Ghana

Supporting small forest enterprises Reports from the field

Forest Connect Ghana – progress and impact

Kwabena Nketiah, Kwame Appiah Owusu and Duncan Macqueen

Tropenbos International Ghana, Kumasi, Ghana

December 2011

Table of Contents

Acronyms 1

1.Institutionalhistory 22.Activities 33.Impacts 64.Benefitsofthealliance 95.Futureprospectsandsustainability 10

References 11

AcronymsAGI AssociationofGhanaIndustriesASNAPP AgribusinessinSustainableNaturalAfricanPlantProductsDOLTA DomesticLumberTradersAssociation,GhanaFS ForestServicesIIED InternationalInstituteforEnvironmentandDevelopmentNREG NaturalResourcesandEnvironmentalGovernanceprogramme,GhanaNWFP NonWoodForestProductsPMT ProjectManagementTeamREDD ReducingEmissionsfromDeforestationandForestDegradationREP RuralEnterprisesProjectSMFE SmallandMediumForestEnterpriseSSCA Small-ScaleCarpentersAssociationTBI TropenbosInternationalVPA VoluntaryPartnershipAgreementWFP WoodForestProducts

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1. Institutional historyTropenbosInternationalGhanaistheNationalHubOrganisationorfacilitatoroftheForestConnectallianceinGhana.TheIIEDteamvisitedGhanainlate2007toidentifyasuitablenationalfacilitatorforsupporttosmallforestenterprises.AcontractwasagreedwithTropenbosInternationalGhanainviewoftheirpriorworkwithsuchenterprises,notablywithchainsawlumberers.Aninitialcontractwassignedinlate2007tostartworkonadiagnosticofSmallandMediumForestEnterprises(SMFEs)withinGhana,whichwouldformthebasisforprioritisingfuturework.

TropenbosInternationalGhana(TBIGhana)iscommittedtoimprovingforest-dependentlivelihoodswiththeviewtoreducingpoverty,especiallyinruralareas.ThisisverymuchinlinewiththegoaloftheForestConnectproject,whichistoreducepovertybytestingandenrichingguidancemodulesforthefacilitationofsupportforsmallandmediumforestenterprises.Ithelpstobuildsocial,economicandenvironmentalsustainabilityamongstSMFEsandtheirassociationsbyconnectingthem:

· toemergingmarkets–bystrengtheningassociationsandenhancingmarketlinks;· toserviceproviders–bystrengtheninginformationaboutandmarketsforfinancialserviceand

businessdevelopmentserviceproviders,basedaroundsustainablepractices;and,· tonationalforestprogramme(nfp)processes–byempoweringthemtoshapepolicyprocesses

thatcontrolthebroaderbusinessenvironment.

Werealise,however,thatforestryinGhana(bothpolicyandmanagement)isskewedinfavouroftheconventionaltimberindustry.Verylittleattentionispaidtosmallandmediumforestenterprises,whichincidentallyofferjobandlivelihoodopportunitiestoalargeproportionofthepopulation.TBIGhanaseestheForestConnectprojectasausefulstrategytodrawattentiontothisimbalanceandtohelpcorrectit,totheextentthatitispossible.

TBIGhana’svisionforForestConnectinGhanaistoensurethatSMFEscontributeoptimallytopovertyreductionthroughtheparticipationofthepractitionersinpolicyprocessesandbyfosteringlinkagesbetweenSMFEs,marketsandserviceproviders.

IntermsofthegovernanceoftheForestConnectinitiativewithinGhana,ForestConnectGhanahasanin-houseProjectManagementTeam(PMT)thatmeetsfromtimetotimetooffersupporttotheprojectimplementationteam.Thereisanationalmulti-stakeholderSteeringCommitteethatmeetstwiceayeartoagreeonprioritiesandreviewprogressandthework-plan.ThemembershipoftheCommitteeisdrawnfromtheprivatesector,governmentagencies,civilsocietyandSMFEpractitioners.TheSteeringCommitteewasputtogetheratanationalworkshopheldin2008toreviewthereportofthediagnosticstudy,whichwascarriedoutatthestartoftheprojectinGhana.Themembersweredemocraticallyselected;thecriteriaincludedtherelevanceoftheinstitutionoragency,roleorinterestinforestsandforestenterprisesandtheexperienceoftheindividuals.Currently,representativesofthefollowingagenciesareveryactiveinthegoverningofForestConnectGhana:

o MinistryofLandsandNaturalResourceso EnergyCommissiono NationalBoardforSmall-ScaleIndustrieso RuralEnterprisesProject/BusinessAdvisoryCentreso Academia(KwameNkrumahUniversityofScienceandTechnology)o NGOinvolvedinmedicinalplants(AgribusinessinSustainableNaturalAfricanPlant

Products-ASNAPP)o GhanaWildlifeSocietyo KumasiWoodCluster(promotingforestcertificationforsmallwoodprocessingcompanies)o Privatesector:

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WoodproductsmanufacturerGrass-cutterfarmerNTFPfarmerandwoodproductsexporter(PortalsSustainablyManagedForest

EstateLimited)

Sinceitsinception,theForestConnectteaminGhanahavegonethroughthreephasesoffinancialsupport,eachmanagedasaseparatecontractlinkedtokeyoutputs.Theseinclude:(2007-2008)draftingofadiagnosticstudyofsmallandmediumforestenterprises(SMFEs)(Osei-Tutuet al.2010);(2008-2009)solicitinginputstothedraftatanationalworkshoponsmallandmediumforestenterprisesthatwasheldon26-27March2009attheErataHotelinAccra,Ghana–supportedbycommissionedbackgroundpapers;and(2009-2011)theestablishmentofnationalsteeringcommitteetoresolveissuesofdomesticmarketforSMFEproductsandthedevelopmentofasourcebookonSMFEs(Osei-Tutuet al.2012).Theprojectisinitsfourthphase(2011-2012),whichaimsatlinking community based honey producers to service providers to enhance marketing of honey.WhatfollowsisasummaryoftheprogressandupdateoftheForestConnectprojectinGhana.

2. Activities Sincetheproject’sinception,therehavebeen14meetingsoftheprojectmanagementteamandfoursteeringcommitteemeetings.TheForestConnectGhanateamstartedtoolatetoparticipateinthefirstinternationalForestConnectworkshop,heldon2-4July2008inEdinburgh,whichidentifiedtheareasofguidancethatmightbeusefulforsupportersofSMFEs.Nevertheless,theprojectleaderandoneofficerdidengagewiththedevelopmentofthattoolkitandhadtheopportunitytoparticipateinthesecondinternationalForestConnectworkshop,heldfrom16-18February2010inAddisAbaba,Ethiopia,totestandenrichthetoolkitbasedonin-countrywork.

Landmark SMFE diagnostic for Ghana.Thefirstmajorsetofactivitiesrelatedtotheproductionofadiagnosticstudy,thedraftofwhichwasvalidatedatanationalworkshopandhasnowbeenpublishedanddistributednationally(Osei-Tutet al.2010).Thisreport,‘HiddenForestryRevealed’,drewattentiontotheimportanceoftheSMFEsectorinGhanawithintheforestsector,thecountry’sfourthlargestforeignexchangeearner.Theformalforestsub-sector,characterisedbyregulatedtimberandtimberproductindustries,isthemaincontributortoforeignexchange.Theinformalsub-sector,meanwhile,characterisedbySMFEs,islargelyleftoutofforeststatistics,planningandmanagement.SMFEinthiscontextreferstoforestsandforestproductenterprisesthatemployfewerthan30people.ThereportfoundthatSMFEsserveasthemain,additionaloralternativeincomesourceforapproximatelythreemillionpeopleinGhana,andmayevenoutweightheformalforestsub-sectorintermsoftheircontributiontolivelihoodsandresourcesustainability.ThisislargelybecauseSMFEstendtoaccruewealthlocally,empowerlocalentrepreneurshipandseeklocalapprovaltooperate.

