This is in pursuit of the Productivity Enhancement Program of COCOBOD, which seeks for cocoa intensification to produce more on same size of land without compromising on the environmental effects. Cocoa traceability improved significantly during the period with signatory companies achieving 82% traceability in their direct supply chains from the farm to the first purchase point. Further, community engagement and social inclusion was prioritized in cocoa production activities. Six high-level landscape forums have also been held at all six CFI priority areas with about 500 high-level landscape stakeholders. Companies have also undertaken several sensitization activities through their direct supply chains. Ten (10) Community Resource Management Areas (CREMAs) have also been supported through the Forest Investment Program with social, economic or technical services. Again, a Grievance Redress Mechanism Framework for affected cocoa farmers and their communities has been developed and disseminated in three Hotspot Intervention Areas (HIAs). Following the completion of the first phase, the signatories of the Joint Framework have approved a second phase of the Initiative (2021-2025) for Action. It is against this background that a new Implementation plan is required. Goal and objectives of the implementation plan The National Implementation Plan (NIP) 2021-2015 aims to build on achievements of the previous NIP (2018-2020) and facilitate planning and implementation of the current commitments featured in the Joint Framework for Action signed by the government of Ghana, represented by the MLNR, and the representatives of Chocolate and Cocoa Industry. The goal of this National Implementation Plan (2021-25) is reflected in the national development agenda as stipulated in the National Climate Change Action Plan, Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, The Forest and Wildlife Policy (2012), The Forestry Development Masterplan (2016-2036). The goal is also based on the commitment of the government of Ghana and the private sector to work together to end deforestation and promote forest protection and restoration in the cocoa supply chain in Ghana through this Joint Framework for Action. CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN16 17 The Steering Committee met and reviewed the process as well as the findings of the stocktaking exercise and forwarded the finalized findings to the Oversight Committee. The National Oversight Committee scrutinized and agreed on the findings and approved the commencement of the 2021-2025 National Implementation Plan development process. The Technical Working Group who worked with the various taskforces drafted an initial master plan for 2021-2025. The draft was reviewed and approved by the steering committee. A consultant was engaged to put together the Implementation Plan. The consultant worked closely with the National Secretariat and the Technical Working Group. A consultative meeting was held between the CFI secretariat and the consultant to deepen understanding of the 2021-2025 action plan for the development of National Implementation Plan for the second phase. The process involved conducting a desk review on the Cocoa and Forests Initiative and the cocoa and forestry sector in Ghana. The desk review also summarized progress made under the first phase. CFI Joint Framework of Action was also critically examined to outline the actions, activities and timelines for the next phase. A participatory workshop with stakeholders was conducted by the CFI secretariat to obtain and incorporate feedback from various stakeholders to refine the draft deliverables and share updated versions. Stakeholders include: • The government of Ghana, led by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources (MLNR). Others from the government included the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, COCOBOD and Forestry Commission; • Industry – chocolate-producing companies and other industry partners; • Civil Society Organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations • IDH and the World Cocoa Foundation, as conveners of the Cocoa & Forests Initiative. During the workshop, stakeholders discussed proposed activities and actions for this second phase of the CFI. The output from the workshop was used to update draft NIP, which was then presented to the Steering Committee for review and recommendations before resubmission to the Oversight Committee for approval. This NIP will help both government and its private sector partners to pursue the common goal of reducing Green House Gas (GHG) emissions as a result of deforestation and forest degradation, sustaining cocoa productivity with further conversion of any forests, reducing poverty and helping to conserve biodiversity. This NIP brings together various government policies and allied private sector programs in the cocoa sector as necessary building blocks for building a sustainably cocoa sector, with thriving farmers, and environmentally-friendly production practices. This NIP 2021-2025 therefore specifies actions and activities required to reach this goal whilst fulfilling each of the commitment made under the Joint Action for Action. It indicates implementation arrangements, timelines, indicators for measuring and monitoring, roles and responsibilities for achieving the goal of this NIP. This NIP will be the basis for CFI signatories and partners to develop their individual plans and build on the efforts put in place in the first phase to achieve commitments. Methodology Policy alignment This NIP takes a coordinated and strategic approach to align various government policies and programs to ensure ownership of the programs and activities, harmonization of the sector, management of activities for results, and accountability. At the international level, this NIP is aligned with various international treaties and conventions that Ghana has signed and ratified. This includes the Convention on Biological Diversity, The New York Declaration, and the Paris Agreement. All of these agreements seek to set the stage for Ghana to reduce greenhouse gases, conserve biological diversity, promote fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources, and supporting livelihoods options as alternatives to deforestation driven by poverty and basic needs. These conventions have been translated into national policies, which are currently driving national development and allocation of resources. At the national level, this NIP aligns with the Ghana Cocoa Forest REDD Program (GCFRP), which represents an innovative, unique, and highly ambitious approach to reduce deforestation and degradation of about 5.9 million ha. The program supports the goal of this NIP to significantly reduce emissions driven by cocoa farming and other agricultural drivers, as well as illegal logging and illegal mining, in a manner that will secure the future of Ghana’s forests and the livelihoods of local communities. Approach A participatory multi-sectoral approach was adopted to involve a wide range of stakeholders in the development of this National Implementation Plan. Through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Ghanaian government worked with the conveners (IDH and WCF) to ensure the process remained inclusive and acceptable to all stakeholders. Information analysis and development process of the NIP A stocktaking exercise was carried out in 2020 to set the tone for the next NIP (which is 2021-2025 NIP) development. The main objective of the exercise was to collect primary data on a number of indicators related to the implementation of Cocoa & Forests, which was used to create a dialogue among the signatories of the Joint Framework for Action and other key stakeholders to formulate new objectives and realistic targets beyond 2020. The specific objectives were: • To review the achievements/progress of CFI • To identify the challenges of implementation of the initiative • To propose CFI way forward beyond 2020 at the 8th National Steering Committee meeting. The stocktaking exercise was in three 3 sections (a) Respondents – Profile of key stakeholder groups, their perception of CFI & their level of assessment of stakeholder’s involvement in the initiative, (b) progress of the initiative - Achievements & challenges, (c) recommendations and the way forward. A total of 46 stakeholder organizations from public sector, private sector and CSOs/NGOs were targeted with an overall response rate of 82%. CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN18 19 Organization of the document The 2021-2025 National Implementation Plan aims to build on achievements of the previous NIP (2018-2020) and facilitate planning, and implementation of the current commitments featured in the Joint Framework for Action for the second phase. It indicates the actions and activities required for each of the commitments; it includes a specific calendar of activities and timelines assigned to each activity or action, provisions on measurement and monitoring of the framework, as well as roles and responsibilities are outlined. This new National Implementation Plan focuses on the second phase of the Cocoa and Forests Initiative, between 2021 and 2025, to prepare for its continuity and expansion phase from 2026 through 2043. The 2021-2025 NIP is structured into five main sections: Section 1 Delivers a background and overview of the context of this NIP (2021-2025), summarizing some key achievements of the NIP 2018 2020. It also spells out the goal, objectives and a summary of the methods used in its development. Section 2 Specifies the implementation strategy and gives the pilots areas within priority HIAs. Section 3 Emphasize and focus on the three key thematic areas of the NIP, specifies progress made under NIP (2018-2020) for each theme, giving a concise list of commitments, actions and activities to be implemented, as well as the institutions involved in implementation. Section 4 Describe how performance will be measured and monitored. Section 5 Outlines the institutional and governance arrangements. IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY The focus of Ghana’s Framework for Action of the Cocoa and Forests Initiative (CFI) signed at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP23) was to further halt deforestation caused by cocoa production in Ghana and Cote D’Ivoire. A first National Implementation Plan (2018 2020) served as a reference point for both private and public stakeholders. This Plan is a follow-up to the previous to enable stakeholders to outline and carry out critical actions towards reducing deforestation while focusing on forest protection, sustainable production and farmer livelihoods as well as community engagement and social inclusion. In order to ensure successful implementation of the plan, some guidelines, strategies and guiding principles were outlined as follows: Public-Private Participation This NIP will be implemented through public-private partnership. The government of Ghana led by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Ghana Cocoa Board will provide leadership for the coordination of the project to be carried out by Ministries, Departments and Agencies including private cocoa trading companies and chocolate manufacturing companies. Multi-Stakeholder Participation Implementation of the NIP will continue to follow a participatory process, inclusive of all stakeholders crucial to achieving the set goals. Relevant stakeholders such as Civil Society Organizations, Local Authorities, Traditional Authorities, Farmers and Farmer-based Organizations will play a crucial at all levels of CFI implementation. Regional Approach As was the case in the previous NIP, there will be regular exchanges, lesson sharing to set common indication to ensure replication and scale up of success across Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire. These two countries are close neighbours and also the two leading cocoa producing countries. Their interactions give CFI the best practical case for implementation. The approach is part of the governance arrangement to help steer the implementation based on regional approach. Alignment Based on the ideology and value of maximising resources and avoiding replication, the CFI would not seek to carry out similar existing projects but will continue to align with existing government and private sector efforts such as Ghana REDD+, the GFIP, the ERP and other stakeholders’ initiatives that seek to reduce deforestation, promote climate smart cocoa production and environmental protection. Resources Mobilization and Financing The CFI Technical Secretariat has identified the need to scale up and innovate the strategy for resource