ASEAN Social Forestry Network Strategic Response Fund

(ASFN Flexible Funding Mechanism)
ASEAN-Swiss Partnership on Social Forestry and Climate Change (ASFCC) Phase II

Rationale

The ASEAN-Swiss Partnership on Social Forestry and Climate Change (ASFCC) supports the ASEAN Social Forestry Network (ASFN) in addressing three interrelated issues confronting the region---food insecurity, poverty and climate change. This partnership programme, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), aims to integrate social forestry into the climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies of ASEAN and its Member States. It promotes the inclusion of communities, women and vulnerable groups in social forestry and climate change adaptation and mitigation measures.

The ASEAN-Swiss Partnership on Social Forestry and Climate Change (ASFCC) Phase II seeks to build on the gains of Phase I and increase the flexibility and adaptability of the ASEAN Member States (AMS) Focal Points, through a flexible funding mechanism. The external review findings on ASFCC Phase I highlighted the need for AMS to "act, react and pro-act more flexibly to emerging needs in Partner Countries which have a strong effect on policy adaptations, capacity increase at the national level and assessment of applied research results feeding into policies".

Key Features

The ASFN-flexible funding mechanism is envisioned as a “strategic response fund”. It is designed to provide ASFN Leaders and Focal Points seed fund to respond to immediate needs or catalyse strategic action to address emerging issues, opportunities or other situations that may not have been anticipated but to which the AMS and ASFN’s response is critical. Its important features are flexibility, adaptiveness, and timeliness.

Objective

The main objective of the flexible funding mechanism is to enable the AMS Focal Points to quickly respond to emerging issues and challenges and articulate policy recommendations and directions on social forestry as it relates to climate change, food security, and poverty alleviation.

Mechanics

Based on approved proposals from AMS, the "ASFN-Strategic Response Fund (ASRF)" will provide funds and/or need-based services which could include, but are not limited to, quick "turn-around" studies; exploratory reviews; meta-analysis/analytical studies and think pieces; study tours; dialogues/roundtable discussions; position or background papers as inputs to policy debates and decision-making; and very strategic training scholarships. The ASRF will cover eight ASEAN countries, namely Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. Funding shall be available for qualified proposals submitted by the ASFN Focal Points in AMS. Two calls for proposals shall be issued under Phase I and proposals shall be evaluated based on set criteria.

In general, the ASRF will prioritize actions in line with the ASFN and ASFCC objectives and priority themes/development agenda identified by the ASFN members. There are three types of grants, namely: 1) based on call for proposals; b) reserve grants outside the call; and c) strategic training scholarship grants. Funds up to a maximum amount of USD15,000 per selected project and up to USD 2,000 per approved training scholarship grant will be released to the AMS Focal Point (the proponent) or its nominated partner-implementing institution/expert (e.g. CSO, academe, etc). The ASFN-SRF may also consider multi-country project proposals wherein at least two countries have identified similar issue/s to address and agree to use common research framework and methodology.

Proposal development assistance will likewise be provided to selected AMS that need and request this through the Focal Point. A two-day workshop-training can be provided to a small group of participants from the AMS as identified/designated by the Focal Point. The ASRF will cover the cost of a Regional and a Local Facilitator. As counterpart, the Focal Point will provide the venue and food in the course of the training.

Partners

• ASEAN Social Forestry Network (ASFN)
• Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
• Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR)
• Non-Timber Forest Product-Exchange Programme (NTFP-EP)
• Center for People and Forests (RECOFTC)
• World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF)

Duration

35 months (April 2014 – February 2017)

ASRF Learning Notes