Osei-Tutuet al.(2010)foundthat,althoughtheyaredifficulttoputintodistinctgroups,forestenterprisesinGhanacanbebroadlyclassifiedintothreecategories:woodforestproduct(WFP)enterprises;non-woodforestproduct(NWFP)enterprises;andforestservice(FS)enterprises.SMFEsintheWFPcategoryincludesmall-scalecarpentry,chainsawmilling(outlawedatpresent),charcoalproduction,woodcarving(includingcanoes)andthetradingoftheseproducts.IntheNWFPcategory,SMFEsincludethecollection,processingandsaleofproductslikesheanuts,cola,chewingsticks/sponges,gumarabic/resins,spices,honey,edibleandwrappingleaves,oilyandedibleseeds,baskets/hats/mats,bambooandrattanproducts,snails,mushrooms,medicinalproducts,palmwineandbushmeat.SMFEsintheFScategoryincludeecotourismandplantationdevelopment.

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ThestudyfoundthatSMFEsoperatebothinurbanandruralareas,sometimeswithcomplexproductionandmarketingchains.Generally,theworkforceintheSMFEsub-sectoriscomposedofproprietors,familymembers,paidworkersandtraineesorapprentices.Proprietors,mostlywomen(especiallyinNorthernGhana)generallyhavelowlevelsofeducation.MostSMFEsareseasonalinnature,withfactorslikefluctuationsindemand,rawmaterialandlabouravailabilitydeterminingtheperiodofengagementinthevariousactivities.Proprietorsinvolvedinmanufacturing,processingandtradewhohaveworkshopsorpermanentlocations,however,operatefull-timeandonacommercialbasis.Mostproprietorsoperateinisolationandexistingassociationsaremostlyinactive.LinkagesexistbetweentheSMFEsub-sectorandtheformalforestsub-sector.Forinstance,somecharcoalproducersdependonsawmillsfortheirsupplyofrawmaterialintheformofoff-cuts,slabsandotherwoodresidues,andsomechainsawmillersdelivertheirlumbertoconventionalsawmillsforfurtherprocessing.

ThestudynotedtherelevanceofinternationalinitiativestothedevelopmentofSMFEsinGhana.KeyamongtheseinitiativesaretheVoluntaryPartnershipAgreements(VPA)undertheNaturalResourcesandEnvironmentalGovernance(NREG)programmeinGhana,andtheReducingEmissionsfromDeforestationandForestDegradation(REDD)initiative.BothoftheseschemesaregrapplingwiththechallengingimpactsofthemostlyinformalSMFEenterpriseswithinthedomesticmarket.Thisiseitherbecauseofthechallengetheyposetolegality,orbecauseofthecombinationofthreatsandopportunitiesthattheyrepresentfordeforestationandforestdegradation.TheVPA,forexample,whichpromoteslegalityofenterprises,hasthepotentialtoputthemostlyinformalandunregisteredSMFEsoutofbusiness.Thissituationcouldbeavoidedifthedefinitionof‘legality’isbroadenedtoincludetheinterestsofSMFEs.Similarly,unlessthethreatsandopportunitiesofSMFEsareincludedinplanstoreducedeforestationanddegradation,REDDplansarelikelytofail.

Inaddition,thestudyfoundthatthestatecontinuestoloserevenuebyneglectingtheSMFEsub-sectorthroughnon-registrationandnon-paymentofpermitfeesandtaxes,illegalandunstableoperations,andthelessthanoptimalcontributionofthesub-sectortopeople’slivelihoodsandpovertyreduction.SMFEslacktheorganisationthroughassociations,businessregistration,legalityandtenuresecuritythatischaracteristicofenterprisesintheformalforestsector.Thoughtheyhavehighstart-uprates,themajoritysurviveforonlyashortperiod.ThereislittlelinkagebetweenindividualsengagedinSMFEsandorganisationspromotingtheseenterprises.PeopleengagedinSMFEsarefacedwithproblemssuchasexcessivebureaucracy,unfavourablepoliciesandlegislation,insecuretenure,poormarketaccessandinformation,lackofaccesstocredit,poorinfrastructure,inadequatetechnology,weakbargainingpowerandinsufficientbusinessknow-how.Furthermore,thesub-sectorisplaguedbydepletionand/orseasonalityofrawmaterialsandaninfluxofalternativeimportedproductsonthemarket.Thereisahighlevelofarbitrarinessandgeneralweaknessintheimplementationofthefewsupportingpoliciesthatexist.

ThestudyemphasisedtheemergenceofnewlocalandinternationalmarketingopportunitiesandtheexistenceofsomesupportprogrammesandinstitutionsthatoffergoodprospectsforthepromotionofSMFEs.Itwasagreednationallythataddressingtheinstitutionalchallengeswithanemphasisonnetworking,research,capacitybuilding,informationandtechnologytransfer,accesstocapital(microcreditfacilities)andparticipationindecision-makingprocessescouldgreatlyenhancethecontributionofthesub-sectortotheimprovementoflocallivelihoodsandresourceconservation.

National workshop to highlight the opportunity of greater engagement with SMFEs.InthesecondphaseofForestConnectGhana’swork,from26-27March2009,anationalworkshoponSMFEswasconvenedattheErataHotelinAccra,Ghana.Backgroundpaperswerecommissionedon:

• Enterpriseorganisationandmarketrestructuring(Birikorang,2009)

• BusinesssupportplatformsforSMFEsinGhana(Adu,2009)

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• DraftdiagnosticonSMFEsinGhana(Osei-Tutuet al.2010)

Theworkshopwasseenasagoodsteptowardsthelongawaitedopportunityforaforumdevotedtothebroadeningofforestutilisation,suchthatalargervarietyofstakeholdersmightparticipateandbenefitfromitsuse.ParticipantsadvisedTropenbosInternationalGhanaonhowbesttopushtheForestConnectagendaforward.TheyadvisedoncarefulselectionoftheForestConnectSteeringCommitteemembers;capacitybuildingofSMFEactors,sothattheycanactivelyparticipateinpolicydialogues;andthedesignofaseriesoffocusgroupdiscussionstogeneratecrediblepolicyrecommendations.

Asanextstep,afirstmeetingoftheForestConnectSteeringCommitteewasorganisedtodiscussdetailsofthegroup’smandateandthewayforwardfortheForestConnectprojectinGhana.Thegeneralobjective(mandate)oftheSteeringCommitteeistohelpSMFEsinGhanareachtheirpotentialforlocalsustainabledevelopment.Thiswouldbeachievedbylearningfromexperience,developingplansandsteeringactionforpolicyorlegislativereform,supportnetworks,enterpriseorganisationandmarketrestructuring.TheSteeringCommittee:

• ensuresthatSMFEconcernsareadequatelycapturedinthenewforestandwildlifepolicyunderpreparation;

• developsnetworkingandcommunicationstrategiesforSMFEs;• identifiestrainingandcapacitybuildingneedsandinstitutionsthatcanoffertraining;• developsaframeworktoensureSMFEscontributetosustainableforestmanagementthrough

paymentoftaxes,levies,andsoon;and• linksSMFEstoexistingnaturalresourcemanagementplatformsinGhana.

Overa12weekperiod,theSteeringCommitteedevelopedanactionplanforachievingitsmandate.

Mapping of SMFE service providers in Ghana.InthethirdphaseofForestConnectGhanawork,asurveywasconductedontheserviceprovidersfor19selectedenterprisesub-sectors,prioritisedbythesteeringcommittee.Inaseriesofchapters,thesurveylaysoutconsiderabledetailaboutthevariousSMFEsub-sectorswithinGhana–includingtheproductionofakpeteshie(localgin),bambooandrattanhouseholdgoods,blackpepper,bushmeat,chainsawlumber,charcoal,chewsticks,cola,community-basedecotourism,essentialoils,ginger,honey,medicinalproducts,mortarandpestles,mushrooms,sheabutter,tertiarywoodprocessingandwoodcarving.ChapteronepresentssomecharacteristicsofSMFEsinGhana.Chaptertwopresentsinformationonwhatgoesintoestablishingasmallbusiness,obligationsforsmallbusinessesandtheGhanagovernment’sinitiativesonsmallenterprises.ChapterthreepresentsprofilesofthekeySMFESinGhana.ChapterfourpresentssomeassociationsandgroupingsofSMFEproprietorsinGhana.Finally,chapterfiveisatableofSMFEsupportinstitutionsandserviceprovidersinGhana.Thefindingsfromthesurveyhavebeencompiledintoasourcebook,whichisbeingpublished(Osei-Tutuet al.2012).Asimplifiedversionofthesourcebookhasalsobeenpreparedtobepublishedlocally;thisistargetedattheSMFEspractitioners.

