The AFP: Where we are at, where we come from and where do we want to go?

Takeshi TOMA (AFP focal point of CIFOR)
and
Nina Haase (AFP Information Sharing Secretariat)

We are at CIFOR, Bogor, Indonesia.
Nina comes from Germany through East Kalimantan.
I come from Japan also through East Kalimantan.
Partnership!

Slide 1:  Topics of this presentation:

1. Current structure of AFP
2. Concerns raised by partners

1a. Decision-making mechanism

1b. Information-sharing activities,

1c. Work plan mechanism

1d. Financial implications for the partnership.

2. Nina will be presenting.

Slide 2:  1a Decision-making mechanism

The AFP meetings are the utmost decision making mechanism.

• exchange information,
• identify further work, and
• consult on specific activities.

The leading partners (Indonesia, Japan, TNC, CIFOR) have been helping facilitate and coordinate the AFP.

They do not have any additional authority.

Slide 3:  1a Decision-making mechanism

• Decisions were taken unanimously after discussions in the meetings.
• The need for a distinct set of rules and procedures has not yet arisen, leaving the level of formalization low.

Slide 4:  1b Information-sharing activities

• The AFP information-sharing secretariat is at the center of the information-sharing process within the partnership and between the partnership and the outside.
• Partners and interested parties are encouraged to nominate focal points to facilitate information exchange.
• The focal points communicate information from their organization to the partnership and distribute relevant information from the partnership within their organization.

Slide 5:  1b Information-sharing activities

• The secretariat distribute a short email up date informing of new material on the web site, events and progress on the AFP work plans.
• Your information to the secretariat will be highly appreciated.
• You may kindly write to afp@cgiar.org

Slide 6:  1c Work plan mechanism

• All activities the partnership undertakes are listed as "Work Plans" in the 'Current Activities' section on the web page.
• Before work plans are publicly posted on the web these are circulated among the AFP focal points for their input.
• Depending on the geographical focus or subject matter of the work plan, partners may form ad hoc sub-groups based on their interests in contributing or otherwise supporting the activity.

Slide 7:  1c Work plan mechanism

• All AFP partner(s) may propose new activities in the format of work plans at AFP meetings or through the information-sharing secretariat.
• The partner(s) that propose a work plan, together with other interested and willing partners, are expected to actively communicate with other partners and relevant parties in order to refine the work plan and make it operational.
• Other partner(s) are encouraged to collaborate.

Slide 8: 1d Financial implications

• All partners are encouraged to mobilize resources for AFP's activities considering the whole spectrum of funding sources including public and private, both from within and outside of AFP.
• Currently many contributions are not monetary, but in-kind as for example staff time and office space.

Slide 9: PART 2: Questions, Concerns and Options for the Future

1. Collates comments and concerns from current and potential future partners collected in online questionnaires and personal consultations
2. Objective: Get a better idea of perceptions and expectations from the AFP
3. No answers, but raise questions you may consider

Slide Concern 1: What does the AFP stand for?

Lack of clarity and understanding about nature, purpose and functioning of AFP

AFP information-sharing secretariat has implemented new communications initiatives
BUT
Some questions will remain until some questions raised here are explicitly addressed.

Slide 11: Concern 2: Why do we need a new network?

• To many the uniqueness of the AFP that required a new network is not evident
• No other network concerned with sustainable forest management in Asia is so inclusive and open in its membership, approach and issues, this presents opportunities
• Suggest building closer ties with and working through already existing initiatives

Slide 12: Concern 3: What exactly does the AFP do?

Questions about AFPs focus and approach

• Information-sharing or on-the-ground-action?
• Stay low-key or become more visible?
• AFP - A policy or technical forum?
• Regional, national or local - at which level does the AFP work?
• Geographical focus?

Slide 13: Concern 3: What exactly does the AFP do?

Information-sharing or on-the-ground-action?

• Proposal for the AFP prepared by the four leading partners specifies options for activities reaching from:
• "Low key information sharing and dialogue"
  to:
  "Taking action together, commitment of resources, support by information exchange"
• AFP is currently doing both

Slide Concern 3: What exactly does the AFP do?

Stay low-key or become more visible?

Information sharing secretariat can more actively promote the partnership, its activities and the results it achieves
BUT
Both options have trade offs and need to be considered in context of wider understanding of the AFP and its future strategy

Slide 15: Concern 3: What exactly does the AFP do?

AFP ・A policy or technical forum?

• Currently the AFP considers questions of technical nature as well as from the policy realm.
• This carries implications for level at which the partnership works

Slide 16: Concern 3: What exactly does the AFP do?

Regional, national or local - at which level does the AFP work?

• The AFP currently is open to work on all these levels.
• Whichever level the partners decide to work on will carry implications for the partnership痴 place in the institutional landscape and membership.
   

Slide 17: Concern 3 (cont'): What exactly does the AFP do?

• Geographical focus

AFPs mission clearly states Asia to be operational focus. Further specified by governments partners AFP

Slide 18: Concern 4: Show me the money

• Resources sometimes seen as legitimisation
• This makes it difficult for explicitly low-budget operations like the AFP
• Goal is to support and strengthen ongoing activities and not to compete for funds

Slide 19: Conclusions

• What makes AFP unique also contributes to the difficulties in grasping its nature
• To prevent false expectations and resulting disappointment the partnership痴 approach should be clarified.

Slide 20: Conclusions (cont')

• Does not necessarily mean to increase the level of formalization, but can also be a deliberate choice for the current egalitarian, open, flexible and inclusive approach.
• Important to be conscious choice and not by default.
   

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