mobilization in order to facilitate CFI implementation. In the first phase if CFI, numerous activities were delayed largely due to a lack of overall funding. Recognizing the need to intensify fundraising efforts to support the implementation of the activities in this NIP, the National Secretariat is actively identifying additional funding partners for implementing CFI activities at the national and landscape levels. The CFI will continue to engage with the private sector organizations to provide financial resources for the activities and actions in line with their commitments towards the NIP. Moreover, the Government of Ghana will continue to provide financial and in-kind resources towards the implementation of this NIP, which will safeguard the financial support required implementation. Between 2018 and 2020, activities of the National Secretariat was funded by donor agencies particularly DFID through Partnership for Forests, and others such as the World Bank, and the Netherlands government. The national secretariat continues to receive support from the Partnership for Forest although the Secretariat has received additional funding from the government of Switzerland through SECO since 2021. CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN20 21 IMPLEMENTATION AREAS The first phase of the CFI (2018-2020) aimed at fostering government, industry, farmers and farmer groups, civil society, development partners and related stakeholders working together to halt deforestation and degradation of the forest. The second phase will have a similar focus. To maximise the effect for forests and farmers and optimize resource use, the 2021-2025 NIP will also focus on the six priority Hotspot Intervention Areas (HIAs) which were identified in the Ghana Cocoa Forest REDD+ Programme (GCFRP) and used for the 2018-2020 NIP. The HIAs cover 2.5 million hectares with the highest deforestation rate in the country. The areas have been defined into group of districts and designated areas based on assessment and evaluation of key parameters such as deforestation trends and drivers, cocoa production and population. The first phase of the CFI gives empirical evidence of the ongoing activities in these regions and an opportunity for effective gap assessment. It has thus given focus to the 2021-2025 NIP and will continue to shape national-level policy, influence target setting and direct CFI’s long-term roadmap. A local governance board made up of landowners, land users and community members and their leaders govern each hotspot Intervention Areas (HIAs). A formal consortium of private sector cocoa companies, NGOs and government partners will collaborate to provide resources for the implementation of the activities. The basis for the CFI intervention in Ghana involves a multi-stakeholder landscape approach as specified in the JFA. Signatories of the framework to reduce deforestation and forest degradation in the HIAs are implementing some projects. While the coverage is national in nature, CFI’s National Implementation Plan has prioritized the following landscapes in the Ashanti, Ahafo, Central, Eastern and Western-North and Central regions of Ghana shown in the map. 1. Ahafo-Ano South/ Atwima Mponua/Atwima Nwabiagya Ashanti Region 2. Asunafo/Asutifi Ahafo Region 3. Atiwa/Denkyembour/ East Akim Eastern Region 4. Bibiani/Anwiaso/Sefwi Wiawso Western-North Region 5. Juabeso Bia Western-North Region 6. Kakum Central Region The implementation process initially focused on identification of key stakeholders within the landscapes, sensitizing them on CFI and establishing partnerships. This was followed by developing and implementing integrated landscape management plans with a strong emphasis on climate-smart cocoa initiative. CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN22 23 Theme 1: Forest protection and restoration: commitments, actions and activities This is the central theme of CFI, which is to ensure that Ghana’s remaining forest estate is conserved, restored and rehabilitated. These remaining forests are an integral part of the priority landscapes called the HIAs. These include a mix of farmlands, settlements, protected areas (National parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Forest reserves, etc.) and unprotected off reserve forestlands. Under this theme, the previous National Implementation Plan (2018-2020) ensured that protected area boundaries earlier land cover maps were distributed for risk assessment by CFI company signatories. The latest maps are yet to be adopted or shared with companies and other stakeholders. A National Forest Monitoring System Framework will form the basis for the development of a satellite monitoring system and monitoring platform. With that previous plan, companies continued to implement policies and carry out mapping exercises to ensure they are not sourcing cocoa from national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and wildlife resource reserves. Additionally, policy reforms on Tree Tenure and Benefit Sharing are currently being developed to give farmers 100% ownership of trees they plant as well as compensation for naturally occurring trees registered under their care. CFI signatory Companies are also piloting activities in both land and tree registration, supporting 2,359 farmers with land tenure agreements / documentation and enabling farmers to register trees. Since 2018, companies have supported farmers to register 159,359 trees. Recognizing the importance of conserving Ghana’s remaining forests and restoring previously degraded forests, this plan commits to continuing with efforts at halting conversion of any forestland for cocoa production; zero production and sourcing of cocoa from National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, and Wildlife Resource Reserves, except from farms with existing legal status. Less degraded Forest Reserves will be managed under a strict protection status, which will exclude cocoa production and sourcing, timber extraction, and other types of productive and extractive activities. This commitment will be implemented in accordance with Resettlement Policy Framework and other safeguards policies developed as part of Ghana’s country driven approach to REDD+ Safeguards. THEMATIC AND FOCUSED AREAS OF COCOA & FORESTS INITIATIVE – COMMITMENTS, ACTIONS AND ACTIVITIES The many benefits that could be obtained from forests and other natural resources creates room for stakeholders to lay multiple and competing claims to them. These claims are inevitable and most of the time legitimate. However, with the increasing trend towards globalization, rapid population growth and climate change, which drives the pressure on the natural resources, there is an eminent danger of extensive resource depletion. Thus, it has become imperative to create and maintain a balance in the use of these resources. Consequently, this National Implementation Plan adopts a three dimensional approach to ensuring sustainable management of cocoa-forest landscapes. These are the three thematic areas of the plan: • Forest protection and restoration • Sustainable cocoa production and farmer livelihood • Community engagement and social inclusion Under each theme, the plan has commitments, actions and activities that ensure cocoa-forest landscapes are sustainably managed. This plan has four key commitments under the forest protection and restoration theme as outlined in the table below. Eight actions for achieving the commitments include the following: Action 1: Up-to-date maps on forest cover and land use for the cocoa growing landscapes of Ghana. Action 2: There will be Zero production & sourcing of cocoa from protected areas. Action 3: Acceleration of the development of the land and tree tenure reform to retain naturally regenerated trees on off-reserve farmlands and in the farming landscape. Action 4: Establishment of a national register farms and trees. Action 5: Restoration of degraded cocoa landscapes. Action 6: Strengthening of forest law enforcement and governance Action 7: Mobilization of new sources of funding. Action 8: Enhancement of public-private collaboration at local & global level. CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN24 25 COMMITMENT 2 A differentiated Approach for Forest Reserves will be adopted by government. It will be based on 2 categories and will specify the number of hectares, timelines, roles & responsibilities, budget, and fund mobilization strategy for each category Category 1: The less degraded Forest Reserve (classifications 1, 2 and 3 in the national system) will be managed under a strict protection status by December 31, 2019, which will exclude cocoa production and sourcing, timber extraction, and other types of productive and extractive activities. Signatory companies will stop sourcing cocoa from these forests starting December 31, 2019 Category 2: In the more degraded Forest Reserves (classifications 4 and 5 in the national system), cocoa production and sourcing will continue for a period of 25 years (the cocoa tree lifecycle) through the Modified Taungya System (MTS). The government will sign contracts with farmers that include tree benefit-sharing arrangements, targeted restoration and reforestation programs, with the end goal of progressively restoring the forest to a healthy intact state, and cessation of cocoa farming (but allowing some sustainable economic use of the forest, including non-timber forest products). ACTION 3: Acceleration of the development of the land and tree tenure reform to retain naturally regenerated trees on off-reserve farmlands and in the farming landscape. ACTIVITY 3.1 Develop a policy to support registration of naturally regenerated trees by December, 2025 Lead Institutions/Actors Collaborating Institutions Timeline MLNR and FC CSO/Private Sector By December 31, 2025 ACTIVITY 3.2 Support farmers to register their planted trees through a collaboration effort of government & private sector Lead Institutions/Actors Collaborating Institutions Timeline FC & COCOBOD Private Sector/CSOs/NGOs By December 31 each year ACTIVITY 3.3 Create enabling environment to support farmers to acquire Land title documentation starting December, 2022 ACTION 4: Establishment of a national registered farms and trees ACTIVITY 4.1 Create and update a national register of cocoa farms with legal status by December, 2025 Lead Institutions/Actors Collaborating Institutions Timeline COCOBOD FC/Private Sector By December 31, each year COMMITMENTS There will be no further conversion of any forest land (as defined under national regulations and using methodologies such as High Carbon Stock and High Conservation Value approach) for cocoa production ACTION 1: Up-to-date maps on forest cover and land use for these areas ACTIVITY 1.1 Develop up-to-date land use maps (imagery) Lead Institutions/Actors Collaborating Institutions Timeline FC (RMSC) Forest 2020 Partners By December 31 each year. ACTIVITY 1.2 Distinguish different land use, provide information on deforestation trend to identify deforestation hotspots and available on portal and can be compliment with deforestation alert by December 31st 2025 Lead Institutions/Actors Collaborating Institutions Timeline FC (RMSC) Forest 2020 Partners /COCOBOD By December 31, 2025 ACTIVITY 1.3 Mapping of cocoa farms Lead Institutions/Actors Collaborating Institutions Timeline COCOBOD Private Sector By December 31 each year. ACTIVITY 1.4 Conduct deforestation risk assessments in all sourcing areas. Lead Institutions/Actors Collaborating Institutions Timeline Private Sector FC, COCOBOD By December 31, 2022 ACTION 2: There will be Zero production & Sourcing of cocoa from protected areas. ACTIVITY 2.1 Data on cocoa farmers and their farms on and off forest reserves areas including socio-economic data of cocoa farmers and their communities Lead Institutions/Actors Collaborating Institutions Timeline COCOBOD Private Sector By December 31, 2022 ACTIVITY 2.2 Development of land and tree tenure reform to retain naturally regenerated trees on off-reserve farming landscape Lead Institutions/Actors Collaborating Institutions Timeline MLNR FC/Private Sector / CSO/ Development Partners By December 31, 2025 ACTIVITY 2.3 Implement private sector traceability tools/technology to ensure no cocoa purchases originate from National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, and Wildlife Resource Reserves (all forest areas) Lead Institutions/Actors Collaborating Institutions Timeline Private Sector COCOBOD, FC By December 31, 2022 CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN26 27 COMMITMENT 4 In all these areas, a multi-stakeholder landscape approach will form the basis for the interventions, with an initial focus on the six