Accessible information services. ThroughouttheworkofForestConnectGhana,awebsitehasbeenmaintainedfortheprojectinGhana(www.forestconnectghana.com).Linkedtothiswebsiteintermsofoutreachandawarenesscreation,aworkshophasbeenorganisedforbeekeepersandhoneyproducers.Theworkshopwasalsousedtogatherinformationontheneedsandchallengesofhoneyproductionandtrade.Basedontheconcernsraised,atrainingworkshoponsustainablehoneyproductionhasbeenheldforbeekeepers,lookingatthreatstohoneybeesandintegratedpestmanagementinagriculture.

TheTBIGhanateamalsoparticipatedactivelyinthesecondinternationalForestConnectworkshop(seeMacqueenandRolington,2011)contributingcasestudyexamplestothreeofthe16modulesofguidancewithinthedrafttoolkit(Macqueenet al.2012):forexamplemodule5onplanningandsequencingactivities;module6onconductingSMFEdiagnostics;andModule16onconductingpolicyresearch.

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Quality standards development and sustainability certification for honey.InthefourthphaseofForestConnectGhana’sworktheteamchosetofocusinonactivitiestoimproveparticularvaluechains.Initially,theproposalwastofocusonthecharcoalsub-sector,owingtoitssizeandsignificance.Fundingrestrictionspostponedthatengagement,however,andinstead,thehoneysub-sectorwaschosenasafirststepintomoredetailedvaluechainanalysis.In2011,amarketassessmentwascarriedouttoidentifymarketoutlets,qualityrequirements,packagingrequirements,pricerangeandmajorsuppliersforhoney.Thefindingshavebeencapturedinareportsoontobefinalised.Asaconsequence,anothermeetinghasbeenheldwiththehoneybeekeeperstodiscussqualityrequirementsofhoney.Aspartofthiswork,exploratorymoveshavebeenmadetoachievecertificationforhoneyproductionbytheFoodandDrugsBoardofGhana;effortstothisendarestillongoing.Afamiliarisationvisittoahoneyprocessingfacilityhasbeenmadebypotentialresourcepersonsandastudytourtoahoneyprocessingfacilityhasbeenorganisedfortheproducers.Again,thesecretariathassupportedatrainingprogrammeonconstructionoflangstrothbeehivesfortheHoneybeeKeepersAssociation,whichoptimiseshoneyproduction.Efforts to connect to national policies and platforms.GhanaiscurrentlyintheprocessofreviewingitsForestandWildlifePolicy,aswellasthelegislativeframework.ThisprocessinevitablydovetailstovaryingdegreeswiththeconsultativeprocessesandplatformscreatedinthenegotiationandimplementationofGhana’sVPA,andwiththedevelopmentofanationalREDDstrategyforGhana.TheForestConnectproject’sstrongnationallinksandSteeringCommitteehaveenabledtheteamtosuccessfullyfacilitatetheparticipationofSMFEpractitionersinthepolicyreviewprocess.TheSteeringCommitteehasalsosubmittedawrittenproposalregardingSMFEissuestothepolicyreviewcommittee.

Withinthemorespecificworkonhoneyproduction,policymakers(MinistryofLandsandNaturalResources)seetheprojectasanavenueforreachingouttoSMFEpractitionersandproducergroups,particularlyhoneyproducers.Theyhaveexpressedthehopethattheprojectwillconductcapacitybuildingandlinkagetomicro-creditandproductcertification,whilsttradersinhoneyexpecttogetcertifiedproduct(honey)totradein.Producergroupshavebeenattractedtotheinitiativebytheprospectofproducingcertifiedandqualityproductsfortheexportmarket.Consumersandtradersofhoneyareexpectingtohavesustainablesupplyofhighqualityhoney.

3. Impacts TheworkofTBIGhanawithintheForestConnectalliancehashadimpactsinternationally(throughsharingofexperienceswith12otherForestConnectpartnercountryteams).Butthemainimpactshavebeenseenatnationallevel–asdiscussedbelow.

Greater visibility and awareness of the significance of SMFEs.ThroughthenationaldiagnosticofSMFEsinGhanaandthesubsequentnationalworkshopandsourcebookonSMFEsandserviceproviders,thereisnowconsiderablemomentumwithinGhanatobetterengagewiththemultipleSMFEsectors.Forexample,thegenericdiscussionovertheimportanceofSMFEshasnowbeenreplacedwithamuchmorenuanceddiscussionoverspecificchallengestoparticularsub-sectors.ThetablebelowoutlinesthenatureandstatusofselectedSMFEsubsectorsinGhanathathavebeenselectedforfutureworkbythenationalSteeringCommitteeandoutlineswhytheywerechosenasafocus:

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Table 1. SMFE subsectors and the prospects and rationale for policy and value chain engagement.

Enterprise Nature Status Reasons for selection

Woodfuelproductionandtrade

Harvestingoftreesforuseasfirewoodandproductionofcharcoalusingmethodsthatarenotalwaysveryefficient.

Woodfuelpolicystillinthedraftform;majorsupplysourcesverydegraded;thesub-sectorisinformalandpoorlyorganised.

About70percentofhouseholdsdependoncharcoalandfirewoodforcookingandheating;contributesgreatlytoforestdegradation;productionisunsustainable;offersemploymentfortens,ifnothundredsofthousandsofpeople.

Community-basedecotourism

Theseinvolvepeoplevisitingforestreserves,nationalparks,waterbodies,mountainsandhistoricalsites,amongothers.

Afewsitesarefairlywelldevelopedbutmostsitesnotverydeveloped.Relatedservicesandlinkagesarepoorlydeveloped.

Ghanahasanumberofeco-tourismsiteswhicharenotwelldeveloped;relatedservices,artefactsandsouvenirsneedtobedevelopedincommunitieswitheco-tourismpotentialsaslinkages.

Woodcarvingandtrade

Carversoperateinpocketsoflocalities,producingwoodartefactsbothforlocalandexportmarkets.

Nowrepresentativesareinvitedtoparticipateinnationaldiscourses,butnationalassociationisyettobeconsolidated;problemswithrawmaterialsupply.

Difficultyinaccessingrawmaterial;nosupplyoflegalwood,likelychallengeofcertification;nonationaltradeassociation;marketnotfullydeveloped;pooraccesstocredit;productqualitycanbeimproved.

Carpentryandwoodprocessing

Productionofwoodandwoodproductsforboththedomesticandcross-bordermarkets.

Difficultyinaccessinglegaltimber;draftpolicyinplacetoregularisedomesticlumbersupply.

Weakassociation;sourceofemploymentformanythousandsofpeople,butaspectsofitarestillcriminalised.

Bushmeat,mushroom,snail

Hunting(orpoaching)ofgamefromthewild;mushroomandsnailfarming.

Severalisolatedeffortstodomesticatesomewildlife;promotedasalternativelivelihoods.

Mainsourcesofprotein,alsoseenasdelicaciesbymany,butsustainablesupplyisthreatened;valuechainyettobedeveloped.

Medicinalplantsandherbalproductspreparationandtrade

Manypeopledependontheseforbothpreventiveandcurativemedicine.

Mainlycollectedfromthewild,butthisisunsustainable;needtodomesticate/cultivatethem;regenerationisthreatenedduetoforestdegradation.

Importantmeansofhealthcare,butproductionbaseisunsustainable;certificationislackinginmanycases.

Sheabutterproductionandtrade

Collectionofthesheafruitmainlyfromthewild,particularlybywomen;processingofthefruittoproducesheabutter.

Fairlywell-establisheddomesticandexporttrade;strongerassociationsintheproductionandtradeofsheabutterhavetobeformed.

Thereistheneedtopromoteplantationestablishmentofsheatrees.Employmentopportunityforwomeninparticularindeprivedareasofthecountry.

Herbsandspicesproductionandtrade[forexample,blackpepper]

SeveralforestherbsandspicesexistinGhanabutonlyafewhavebeencommercialised.

Somefewexports;mainlycollectedfromthewild;littleornovalueaddition.

Notmanypractitionersareawareoftheexportpotentialoftheseproducts;needtopromotelarge-scalecultivationtoensuresustainablesupply.

