ASRF under the ASEAN-Swiss Partnership on Social Forestry and Climate Change (ASFCC) is designed to provide leaders and focal points on social forestry of the AMS with seed fund, to enable them to respond to immediate needs or catalyze strategic actions that will address emerging issues and opportunities, to which response of the AMS and AWG-SF is critical. The ASRF promotes the inclusion of communities, women, and vulnerable groups in social forestry and climate change adaptation and mitigation measures.
SEARCA conducted a gap analysis on Social Forestry of the AMS, which is one of the considerations in evaluating the submitted proposals. The gap analysis ensures that activities for ASRF funding are within the bounds of the Plan of Action of the AWG-SF and are within the AMS' national priorities or agenda.
SEARCA has invited ASFCC partners, namely, the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF), Non-timber Forest Product Exchange Programme (NTFP-EP), and the Center for People and Forests (RECOFTC) to serve as technical evaluators of the proposals. (Xyrus Godfrey B. Capiña)