Hotspot Intervention Areas (HIAs) as defined under the Ghana Cocoa Forest REDD+ Programme. The process starts by establishing consortia of key stakeholders, followed by development and implementation of integrated landscape management plans with a strong focus on climate-smart cocoa initiatives ACTION 8: Enhancement of public-private collaboration at local & global level ACTIVITY 8.1 Strengthen cocoa-forest multi-stakeholder dialogue Lead Institutions/Actors Collaborating Institutions Timeline MLNR, COCOBOD, FC Private Sector and CSOs, Development Partners By December 31, each year ACTIVITY 8.2 Develop & implement integrated landscapes plans focusing on CSC in HIA’s with local participation by December, 2022 Lead Institutions/Actors Collaborating Institutions Timeline FC, COCOBOD Private Sector and CSOs By December 31, 2022 ACTIVITY 8.3 Enhance knowledge sharing between Ghana & Cote d’Ivoire on cocoa and other commodities Lead Institutions/Actors Collaborating Institutions Timeline MLNR Private sector, COCOBOD, CSOs By December 31 each year COMMITMENT 3 In highly degraded off-reserve forest lands (which are held under the customary land ownership sector), cocoa production and sourcing will continue, supported by substantial investment and adoption of best practices in climate-smart cocoa and MTS ACTION 5: Restoration of degraded cocoa landscapes ACTIVITY 5.1 Support distribution & planting of multi-purpose trees for on-farm restoration in each annual cocoa season Lead Institutions/Actors Collaborating Institutions Timeline FC and COCOBOD Private Sector/CSOs/NGOs By December 31, each year ACTIVITY 5.2 Assess the state of degradation and implement strategies to restore degraded cocoa farm landscape destroyed by illegal mining activities by December, 2023 Lead Institutions/Actors Collaborating Institutions Timeline MLNR FC, COCOBOD, Minerals Commission, Private-Sector Cocoa and Mining Companies, CSOs, EPA, CSIR-SRI, Multi-sectoral By December 31, 2023 ACTIVITY 5.3 Train farmers in off-reserve forest lands in CSC production including cocoa agroforestry systems Lead Institutions/Actors Collaborating Institutions Timeline COCOBOD Private Sector, FC By December 31, each year ACTION 6: Strengthening of forest law enforcement and governance. ACTIVITY 6.1 Build capacity and create awareness among farmers on forest law enforcement Lead Institutions/Actors Collaborating Institutions Timeline MLNR, FC CSOs, NGOs, Traditional Authorities, District Assemblies, Faith Based Institution, Private Sector By December 31 each year ACTION 7: Mobilization of new sources of funding ACTIVITY 7.1 Mobilization of New sources of fund by setting up a “Restoration Trust Fund” by December, 2023 Lead Institutions/Actors Collaborating Institutions Timeline MLNR CFI secretariat, Private sector, Development Partners By December 31, 2023 ACTIVITY 7.2 Strengthen capacity within CFI governance structure to mobilize funding Lead Institutions/Actors Collaborating Institutions Timeline MLNR CFI secretariat, Private sector, Development Partners By December 31, 2023 CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN28 29 Theme 2: Sustainable cocoa production and farmer livelihood: commitments, actions and activities The second theme concentrates on sustainable expansion and diversification of cocoa production, which improves farmers’ yields and income on existing fields, while decreasing pressure on forests. Under this theme, the previous National Implementation Plan (2018-2020) in pursuance of the commitment to promoting investment in long-term productivity of high quality cocoa in environmentally sustainable manner rehabilitated 10,945.3 ha of cocoa farms. About 192,252 farmers also benefitted from hand pollination. One thousand nine hundred and forty-seven hybrid cocoa seedlings nursery site established and 7,800,000 hybrid cocoa seedlings supplied to beneficiary farmers. To fulfilment of the agenda to grow ‘more cocoa on less land’, the average yield of cocoa increased from 450 kg/ha in (2017/2018) to 500 kg/ha (2019/2020). Cocoa agroforestry was also rigorously promoted. Again, to promote climate-smart cocoa production, a new climate smart cocoa standard has been drafted. Regarding the commitment to promote financial Inclusion and innovation to deepened farmers access to working capital, in 2020, companies supported 49,820 individuals to participate in income generating activities (IGAs) and supported 2,615 Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLA) groups consisting of 61,573 members. Financial products and services including credit and savings accounts, various types of insurance and innovative products were provided to 191,962 farmers in Ghana in 2020. To improve supply chain mapping, it is important to ensure that all cocoa sourced from Ghana is traceable from farm to first purchasing point. Since the previous NIP, traceability has down to the society level and signatory companies are mapping out farms in their direct supply chain. Over the past two years, signatory companies mapped 557,900 farms. The companies achieved 82% traceability in their direct supply chains from the farm to the first purchase point. In this National Implementation Plan (2021-2025), under this theme of sustainable cocoa production and farmer livelihoods has four key commitments and four actions, as indicated in the table below. The main actions identified under these commitments are summarized as follows: Action 9: Promotion of Investment in long-term productivity of High-quality cocoa Action 10: Support the development of the National Implementation Guide for ARS 1000 series of standards to promote climate-smart cocoa and crop diversification Action 11: Promotion of financial inclusion and innovation. Action 12: Improvement in cocoa supply chain mapping and traceability by December 31, 2019. CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN30 31 ACTIVITY 10.2 Implement the ARS 1000 series Lead Institutions/Actors Collaborating Institutions Timeline COCOBOD FC, Private Sector, CSOs, Development Partners By December 31, each year ACTIVITY 10.3 Promote farm-level crop diversification Lead Institutions/Actors Collaborating Institutions Timeline COCOBOD Private Sector and CSOs By December 31, each year COMMITMENT 3 Promote financial inclusion and innovation to deepen farmers’ access to working capital and investment funds required for production and cocoa farm rehabilitation and restoration. ACTION 11: Promotion of financial inclusion and innovation ACTIVITY 11.1 Build capacity of farmers to access financial products through the Farmer Cooperatives Lead Institutions/Actors Collaborating Institutions Timeline COCOBOD Development Partners and CSOs By December 31, each year ACTIVITY 11.2 Promote expansion of farmer saving (Saving A/C) Lead Institutions/Actors Collaborating Institutions Timeline Financial Institutions, Private Sector and CSOs COCOBOD, LBCs By December 31, each year ACTIVITY 11.3 Promote Farmer participation in VSLA group Lead Institutions/Actors Collaborating Institutions Timeline Financial Institutions, Private Sector and CSOs COCOBOD, LBCs By December 31, each year ACTIVITY 11.4 Offer other financial products to farmers Lead Institutions/Actors Collaborating Institutions Timeline Financial Institutions, Private Sector and CSOs COCOBOD, LBCs By December 31, each year COMMITMENT 1 Promote investment in long-term productivity of high-quality cocoa in an environmentally sustainable manner. Grow “more on less land” through intensification of farming practices, provision of improved planting materials, introduction of yield-enhancing methods, training in good agricultural practices, crop protection, crop nutrition and soil fertility. Continued land tenure reform to strengthen farmers’ land and property rights, and development and capacity building of farmers’ organizations, are critical enabling factors for sustainable agriculture development. ACTION 9: Promotion of Investment in long-term productivity of High-quality cocoa ACTIVITY 9.1 Train farmers in the latest Good Agriculture Practices (GAPs) Lead Institutions/Actors Collaborating Institutions Timeline COCOBOD Private Sector and CSOs By December 31, each year ACTIVITY 9.2 Establish and/or provide nurseries with improved shade tree and cocoa planting material Lead Institutions/Actors Collaborating Institutions Timeline COCOBOD, FC Private Sector and CSOs By December 31, each year ACTIVITY 9.3 Provide farmers with input such as planting materials including shade tree seedlings, food crops, etc. Lead Institutions/Actors Collaborating Institutions Timeline COCOBOD, FC Private Sector/CSOs/NGOs By December 31, each year ACTIVITY 9.4 Adopt and mainstream best existing intensification practices Lead Institutions/Actors Collaborating Institutions Timeline COCOBOD Private Sector and CSOs By December 31, each year COMMITMENT 2 Promote sustainable livelihoods and income diversification for cocoa farmers, including agricultural inter-cropping, development of shade-grown cocoa, and other income-generating activities designed to boost and diversify household income. ACTION 10: Support the development of the National Implementation Guide for African Regional Standard 1000 series (ARS) of standards to promote climate-smart cocoa and crop diversification ACTIVITY 10.1 Support development of National Implementation Guide for ARS 1000 series Lead Institutions/Actors Collaborating Institutions Timeline Ghana Standards Authority, COCOBOD CSOs, Private Sector, Development Partners By December 31, 2022 CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN32 33 Theme 3: Community Engagement and Social Inclusion: Commitments, Actions and Activities This theme safeguards community involvement and assure inclusion of other important actors like civil society in forest and other natural resource management activities. Community engagement is pivotal in all forest and other natural resource management efforts. This is because rural communities play important roles in the protection and conservation of the resources and their livelihoods are largely dependent on them. Within the previous National Implementation Plan (2018-2020), community consultations and sensitization campaigns were prioritized in cocoa production activities. Over the period, signatory companies and two high level sensitization campaigns carried out in Sefwi Essam and Sefwi-Wiawso convened 1,300 community consultations. Six high-level landscape forums have also been held at all six CFI priority areas with about 500 high-level landscape stakeholders participating in these forums. Trainings, information sharing and consultations focusing on crucial topics like forest policy, law enforcement, forest protection and restoration have also been conducted among about 185,093 farmers. In a bid to strengthen community-based structures, ten (10) Collaborative Resource Management Areas (CREMAs) have been supported with social, economic or technical services. Signatory companies have also supported 1,298 communities with active forest restoration and protection programmes covering a total of 317,739 hectares under CBNRM. Community engagement efforts have also been gender and youth sensitive. About 60,199 women and youth have been trained in various skills including GAPs and 53,492 individuals have also participated in women’s empowerment projects and activities. Youth focused projects and activities conducted under NIP (2018-2020) in Ghana has about 3,402 individuals participating. As part of the commitment to assess and mitigate the social impacts and risk of proposed land use changes on affected cocoa farmers and their communities, a Grievance Redress Mechanism Framework for affected cocoa farmers and their communities has been developed and disseminated in three Hotspot Intervention Areas. Operational guidelines for Environmental and Social Safeguards covering resettlement and livelihood of affected parties have been drafted with input from stakeholders like the EU Program Landscape Actors Project, Tropenbos Ghana, CFI Safeguards Taskforce and Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources. A Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF). (RPF) has also been developed under this theme. Following from the previous plan, this National Implementation Plan (2021-2025) has five key commitments (see table below). A summary of the actions identified under these commitments are as follows: Action 13: Promotion of information sharing, consultation and participation of cocoa farmers and their communities Action 14: Promote community-based resource management Action 15: Development of gender- and youth-sensitive action plans Action 16: Operationalize social and environmental safeguards based on the country-driven approach Action 17: Operationalize guidelines for resettlement and livelihood restoration COMMITMENT 4 Improve supply chain mapping, with 100% of cocoa sourcing traceable from farm to first purchase point ACTION 12: Improving cocoa supply chain mapping and traceability ACTIVITY 12.1 Develop action plan together with private sector Lead Institutions/Actors Collaborating Institutions Timeline COCOBOD Private Sector/CSOs By December 31, each year ACTIVITY 12.2 Establish a national cocoa traceability system Lead Institutions/Actors Collaborating Institutions Timeline COCOBOD Private Sector, LBCs, Development Partners, CSOs, GSA By December 31, 2022 CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN34 35 COMMITMENT 3 Development of action plans for forest protection, restoration, and sustainable agricultural intensification that are gender and youth sensitive. ACTION 15: Development of gender- and youth-sensitive action plans ACTIVITY 15.1 Promote youth participation in Cocoa Lead Institutions/Actors Collaborating Institutions Timeline COCOBOD, CSOs Private Sector, By December 31, each year ACTIVITY 15.2 Develop forest protection & restoration and agriculture intensification action plans that are youth and gender sensitive Lead Institutions/Actors Collaborating Institutions Timeline Private Sector CSOs, FC, COCOBOD By December 31, 2023 COMMITMENT 4 For the approach in Forest Reserves, the government will assess and mitigate the social impacts and risks of proposed land-use changes on affected cocoa farmers and their communities, and ensure the provision of alternative livelihoods and restoration of standards of living of affected parties, in line with global standards. ACTION 16: Operationalize social and environmental safeguards based on the country-driven approach ACTIVITY 16.1 Build capacity of stakeholders on country-driven approach to safeguards Lead Institutions/Actors Collaborating Institutions Timeline FC World Bank By December 31, each year ACTIVITY 16.2 Align CFI safeguards to the country-driven approach Lead Institutions/Actors Collaborating Institutions Timeline FC Private Sector By December 31, 2022 ACTIVITY 16.3 Support implementation of grievance redress mechanism for affected cocoa farmers and their community Lead Institutions/Actors Collaborating Institutions Timeline FC Private Sector, CSOs By December 31, 2025 COMMITMENT 1 Full and effective information sharing, consultation and informed participation of cocoa farmers and their communities who are affected by proposed land-use changes under the Framework ACTION 13: Promotion of information sharing, consultation and participation of cocoa farmers and their communities ACTIVITY 13.1 Implement CFI communication strategy Lead Institutions/Actors Collaborating Institutions Timeline CFI Secretariat Team COCOBOD, CSOs, Development Partners Ongoing COMMITMENT 2 Promote community-based management models for forest protection and restoration, including engagement of local communities and farmers in awareness-raising campaigns on the status of protected areas and the critical role that forest plays in climate regulation. ACTION 14: Promote community-based resource management ACTIVITY 14.1 Disseminate extension materials including technical information on cocoa and forest issues with Community based natural resource management. Lead Institutions/Actors Collaborating Institutions Timeline FC Private Sector, CSOs By December 31, each year ACTIVITY 14.2 Develop operational guidelines for the implementation of the wildlife bill when passed Lead Institutions/Actors Collaborating Institutions Timeline FC CSOs By December 31, 2025 ACTIVITY 14.3 Establish and/or support community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) programs for forest protection and restoration Lead Institutions/Actors Collaborating Institutions Timeline MLNR Private Sector, CSOs, Development Partners By December 31, each year CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN36 37 PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT AND MONITORING Performance measurement and monitoring of progress made under this NIP will be at the National level. The purpose of such measurement and monitoring will be to identify anomalies and take steps to correct them. The performance measurement and monitoring system will therefore be designed as a learning-oriented system, which will involve relevant stakeholders in the process so that lessons learnt can be incorporated to improve implementation. Again, it will enhance transparency and accountability. Under the previous NIP (2018-2020), a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework has been developed to measure and monitor the progress of CFI implementation. This process is in line with the Ghana Cocoa & Forest REDD+ Program. Signatory companies and government will continue to report annually on the progress and outcomes of specific actions in the plan. For each thematic area, key performance indicators (KPIs) to be used in progress monitoring have been given in the Monitoring and Evaluation Framework. Monitoring and Evaluation Framework The 2018-2020 Monitoring and Evaluation Framework is shown below. Similar approach will be used to develop subsequent monitoring and evaluation framework. COMMITMENT 5 Government will prepare operational guidelines covering resettlement and livelihood restoration of any affected parties, with relevant input from the private sector, civil society organizations and other stakeholders, in line with global standards. ACTION 17: Operationalize guidelines for resettlement and livelihood restoration ACTIVITY 17.1 Sensitize stakeholders on the resettlement policy framework Lead Institutions/Actors Collaborating Institutions Timeline FC Private Sector, CSOs By December 31, 2022 ACTIVITY 17.2 Undertake consultations for developing a resettlement policy in classifications 1, 2 and 3 Lead Institutions/Actors Collaborating Institutions Timeline FC Private Sector, CSOs By December 31, 2022 ACTIVITY 17.3 Establish and Implement resettlement plan including livelihood restoration Lead Institutions/Actors Collaborating Institutions Timeline FC Private Sector, CSOs December 31, 2022 Social safeguards In line with the commitment to put in place safeguards to mitigate potential social and environmental impacts during the implementation of the project activities, the developed guidelines will be finalised and implemented. The National Secretariat together with the CFI taskforce on Safeguards will work in collaboration with REDD+ to oversee the implementation of actions to mitigate adverse environmental and social impacts within the CFI implementation areas. The Cocoa Forest Initiative is closely aligned with the Ghana Cocoa Forest REDD+ Programme and will use their Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF). The REDD+ RPF clearly indicates how project stakeholders will address compensation for affected properties/livelihoods. It also includes a list of proposed strategies for addressing identified drivers of deforestation/forest degradation, which will be incorporated by the CFI. Provisions are made in the RPF to accommodate all potential situations, including cases that involve actual displacement/resettlement, and livelihood restoration assistance. CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN38 39 Cocoa & Forest Initiative (CFI): Draft Results Framework PROGRAMME TITLE: COCOA & FOREST INITIATIVE GHANA NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN: 2018-2020 Indicator Level Indicators Definition Unit of Measurement Baseline (2017) End Target Disaggregation Data Source Frequency Responsibility Collaborating Institutions Impact Carbon sequestration rates A measure of total carbon emission tCO2eq TBD by (FC) TBD by (FC) Ecological zones MRV Report Biennial FC EPA, MLNR Impact Percentage of forest cover A measure of the total forest landscape Ha TBD by (FC) TBD by (FC) HIA, MRV Report Biennial MLNR, FC and COCOBOD MLNR,FC Target Poverty levels in target communities A measure of the proportion of communities with improved wellbeing Percentage 2017 Ghana Living Standard Survey (GLSS) TBD by (GSS) Regions, Sex Ghana Living Standard Survey, Report Biennial MLNR/CFI Secretariat GSS, NDPC, COCOBOD, MLNR, FC, WCF 1. Protection and Restoration of Forest 1.1 Outcome Hectares of forest within cocoa landscape that remain unchanged A measure of forest area that has not been encroached/degraded Ha 2017 TBD by (FC) HIA, Ecological Zone FC(RMSC) Annual reports Annual FC MLNR, FC (RMSC, WD), WCF, Local communities/farmers 1.1.1 Output Number of land-use maps developed Count of land-use maps developed Number 0 TBD by (FC) FC(RMSC) FC Annual Report FC MLNR, FC (RMSC) COCOBOD, CERSGIS, KNUST, Land use & Spatial Planning Authority CSOs, Minerals Commission, CSIR-SRI, OASL, MMDAs 1.2 Outcome Hectares of forest area restored within cocoa landscape A measure of degraded forest area restored Number of Hectares of forest area restored Ha 2017 TBD by (FC) HIA, region, type (degraded by mining or cocoa activities) FC (RMSC) Annual reports Annual FC MLNR, FC (RMSC), WCF, COCOBOD, Local Community/farmers 1.2.1 Output Number of management plans for Forest and Wildlife Reserves reviewed Count of management plans for Forest and Wildlife Reserves reviewed and updated Number Category, HIA, FC(RMSC) annual report Annual MLNR, FC MLNR, FC (WD), CSOs, Local community/farmers 1.2.2 Output A system for forest monitoring system with a web-portal complemented by deforestation alerts developed and operational System of national forest monitoring with functionalities to distinguish different land uses, deforestation trends and alerts available on web-portal System 2017 2018 2019 2020 FC Annual FC, COCOBOD MLNR, Signatory Companies, WCF, CSOs 1.2.3 Output Total amount mobilised from new sources towards forest protection and restoration Amount mobilised from new sources towards forest protection and restoration Amount in Dollars 0 Source of funds FC annual report Annual MLNR, FC and COCOBOD MLNR, FC, COCOBOD, WCF, CSOs, Identifiable farmer groups, MMDAs 1.3 Outcome Number of illegal Farmers relocated from protected areas Proportion of illegal cocoa farmers ejected/evicted from protected areas Number 2017 TBD by (FC) HIA FC Annual Report Annual FC MNLNR,FC, COCOBOD,WCFCSIR SRI, CSOs 1.3.1Output Data on cocoa farmers including socio-economic status collected and published. Data system of cocoa farmers in-and off-forest reserve areas including assessment of the socio-economic status Date 2017 HIA, Sex COCOBOD CMS Annual Report Annual COCOBOD MLNR, FC, COCOBOD, WCF, CSOs 1.3.2 Output Number of cocoa farms with legal status in Forest and Wildlife Reserves and other protected areas Count of cocoa farms with legal status in Protected areas including includes Forest Reserves, National parks, Wildlife areas, Ramsar sites. Number 2017 Protected areas, COCOBOD, FC Monitoring Reports Annual MLNR, FC and COCOBOD MLNR, FC, COCOBOD, WCF, CSOs, 1.4 Outcome Number of farmers excluded from cocoa supply chain. A measure of farmers excluded in companies supply chain from producing cocoa from protected areas Number 2017 TBD by (FC) HIA COCOBOD Cocoa Management System (CMS) Annual COCOBOD Signatory companies aggregated by WCF FC, MLNR, License Buying Companies (LBCs) COCOBOD, CSO CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN40 41 PROGRAMME TITLE: COCOA & FOREST INITIATIVE GHANA NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN: 2018-2020 Indicator Level Indicators Definition Unit of Measurement Baseline (2017) End Target Disaggregation Data Source Frequency Responsibility Collaborating Institutions 1.5 Outcome Percentage of farmers that have adopted climate smart cocoa practices. Proportion of farmers that have adopted climate smart cocoa practices. Percentage 2017 HIA, Ecological zones COCOBOD CMS and FC (FSD) Annual report Annual FC and COCOBOD MLNR, COCOBOD, LBCs, WCF, CSOs, MoFA 1.5.1 Output Number of farmers trained in CSC practices Count of farmers trained in CSC practices Number 2017 HIAs, SEX COCOBOD and FC Annual report Annual FC, COCOBOD and Signatory companies aggregated by WCF MLNR, FC, COCOBOD, CSOs, MoFA 1.5.3 Output Status of tree tenure reforms implemented Status of farms where trees tenure reforms have been implemented Status 2017 2019 None Tree Tenure Policy Annual MLNR, MLNR, FC, COCOBOD, WCF, CSOs, 1.6 Outcome Percentage of farmers that have adopted Modified Taungya System (MTS) Proportion of farmers that have adopted MTS Percentage 2017 HIA, Ecological zones COCOBOD CMS and FC (FSD) progress report Annual FC and COCOBOD MLNR, FC(FSD) COCOBOD, WCF, CSOs, MoFA 1.6.1 Output Number of farmers trained in MTS Count of farmers