Developing Monitoring Frameworks Project
Programme or policy implementation requires periodic monitoring and assessment, for which, a robust system of measurement, data collection, data management and analysis is essential. This is equally true for countries in their efforts to promote sustainable forest management (SFM) through policy and programme interventions. Accurate, timely and relevant data gathering, management and utilization are key to national forest policy making, planning and programming. However, many countries face numerous challenges in data collection, management and processing for monitoring and assessing the progress in SFM. Even if relevant data are available, they are often scattered across different government agencies and private organizations.
The UN Forum on Forests (UNFF) is mandated to review the implementation of the UN Forest Instrument (UNFI) and the UN Strategic Plan for Forests 2030 (UNSPF) by its member states and other relevant stakeholders. In reviewing progress, the Forum relies on voluntary national reporting from its member states.
The quality and comprehensiveness of the Forum’s reviews of national reports and follow-up actions (through the Forum’s resolutions) depend on the quality and reliability of data collected and used in the national reports. Many countries have noted challenges in data collection, data quality and national capacity in generating and systematically managing databases to be used for national-level actions and international-level reporting.
This capacity development project supported and assisted selected countries (Cameroon, Kenya, Malawi, Mongolia, St. Lucia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Uganda and Viet Nam) in developing a comprehensive and efficient system for monitoring progress towards SFM. This was achieved through a step- by-step approach, which will included developing a national monitoring and evaluation framework for conducting inventories of existing forest-related data, mapping data gaps; and addressing these gaps and selecting appropriate national indicators.
The following studies were developed as part of the project: