Implementation plan for the joint framework of action 2018-2020.

This detailed action plan aims to implement the Joint Framework of Action of the Cocoa & Forests Initiative.
The core of the Cocoa & Forests Initiative’s actions comprehends the following three main themes: 1- forest protection and restoration (this action seeks to ensure that deforestation and forest degradation end by the end of 2018, that forest restoration starts by the end of 2018 in priority areas); 2- sustainable production and agroforestry (this theme addresses the development of agroforestry systems and the promotion of sustainable and diversified sources of income for cocoa farmers); 3- community and social inclusion, with a specific focus on traceability and financing (this action pursue the effective engagement and empowerment of cocoa growing communities and civil society organisations, by Promoting community models for participatory protection and restoration of selected forests, organising local populations to strengthen their participation in the monitoring of forest reserves, parks, identifying guidelines and mitigation measures, increasing financial resources at farmer level to promote their social and financial inclusion).
Over the period of the Start-Up phase the main objective of the CFI National Action Plan is to halt further deforestation and forest degradation and to identify priority regions to test the new policies and actions and inform the overall design of the program for 2021-2030. Based on the on-going activities in these regions, the Initiative will make a fast kick-start, secure priority goals on forest protection, and directly implement key interventions such as public policy, cocoa agroforestry, forest restoration and traceability. This will inform the national level policy design, as well as the target setting and road map for the 2021-2030 agenda of the Initiative. In each of these regions, a measurement and monitoring system will be developed and piloted to enable measurement of the effects of the actions that will be tested on the ground, which will inform national-level policy making and framework design.
This action plan is the result of the work done by the governance bodies set up for this purpose, namely (i) the Steering Committee, (ii) the Technical Committee (iii) the Permanent Secretariat and the Thematic Groups. Its development was a participatory and inclusive process involving all stakeholders. The M&E framework of the Initiative will be linked to the REDD+ monitoring system. The identified high-level indicators are detailed in the text. With regqards to the implementation of the initiative, an inter-ministerial decree has been signed to formalise its governance.