trained in MTS Number 2017 HIAs, SEX COCOBOD Annual report Annual FC, COCOBOD and Signatory companies aggregated by WCF MLNR, FC, COCOBOD, CSOs, MoFA 1.7 Outcome Number of HIAs that have adopted multi-stakeholder approach Count of HIAs that have adopted multi stakeholder approach Number 2017 TBD by FC HIA, Ecological zones, COCOBOD Annual report Annual MLNR, FC and COCOBOD MLNR, FC (FSD, WD), District Assemblies, COCOBOD, WCF, CSOs 1.7.1 Output Number of public private interventions implemented Count of CFI-related public private interventions implemented across the landscape Number 2017 2018 2019 2020 HIAs MLNR Annual MLNR, FC and COCOBOD MLNR, FC, COCOBOD, WCF, CSOs, MMDAs 2: Sustainable Production and Farmers Livelihoods 2.1 Outcome Average yield of cocoa produced per farmer in HIA A measure of kg of cocoa beans produced per hectare by farmers in HIAs Kg 450 kg 2019 1000 Kg 2021 HIAs, Cocoa Region, sex FC COCOBOD Annual report Annual MLNR, FC and COCOBOD COCOBOD, Private-sector cocoa companies, CSOs 2.1.1 Output Total investment in long-term productivity of high-quality cocoa Investment in long-term productivity of high-quality cocoa Dollars HIAs CFI Annual report Annual MLNR, Signatory companies aggregated by WCF COCOBOD, CSOs 2.2 Outcome Volume of cocoa sourced from HIAs A measure of cocoa sourced from HIAs Kg 2017 2018 2019 2020 HIA, SEX FC COCOBOD Annual report Annual MLNR, FC and COCOBOD COCOBOD, Private-sector cocoa companies, CSOs 2.2.1 Output Number of farmers adopting Climate Smart Standards Count of farmers who have adopted Climate Smart Standards Number HIA, SEX COCOBOD Annual report Annual COCOBOD CMS COCOBOD, Private-sector cocoa companies, CSOs, farmer group, MoFA 2.3 Outcome % farmers using new formal financial products and services (loans, insurance, digital payments, and savings [bank/ mobile]) with support from companies Proportion of farmers benefitting from financial inclusion such as Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA) schemes Percentage N/A HIA, SEX Signatory companies aggregated by WCF Annual Signatory companies aggregated by WCF WCF, Financial Institutions 2.3.1 Output Number of farmers supported to access financial products Count of farmers supported to access financial products within financial and non-financial institutions that promote cocoa framing Number HIA, SEX Signatory companies aggregated by WCF Annual Signatory companies aggregated by WCF WCF, Financial Institutions CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN42 43 PROGRAMME TITLE: COCOA & FOREST INITIATIVE GHANA NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN: 2018-2020 Indicator Level Indicators Definition Unit of Measurement Baseline (2017) End Target Disaggregation Data Source Frequency Responsibility Collaborating Institutions 2.4 Outcome (Traceability) Status of operationalizing a national traceability system with 100% cocoa sourcing traceable from farm to first purchasing point. Status of unified traceability system implemented, tested and validated at national level Status 2019 2020 HIA, SEX Unified traceability system validation workshop report Map databases Shape files/ polygons) reports Annual COCOBOD 2.4.1 Output Percentage of cocoa supply traceable from individual farms to first purchase point Proportion of cocoa supply traceable from individual from to first point Percentage N/A 100% HIAs, COCOBOD Annual Report, Signatory companies Reports/WCF Aggregated Report Annual COCOBOD CMS, Signatory companies aggregated by WCF COCOBOD, Private-sector cocoa companies, CSOs, farmer group 3: Community Engagement and Social Inclusion 3.1 Outcome Level of empowerment among identifiable stakeholders at the community level as a result of CFI support. Conduct assessment within the landscape Assessment of the level of stakeholder Awareness with information, communication and participation in forest conservation and restoration activities Percentage N/A HIAs, sex Tropenbos (3rd party CSO) Assessment Report Annual MLNR, COCOBOD COCOBOD, Private-sector cocoa companies, CSOs, farmer group, MMDAs Output 3.1.1: # of community consultations held to solicit community views on issues related to CFI. Count of community consultations held to solicit community views on issues related to CFI. Number N/A Dec-20 HIAs, CFI stock taking report and company progress report FC (WD, CCD, CRMU), COCOBOD, annual reports Annual MLNR, FC and COCOBOD COCOBOD, FC, Private-sector cocoa companies, CSOs, farmer group, ISD 3.1.4 Output # of community engagements and/or training in support of gender and youth sensitive actions and/or other activities Count of community consultations organised Number HIAs, FC (CCD) annual and progress report Annual MLNR, FC (CCD) and COCOCBOD CSOs, ISD, COCOBOD, Private-sector cocoa companies 3.2 Outcome Local communities with strengthened capacity with focus on women and youth Assessment of the level of empowerment of youth and women with engagement, participation and ownership of CFI-led interventions in forest conservation and restoration activities Percentage HIAs Validated Final Assessment Report Annual 3rd.Party CSOs (Tropenbos) COCOBOD, MLNR, Private Sector Partnes, CSOs, MoFA Output 3.2.1 % of farmers resettled in-line with resettlement implementation plan Proportion of farmers resettled in-line with resettlement implementation plan Percentage Output 3.2.2 % of reported grievances resolved at the community level Proportion of grievances resolved Percentage N/A HIAs, region, sex FC (FSD,CCD), COCOBOD annual report Annual MLNR, FC and COCOBOD COCOBOD, FC (FSD, CCD), Private sector cocoa companies, CSOs, farmer group CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN44 45 BUDGET - CFI IMPLEMENTATION PLAN 2021-2025 Components Cost Component Description Amount Public Sector Contribution ($) Private Sector Contribution ($) Donor Partner Funding ($) Total Contribution ($) Funding Gap Pillar 1 - Forest Protection & Restoration Easy to get from the proposals This will be use later for analysis Action 1 Up-to-date maps on forest cover and land use for these areas 200,000.00 100,000.00 100,000.00 100,000.00 Action 2 In-depth study of cocoa farms in on- and off-forest reserve areas, including socio-economic data on cocoa farmers and their communities in these areas 850,000.00 500,000.00 500,000.00 350,000.00 Action 3 Acceleration of the development of land and tree tenure reform to retain naturally regenerated trees on off-reserve farmlands and the farming landscape 200,000.00 - 200,000.00 Action 4 Establishment of a national register of farms and trees 850,000.00 - 850,000.00 Action 5 Restoration of degraded cocoa landscapes caused by small-scale mining 10,000,000.00 - 10,000,000.00 Action 6 Review of management plans for Category 1 and 2 Forest Reserves 350,000.00 - 350,000.00 Action 7 Strengthening of forest law enforcement and governance 750,000.00 Easy to get from the proposals 750,000.00 Action 8 Mobilization of new sources of funds 200,000.00 - 200,000.00 Action 9 Enhancement of public-private collaboration at local and global levels 641,400.00 Easy to get from the proposals 641,400.00 Pillar 2 - Sustainable Production & Farmer Livelihood Action 10 Promotion of investment in long-term productivity of high-quality cocoa 13,430,000.00 - 13,430,000.00 Action 11 Development of implementation plan for cocoa intensification 20,000.00 - 20,000.00 Action 12 Promotion of financial inclusion and innovation 60,000.00 - 60,000.00 Action 13 Improvement in cocoa supply chain mapping and traceability 2,000,000.00 1,500,000.00 1,500,000.00 500,000.00 Pillar 3 – Community Engagement & Social Inclusion Action 14 Promotion of information sharing, consultation and participation of cocoa farmers and their communities 89,000.00 - 89,000.00 Action 15 Establishment and strengthening of community structures 934,000.00 - 934,000.00 Action 16 Development of gender- and youth-sensitive action plans 180,000.00 - 180,000.00 Action 17 Assessment and mitigation of social impacts and risks 70,000.00 - 70,000.00 Action 18 Development of operational guidelines for resettlement and livelihood restoration 500,000.00 - 500,000.00 CFI National Secretariat Operation, Coordination & Logistics Office space and equipment 60,000.00 - 60,000.00 Staff cost 200,000.00 - 200,000.00 Functioning of the Secretariat 300,000.00 - 300,000.00 Development of content (reporting, interviews) 60,000.00 - 60,000.00 Publications (written, videos) 60,000.00 - 60,000.00 Outreach (press, events) 30,000.00 - 30,000.00 Monitoring & Evaluation M&E 150,000.00 - 150,000.00 Total 32,184,400.00 2,100,000.00 - - 2,100,000.00 30,084,400.00 CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN46 47 CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN48 49 Partners of the Cocoa & Forests Initiative have agreed on the following with respect to branding: • The CFI logo must appear on all communication materials; • The logos of all the donors must appear on all communication materials; • The logos of MINEF, WCF and IDH must be included either all together or not at all; • The URL (www.cocoaandforests.org or www. cacaoetforets.org) must be included on all communication materials; • The boiler plate (below) must be provided to all media when publishing information about the Initiative. Boilerplate The Cocoa & Forests Initiative (CFI) is an active commitment by top cocoa-producing countries, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, together with leading chocolate and cocoa companies, to end deforestation and restore forest areas through no further conversion of any forestland for cocoa production. The commitment was signed in the form of a Joint Framework for Action at the 23 United Nations Climate Change Conference, and plays a crucial role in supporting forest carbon sequestration and thereby mitigating global and local climate change. Companies and governments are taking action to eliminate illegal cocoa production in national parks, in line with stronger enforcement of national forest policies and the development of alternative livelihoods for affected farmers. More than 50 stakeholders are engaged in the implementation of the Framework, championed by chocolate and cocoa companies and high-level government officials. They are actively supported by the expertise of development partners, research organizations, environmental and civil society organizations, and farmer associations. The CFI is chaired by the governments of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, and is facilitated by the Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH) and the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF). INSTITUTIONAL AND GOVERNANCE ARRANGEMENTS Institutional roles and responsibilities Stakeholder consultations, roles and responsibilities Key stakeholders from government, led by relevant Ministries (such as Lands and Natural Resources, Food and Agriculture, Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation), Ghana Cocoa Board, Forestry Commission, Cocoa and Chocolate companies and other Industry Partners, Civil Society, Traditional Authorities, Farmers and Educational Institutions were consulted in an all-inclusive process through multi-stakeholder engagements, organized workshops, technical roundtables and stakeholders’ programs. IDH, ISU and WCF acted as the conveners and coordinating body until November 2017, after which IDH and WCF continued as conveners. The CFI National Secretariat, Coordinating Team, Technical Working Group (TWG) and the Six established Task Forces roles were crucial in collaborating thoroughly with a wide spectrum of stakeholders to detail out the Joint Framework for Action, which was developed into this National Implementation Plan. Roles and responsibilities for the implementation of this plan is assigned among three key institutions. They are the leading institutions for specific activities, based on their mandate and technical expertise as described below: • Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources (MLNR) – They manage and supervise the acquisition of appropriate technology for forest monitoring, and is responsible for fast-tracking the promulgation of policies and laws backing implementation of the plan. The ministry oversees the establishment and strengthening of multi-stakeholder dialogues and consortia among key actors. • Forestry Commission (FC) – They facilitate and lead the implementation of commitments and activities associated with forest protection and restoration in particular, as well as collaborating to implement commitments under other themes. The FC also lead the process for developing an extension system to complement that of COCOBOD and MOFA. • Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) – COCOBOD is the lead institution responsible for implementing most of the commitments around sustainable production of cocoa and enhancement of farmers’ livelihoods. • Private Sector (companies signitoraries) – These are leading cocoa and choclate companies that signed up to the CFI Joint Framework of Actions. They are facilitated by the World Cocoa Foundation. • IDH Sustaibable Trade Initiative – the overall conviener of the initiative tasked to facilitate an enabling environment for cocoa players to positively contribute to the preservation of forests in Ghana. Moreover, several other institutions such as the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, the Attorney General’s Office, Private-Sector Companies, Civil Society Organizations as well as Academic and Research Institutions are key stakeholders and partners for the implementation of the plan. Communication plan The 2021-2025 NIP will use the updated communication strategy developed in the 2018-2020 NIP to take care of new demands and trends. Communication is expected to be carried out in close collaboration with the National CFI Secretariat. All stakeholders must inform each other of any external communication that will embrace the promotion of the Initiative, and must tolerate a reasonable period of time to give feedback on the messages to be communicated. This applies to all means of communication, including events, public presentations, interviews, blog posts, workshops and so on. The communication plan will be closely linked to the communication strategy (activity 13.1) prepared by the National Secretariat. CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN50 51 GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE The CFI governance structure has been set up to oversee the implementation of the Joint Framework for Action. The structure (Figure below) consists of: 1. National Oversight Committee (NOC) – This committee is at the highest level of the governance structure that oversees the work of the Cocoa & Forests Initiative. The Oversight Committee, comprises of 8 of the now 35 signatory companies, three ministries which are Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ministry of Food and Agriculture and Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources as well as the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of the Forestry Commission and Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), and of private sector cocoa manufacturing industries. This committee is chaired by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources (MLNR). The task of this committee is to review the progress of the implementation. 2. Steering Committee – Members of this committee fall under the NOC, and it is made up of senior representatives from relevant Ministries, government institutions, private companies, and civil society organizations. Based on the relevant public policies, the committee gives strategic guidance to the Initiative’s Coordinating Team and the Technical Working Group on the development and implementation of the plan of action, ensuring the validation of the final version of the plan by the government of Ghana, and its alignment with public policy formulation. This committee is co-chaired by COCOBOD and the Forestry Commission (FC). 3. National CFI Secretariat (NS) – This unit is led by the MLNR, and facilitates the operation of the Cocoa & Forests Initiative. Members include representatives of IDH and WCF (conveners of the Initiative) and other members of the Coordinating Team. 4. Technical Working Group (TWG) – This consists of all members of the Taskforces, and give technical support to the Coordinating Team. The TWG is brokend down into six Taskforces. 5. Taskforces – There are Six Taskforces responsible for developing the technical work plans: Mapping, Traceability, Agroforestry, M&E, Fundraising and Safeguards. These are then supported by a Coordinating Team that works as a side silo across all the structures to implement the plans of the Taskforces. The initial objective of the Taskforces is to assist the National Secretariat in firming up the Implementation Plan of the Framework of Action. The first task of each Taskforce is to proofread the draft plan and then develop recommendations in their expertise area to achieve the ultimate goal of full elimination of all cocoa production and sourcing in protected areas in Ghana • Climate-Smart / Agroforestry Taskforce: Includes experts from companies, government, and national and international technical partners to put in place the strategy to identify good practices and operational guidance for mixed agroforestry systems. The Task Force will provide recommendations that incorporate economic, environmental, and social aspects of agroforestry models based upon the geographic area and expected climate change impacts, and which can be brought to scale. • Mapping Taskforce: This task force is responsible to identify technical and financial partners to support activities and strengthen Ghana and international capacity in forest monitoring. They provide technical input to identify up-to-date maps on forest cover and land-use for these areas, socio-economic data on cocoa farmers and their communities in these areas, and detailed operational guidelines covering forest management in the different Forest Reserves. They also make recommendations on a transparent satellite based monitoring system, including deforestation alert, which will be made publicly available for all stakeholders to measure and monitor progress on the overall deforestation target. • M&E Taskforce: Partners of the taskforce are responsible for developing a monitoring and evaluation framework and process to measure and monitor progress on Framework actions in Ghana. In particular, the Task Force identifies technical and financial partners to support activities and strengthen the Government’s monitoring and evaluation capacity in Ghana. They also develop high-level and verified land use, environmental, socio-economic indicators to monitor progress on the Framework commitments. • Traceability Taskforce: This Task Force was purposely established to develop the action plan for traceability and agree on the scope of work, key process steps and timing. As initial priority in the short-term, the taskforce would develop the scope for a feasibility study looking at both physical and financial traceability options in Ghana. • Social & Environmental Safeguards Taskforce: The primary role of this taskforce is to give guidance on safeguard issues in the implementation of the JFA. The initial assignment of the Task Force is to develop the Social Safeguard document drawing from existing documents in the industry. The Safeguard Taskforce is to assist the National Secretariat in firming up issues of social safeguards in the implementation of the Framework of Action. • Fundraising Taskforce: It is a Task Force of experts from companies, government, and technical partners which aims to raise funds through partnerships and donations from the public and private space for implementing some actions that have no resource allocation as yet. 6. Coordinating Team – The Coordinating Team serves at all levels of the governance structure, and comprises key team members from the MLNR, COCOBOD, Forestry Commission and conveners IDH and WCF. CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN52 53 MLNR, MOFA, MESTI, FC, COCOBOD, company representatives, WCF, IDH MLNR, MOFA, MESTI, FC, COCOBOD, National House of Chiefs, companies, WCF, IDH, Civil Society NATIONAL CFI SECRETARIAT Seated at and headed by MLNR TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP Taskforce Mapping Taskforce Traceability Taskforce Agroforestry Taskforce Monitoring & Evaluation Taskforce Fundraising Taskforce Safeguards COCOA & FOREST INITIATIVE PROJECTS C F I C o o rd in a tin g T e a m NATIONAL OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE STEERING COMMITTEE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE FOR THE CFI 2021-2025 NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN54 55 ANNEX 1 LINKAGE BETWEEN THE NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AND POLICY DOCUMENTS The national framework for addressing critical environmental concerns such as deforestation, sustainable commodity sourcing, and climate change is integrated into the National Implementation Plan for the Cocoa & Forests Initiative (CFI). Ghana’s commitments to international environmental treaties and accords, such as the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Climate Change Accord, the New York Declaration on Forests, and the Bonn Challenge, are also reflected in the JFA. National Climate Change Policy In Ghana, the National Climate Change Policy (NCCP) gives strategic direction and manages climate change issues. Effective adaptation, social development, and mitigation are the Policy’s three goals. Four subject areas have been chosen to address Ghana’s adaptation issues: energy and infrastructure, natural resource management, agriculture and food security, and disaster readiness and response. The NCCP’s objective is for Ghana to have a climate-resilient and climate-compatible economy, as well as to achieve sustainable development through equitable low-carbon economic growth. Focusing on agriculture, the strategy aims to strengthen and harmonize research in climate-smart agriculture, promote diverse land use practices (such as agroforestry), and diversify incomes through alternative livelihoods systems. The policy also addresses plantation development and management in off-reserve areas through private and public-private partnerships; rehabilitate degraded natural ecosystems through enrichment planting in degraded forest reserves and off-reserve areas, support initiatives such as REDD+, and support agro-forestry programs to conserve trees in crops. National Environmental Policy The National Environmental Policy lays out the steps that must be taken to protect vital ecosystems, including their flora and fauna, against detrimental practices. The goal of environmental policy is to regulate the environment in order to ensure the long-term viability of society. The policy promotes and encourages low farming systems, regulates the use of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers to protect human life and the environment, and ensures that planning for agricultural development takes into account the potential costs of soil degradation in its cost-benefit analysis. The policy safeguards forest resources by requiring that forestry development strategies integrate forest resource development, management, and conservation with those of land and water resources, energy resources, wildlife resources, ecosystems, and genetic resources, as well as crop and livestock production. Forestry Development Master Plan The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources produced a 20-year Forestry Development Master Plan (FMDP) in 2016 to achieve the 2012 Forest and Wildlife Policy’s goals, objectives, and strategies. The FMDP’s objective is to “achieve a just, prosperous, and sustainable forestry sector that maximizes welfare and offers appropriate livelihoods to all Ghanaians in an inclusive and ongoing manner.” Reducing GHG emissions from deforestation and forest degradation through the adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices while contributing to poverty reduction and biodiversity conservation is a key subject area that lays the basis for executing the FMDP. Ghana Forest Plantation Strategy The Ghana Forest Plantation Strategy encourages the inclusion of food crops in forest plantations (Taungya System) as well as the promotion of under-storey planting or alternative livelihood activities (e.g., spice and medicinal plant cultivation, apiculture, etc.) to provide additional short-term income and improve household incomes. REFERENCES COCOBOD (2017). Ghana Cocoa Board 48th annual report & financial statement Ghana Forestry Commission (2016) – Emission Reductions Program Document (ER-PD) of Ghana Cocoa Forest REDD+ Programme (draft document). Ghana REDD+ Strategy Document 2016 – 2035 (2016). Ghana Statistical Service (2007). Pattern and Trends of Poverty in Ghana: 1991-2006. Ghana Living Standards Survey round five (GLSS5). Accra Ghana Statistical Service (2018). Ghana Living Standards Survey Round 7: Poverty Profile 2005-2017. Accra. Goodman AMC. LLC. (2017). Investing in Ghana’s Cocoa Processing Industry: Opportunities, Risks & the Competitive Advantage. Accra – Ghana. ISSER (2017) The Rise of Collaborative Partnership Arrangements to Enhance Private Actors’ Participation in Ghana’s Cocoa Value Chain. Accra – Ghana (http://isser. edu.gh/images/Publications/Policy Brief/pub/COCOA VALUE CHAIN .pdf). Kolavalli, S. and Vigneri, M., 2011. Cocoa in Ghana: Shaping the success of an economy. Yes, Africa can: Success stories from a dynamic continent, pp.201-218. REDD+ Mechanism in Ghana Resettlement Policy Framework December 2017. Roldan, M.B., Fromm, I. and Aidoo, R. (2013). From producers to export markets: The case of the cocoa value chain in Ghana. Journal of African Development, 15(2), 121-138. UNEP, 2008. “Africa: Atlas of Our Changing Environment.” Division of Early Warning and Assessment (DEWA), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Nairobi, Kenya. pp 182-187. United States Agency for International Development (USAID), 2017. Report on Land Tenure & Cocoa Production In Ghana A CRIG/WCF Collaborative Survey, Ghana, Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG). CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN56 57 Goal 1: SDGs are bold commitment to end poverty by increasing basic resources and services, and supporting communities affected by climate-related issues. Goal 5: The UNDP has made gender equality central to its work. It is proven that empowering women helps economic growth and development. Goal 8: The SGDs promote sustainable economic growth, higher levels of productivity and technological innovation. Encouraging entrepreneurship and job creation which are key to eradicate forced labor. Goal 10: Income inequalities requires global solutions. These widening disparities require sound policies to empower lower income earners, and promote economic inclusion of all regardless of sex, race or ethnicity. Goal 13: Take immediate action to prevent climate change and its effects Goal 15: Protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, manage forests sustainably, prevent desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and biodiversity loss. Goal 17: The SDGs can only be realized with strong global partnerships and cooperation. The goals aim to enhance North-South and South-South cooperation by supporting national plans to achieve all targets. Paris Climate Change Agreement The Paris Agreement is an internationally negotiated agreement among UN member countries that aims to unify and improve global responses to the problem of climate change. Ghana’s Parliament adopted the agreement in August 2016. The Paris Agreement’s Article 5 encourages countries to implement and support REDD+ initiatives. It calls on member states to take bold steps toward a clean economy and to mitigate the negative effects of climate change. The Ghana Forest Plantation Strategy (GFPS) aims to create a long-term supply of commodities and services from planted forests while also providing a variety of socioeconomic and environmental benefits. The GFPS aims to achieve this goal by establishing and managing 625,000 hectares of forest plantings in degraded forests, 100,000 hectares of enrichment planting, and support for the insertion of trees-on-farms into 3.75 million ha of agricultural landscapes, as well as the preservation and restoration of 235,000 ha of existing forest plantations over a 25-year period since 2016. Draft Ghana Cocoa Sector Development Strategy II The Ghana Cocoa Sector Development Strategy II (CSDS II) will guide the cocoa sector. Despite the fact that the document has yet to be certified, the final draft presents a vision for a modernized, resilient, and competitive cocoa environment in which all stakeholders aspire for a long term cocoa economy. The CSDS II will strive to increase productivity from 450 kg/ha to 1,000 kg/ha on average, as well as promote the adoption of climate-smart cocoa farming practices. Ghana REDD+ Strategy In Ghana, REDD+ aims to intensely reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation over the next two decades while also addressing risks to ecosystem services and environmental integrity in order to maximize forest co-benefits. Ghana’s REDD+ Strategy (GRS) lays out a series of large-scale sub-national initiatives aimed at realizing this goal. Important commodities and drivers of deforestation and forest degradation define these initiatives, and they follow ecological boundaries. The Ghana Cocoa Forest REDD+ Programme was identified by the GRS as the programmatic intervention for the High Forest Zone. The Ghana Cocoa Forest REDD+ Programme The GCFRP is a landscape-wide program designed to lower emissions caused by the development of cocoa farms into forested areas and other factors by promoting a climate smart cocoa production system, a landscape standard, and other crosscutting initiatives. The World Bank’s Carbon Fund has approved the Ghana Cocoa Forest REDD+ Programme (GCFRP) for implementation. Ghana hopes to safeguard the future of its forests, make the cocoa sector climate-resilient, and maintain and improve income and livelihood prospects for farmers and forest users across the program area by addressing these drivers. The GCFRP’s initial implementation will focus on six of the nine Hotspot Intervention Areas (HIA) identified by the program. The HIAs are made up of several districts that were chosen based on deforestation trends, deforestation drivers, cocoa production, and population. The GCFRP’s goals are linked with the CFI framework. It will employ the six HIAs chosen under this program as the initial implementation focus for various activities, and it will be a key avenue for achieving the aim of the GCFRP. Ghana Forest Investment Programme In Ghana, the overarching purpose of FIP-finance initiatives is to reduce GHG emissions from deforestation and forest degradation while also lowering poverty and protecting biodiversity in the Western, Western-North, Bono, Bono East and Ahafo regions. The Ghana Forest Investment Programme (GFIP) was approved by the Climate Investment Fund to fund revolutionary co-management and benefit-sharing techniques in two parts of Ghana’s High Forest Zone. The goal of the GFIP is to: I ensure the integrity, restoration, and sustainable management of forest reserves by introducing more inclusive management practices and benefit sharing models, financial incentives, and investments; (ii) restore forest cover in off-reserve areas by securing tree tenure and benefits, forest plantations and landscape restoration, and rehabilitation of degraded forest land; (iii) promote sustainable cocoa and agriculture practices by increasing tree cover and improving carbon stocks in the farming system; and (iv) develop viable alternative livelihoods for local communities by addressing a wide range of technical, financial, and market incentives to relieve pressure on existing forests. Sustainable Development Goals The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of global development goals aimed to eradicate poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and combat climate change by 2030. Goals 1, 5, 8, 10, 13, 15 and 17 of the Sustainable Development Goals are very applicable to the CFI framework. These are the objectives: New York Declaration on Forests The New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF) is a voluntary and non-binding political declaration signed by world leaders and other key stakeholders from developed and developing countries to cut deforestation by half by 2030. This declaration was made in 2014 during the United Nations Climate Summit in New York. The NYD seeks private sector cooperation to eradicate deforestation from agricultural commodity production, rehabilitate 350 million hectares of degraded landscapes and forestlands by 2030, and cut emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. The NYD advocates for the restoration of damaged forests and crops, which will improve the environment while also relieving pressure on natural forests. The Bonn Challenge The Bonn Challenge, which seeks to restore 150 million hectares of damaged forests and deforested lands by 2020 and 350 million hectares of deforested and degraded land by 2030, is a foundation for many global commitments. The Bonn Challenge was launched in September 2011 by the German government and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and was later extended by the New York Declaration on Forests at the UN Climate Summit. As part of this global project, Ghana’s government has pledged to restoring 2 million hectares by 2030. The Bonn Challenge, according to the Global Partnership on Forest and Landscape Restoration, is resulting in genuine progress on the ground, with assessments of restoration opportunity occurring in a number of countries, with restoration promises being incorporated into national plans and strategies. CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN58 59 4. Strengthen supply chain mapping, with the end goal of full traceability at the farm-level; 5. Implement verifiable actions and time-bound targets on the basis of sound data, robust and credible methodologies, stakeholder consultation, and realistic timeframes; 6. Implement agreed actions in the context of a broader landscape-level approach, with strong links with similar initiatives in other commodities, and full alignment with the national REDD+ strategy, new Ghana Cocoa Sector Development Strategy II, and other relevant national strategies and plans; 7. Embrace shared responsibility to implement the Framework actions, including continued engagement in a multi-stakeholder process for dialogue on key issues, development of effective implementation plans, and joint learning and knowledge sharing; and 8. Provide effective monitoring and reporting on progress on commitments and actions to ensure transparency and accountability. Actions for Forest Protection and Restoration Signatories recognize the critical importance of protecting Ghana forests and of restoring forests that have been previously degraded. They commit to the following: A. There will be no further conversion of any forestland (as defined under national regulations and using methodologies such as High Carbon Stock (HCS) and High Conservation Value (HCV) approach) for cocoa production as of 1 January 2018. B. There will be no production and sourcing of cocoa from National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, and Wildlife Resource Reserves, except from farms with existing legal status, as of 1 January 2018. C. A differentiated approach for Forest Reserves will be adopted by Government by 31 December 2018. It will be based on the following categories and will specify the number of hectares, timeline, roles and responsibilities, budget and fund-mobilization strategy for each category: Category 1: The less degraded Forest Reserves (classified as condition 1, 2, and 3 in the national system) will be managed under a strict protection status by 31 December 2019, which will exclude cocoa production and sourcing, timber extraction, or ANNEX 2 JOINT FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION GHANA Preamble Recognizing the vital role of the cocoa sector in Ghana in bringing jobs and wealth to local communities, while at the same time seeking to be environmentally and socially sustainable and striving to protect Ghana’s forests; Noting the importance of the cocoa sector in national social and economic development, the reduction of rural poverty, and in accelerating the transition to sustainable livelihoods for the almost one million smallholder farmers who grow cocoa; Emphasizing the critical role of tropical rainforests, biodiversity and conservation in addressing global climate change, regulating the local and regional climate, and providing other critical ecosystem services that underpin the resilience of the cocoa sector and local livelihoods; Acknowledging the role of agricultural commodity development, including the cocoa sector, illegal mining (galamsey), logging, and bushfires, as drivers of deforestation and forest degradation, and recognizing the strong positive contribution that the cocoa sector can make in Ghana to the restoration of forests and resilient landscapes; Understanding the importance of public-private partnerships in sustainable and inclusive economic development, and our commitment to support the achievement of the New York Declaration on Forests, the Bonn Challenge, the Paris Climate Agreement, and the Sustainable Development Goals; and Conscious of the need to promote, foster and accelerate the economic and social development of Ghana, in order to improve living standards and people’s well-being; We, the Government of Ghana – through the Minister of Land & Natural Resources - and undersigned companies, commit to work together to end deforestation and promote forest protection and restoration in the cocoa supply chain in Ghana through this Joint Framework for Action. The Framework builds on the Statement of Intent launched at a High-Level Meeting in London hosted by HRH the Prince of Wales in March 2017. It defines core commitments, verifiable actions, and time-bound targets required for a deforestation-free and forest positive cocoa supply chain in Ghana. The Framework was developed through a multi-stakeholder process that brought together government, private sector, farmers and farmers’ organizations, national and international civil society organizations, development partners, and other stakeholders in Ghana and at the global level. It is structured around the following three themes: • Forest protection and restoration: this covers the conservation and rehabilitation of National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Wildlife Resource Reserves, Forest Reserves, and unprotected off-reserve forest lands; • Sustainable production and farmers’ livelihood: this covers sustainable intensification and diversification of production in order to increase farmers’ yields and income and to reduce pressure on forests; and • Community engagement and social inclusion: this covers social safeguards through civil society and community engagement. Core Commitments By signing the Framework, Government and signatory companies agree to eight core commitments: 1. Prohibit and prevent activities that cause or contribute to any further deforestation or forest degradation in the cocoa sector; 2. Respect the rights of cocoa farmers, including identifying and mitigating social risks, and sequencing the implementation of actions to minimize potential adverse social and economic impacts; 3. Promote the effective restoration and long-term conservation of National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Wildlife Resource Reserves, Forest Reserves, and unprotected off-reserve forestlands; other types of productive and extractive activities. Signatory companies will stop sourcing cocoa from these forests as of 31 December 2019. Category 2: In the more degraded Forest Reserves (classified as condition 4 and 5 in the national system), cocoa production and sourcing will continue for a period up to 25 years (the cocoa tree lifecycle) through the Modified Taungya System (MTS) . Government will sign contracts with farmers that include tree benefit sharing arrangements, targeted restoration and reforestation programs with the end goal of progressively restoring the forest to a healthy intact state, and cessation of cocoa farming (but allowing some sustainable economic use of the forest, including non-timber forest products). D. In highly degraded off reserve forest lands (which are held under the customary land ownership sector), cocoa production and sourcing will continue, supported by substantial investment and adoption of best practices in climate smart cocoa and MTS. E. In all these areas, a multi-stakeholder landscape approach will form the basis for the interventions, with an initial focus on the six Climate-Smart Cocoa Hotspot Intervention Areas (HIAs) as defined under the Ghana Cocoa Forest REDD+ Program (GCFRP). The process starts with establishment of consortiums of key stakeholders, followed by development and implementation of integrated landscape management plans with a strong focus on climate-smart cocoa initiatives. These commitments will be supported by the following actions: A. Up-to-date maps on forest cover and land-use for these areas, socio-economic data on cocoa farmers and their communities in these areas, and detailed operational guidelines covering forest management in Category 1 Forest Reserve, and the mixed-use approach in Category 2 Forest Reserve, will all be developed and publicly disclosed by Government by 31 December 2018, with input as relevant from the private sector, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders. In particular, this will include the development of a national registry of any farms with legal status in Forest Reserves. B. Land and tree tenure reforms, and benefit sharing arrangement to incentivize landowners and users to retain naturally regenerated trees on off-reserve CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN60 61 A. Full and effective information sharing, consultation, and informed participation of cocoa farmers and their communities who are affected by proposed land-use changes under the Framework. B. Promote community-based management models for forest protection and restoration, including engagement of local communities and farmers in awareness raising campaigns on the status of protected areas and the critical role that forest plays in climate regulation. C. Development of action plans for forest protection and restoration, and sustainable agricultural intensification that are gender and youth sensitive. D. For the approach in Forest Reserves, Government will assess and mitigate the social impacts and risks of proposed land-use changes on affected cocoa farmers and their communities, and ensure provision of alternative livelihoods and restoration of standard of living of affected parties, in line with global standards. E. Government will prepare operational guidelines covering resettlement and livelihood restoration of any affected parties by 30 June 2018, with input as relevant from private sector, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders, in line with global standards. Measurement and Monitoring Measurement and monitoring of progress at national and landscape level will be critical to ensure accountability and transparency, and promote learning and mid-course corrections. A transparent and credible process will be developed, in line with Ghana’s national forest monitoring system, to measure and monitor progress Framework actions no later than 31 December 2018. This will include: • Adoption of a transparent satellite-based monitoring system, the results of which are independently validated, and which provide a deforestation alert, complemented with ground-truthing, as soon as possible upon signature of this Framework, which will be made publicly available for all stakeholders to measure and monitor progress on the overall deforestation target. farmlands and in the farming landscape of MTS will be accelerated by Government. This will include approval of the Community Resource Management Area (CREMA) mechanism, which will help secure landowners and users’ rights to manage and derive economic benefits from forest resources. C. Public sector forest law enforcement and governance will be strengthened, including awareness raising campaigns, capacity building of forest institutions and community policing, stronger surveillance and monitoring, and application of stronger sanctions for infringement, covering forest encroachment and degradation from agriculture, logging and galamsey, as of 1 January 2018. D. Public-private collaboration to mobilize new sources of funding for forest protection and restoration, and to incentivize farmers’ adoption of environmentally sustainable cocoa production will be developed. Key opportunities include inter alia, support for innovative financial mechanisms (such as payments for environmental services, carbon finance, and public-private trust funds), implementation of MTS and phased approach to land-use change, alternative livelihoods for cocoa farmers affected by land-use change, development of shade-grown cocoa systems, climate-smart cocoa production. E. Public-private collaboration, in partnership with local and global experts, will be enhanced to identify good practices and technical guidance for forest conservation and restoration, shade grown cocoa, and MTS in Forest Reserves. Actions towards Sustainable Production and Farmers’ Livelihoods Signatories recognize that sustainable agricultural intensification in environmentally suitable areas and increased farmer income are essential pre-requisites for reducing pressure for agricultural encroachment into forests, and strengthening the resilience of cocoa farming to climate change. They commit to the following joint actions: A. Promote investment in long-term productivity of high quality cocoa in environmentally sustainable manner and grow “more cocoa on less land,” through intensification of farming practices, provision of improved planting materials, introduction of yield enhancing methods, training in good agricultural practices, crop protection, and crop nutrition and soil fertility. Continued land tenure reform to strengthen farmers’ land and property rights, and development and capacity building of farmers’ organizations, are critical enabling factors for sustainable agriculture development. B. Develop implementation plans, including mapping of exact areas to intensify establishment of shaded cocoa landscapes in line with the Ghana Cocoa Forest REDD+ Programme (GCFRP), with the promotion of Climate Smart Cocoa and the national Climate Smart Cocoa Standard in environmentally suitable areas, with a first focus on Climate Smart Cocoa Hotspot Intervention Areas (CSC HIAs). C. Promote sustainable livelihoods and income diversification for cocoa farmers, including diversification, agricultural inter-cropping, development of shade-grown cocoa, and other income generating activities designed to boost and diversify household income. D. Promote financial inclusion and innovation to deepen farmers’ access to working capital and investment funds required for production and cocoa farm rehabilitation and renovation. E. Improve supply chain mapping, with 100% of cocoa sourcing traceable from farm to first purchase point by 31 December 2019. Private sector and Government will develop a joint action plan that maps out key principles, steps, and milestones to achieve this step, encompassing all national and international traders, by 30 June 2018. Government will adopt regulations that require verifiable traceability from farm to first purchase point by end-2019, and ensure compliance by national and international traders thereafter. Signatory companies are putting in place verifiable monitoring systems for traceability from farm to first purchase point, operational policies and control systems that effectively monitor the associated risks, including high quality verification, by 31 December 2019. Actions for Community Engagement and Social Inclusion Signatories recognize that effective engagement and empowerment of cocoa-growing communities, with a particular focus on women and youth, and civil society organizations in the Framework for Action process is essential to end deforestation and forest degradation in Ghana. They commit to the following: • Adoption of a set of high-level and verified land use, environmental, socio-economic indicators, building on the indicators and indices developed for the Climate Smart Cocoa Standard and the national Safeguards Information Systems. • Annual publicly disclosed reporting by signatory companies and Government on progress and outcomes related to the implementation of their specific actions in the Framework. Implementation and Governance The Government and signatory companies agree to implement the Framework actions in the context of a broader landscape-level approach that takes into account all drivers of deforestation, links with similar initiatives in other commodities, and alignment with the Ghana Cocoa Forest REDD+ Programme and other relevant national strategies and plans. Each Signatory company will prepare an individual action plan by 31 December 2018 for public disclosure that spells out the specific actions it will take to deliver the commitments set out in the Framework, including, in particular, indicative technical and financial support for forest protection and restoration, and sustainable production and farmers livelihoods. The draft action plans will be shared with Government for feedback before being finalized. The Cocoa and Forests Initiative governance set up to support the development of this joint Framework for Action will continue operating after its signature, and will have the mandate to provide strategic guidance on the implementation of the plan. The National REDD+ Secretariat will review progress and provide practical guidance on the implementation of the Framework, based on recommendations of Technical Working Groups, bringing together public, private and civil society experts. The Technical Working Groups will be formed to develop guidance on key questions that are critical to the framework implementation. CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN62 63 CFI NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN64 MINISTRY OF LANDS AND NATURAL RESOURCES Report prepared by the CFI National Secretariat of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, IDH The Sustainable Trade Initiative and the World Cocoa Foundation