Colanuttrade Thecolafruitsaremostlycollectedfromthewild;thepeeledseedsarestoredortradeddirectly,mainlyinthesub-region.

ThereisahighdemandinNigeriaandothermuslim-dominantAfricancountries.

Colaishistoricallyanimportantexportcrop.Itiseasilyintegratedintocroplandstoformagro-forest,whichcanprovideecosystemservicesifitstradeissustained.

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Chewstickandchew-sponge

Theseitemsareusedfordentalcareandastoothpicks,inbothurbanandruralareas.Thetradeprovidesincomeformanyyounggirlsintheurbancentres.

Mostlycollectedfromthewild;verytenuoussupplybase;almostextinct.

Needtopromotetheircultivationinplantationsandalsoasintegralpartofsomecroppingsystemstoincreaselocalstocking.Thiscansustainpractitioners’livelihoodsandalsopromotegoodoralhygieneinGhana.

Essentialoils,gums,dyes,Allanblackia,sweeteners

Muchofthesehavebeencollectedfromthewildovertheyears.

Allanblackiaandtaumatococusinparticulararereceivingmuchattentionintheirdevelopmentandprocessing,butthereareseveralothersthatcouldbedeveloped.

Potentiallocalmarketexists–food,pharmaceuticalandcosmeticindustriescurrentlyusesomeoftheproductsasrawmaterials.Theseindustriesneedsustainablesupplythatpractitionerscantakeadvantageoftoearnadditionalincome.Developmentoftheproductionandtradeinthesecommoditieswouldbenefitruralfarmers.

Palmwinetappingandlocalgindistillation

Palmwineisproducedfromtreesofoilpalm,andtosomeextentraffiapalm.Thefreshlytappedjuiceisverysugary,withvirtuallynoalcohol.Butwithtime,thejuicefermentstogivehighconcentrationsofalcoholwhichisdistilled,toproducethelocalgin(Akpeteshie).Itispatronisedmainlybylow-incomepeople.

Theprocessingneedstobeimprovedtoconformtobetterqualitystandards;thehandlingandmarketingcanalsobeimproved.

Thistraditionalenterpriseservestheneedsofindividualsinallpartsofthecountrywithappreciableincometoproducersandtraders.Moreover,recentindustrialprocessingoptionsofferwaystosecuremarketsthroughbetterqualityproducttherebyimprovingincomegenerationamongstproducergroups.

Plantationdevelopment(nursery,plantationestablishment)

Seedlingproductiontofeedtheplantationdevelopmentinitiative.

Ghanahasembarkedonamassivereforestationandplantationprogrammewhichrequireslargequantitiesoftreeseedlings.

Successivegovernmentshaveshowncommitmenttoplantationsince2001.ThereisscopeforlocalnurseriestoproduceseedlingsfornationalplantationdevelopmentinitiativesinGhana.Highemploymentpotential.

Policy engagement within the VPA, REDD and Forest and Wildlife Policy consultation processes. ThemainimpactofForestConnectinGhanahasbeenintheareaofpolicyengagement.SMFEpractitioners,throughForestConnectworkshopsandsub-sectormeetings,havegainedgreaterrecognitionandconsiderationinthesepolicyprocesses,andparticularlyinthedraftingofthenewForestandWildlifePolicy.Thereisalsonowagreaterawarenessamongpractitionersoftheimportanceofpolicyengagementandmanyalsoappreciatetheneedtogettogethertoformassociations,soastohavegreatervoiceinthosediscussions.AparticularstrengthoftheForestConnectworktodatehasbeentheestablishmentofthemulti-stakeholdersteeringcommittee,whichhasenabledtheprojecttoworkonprioritycommodities–andberecognisednationallyasavehicleforpushingtheSMFEagendaforward.Theothersuccessfactorhasbeentheconsultativeapproachadoptedbytheproject.Thishasmadeitpossibletoaddressneedsfeltbystakeholdersandpractitioners.Asanexample,consultativemeetingswiththehoneybeekeepersandhoneyproducersatthestartofPhase4oftheprojectledtotheincorporationofnewinterventionsthatwerenotforeseenfromthebeginning.

Intermsofsupportingpeoplefromdisadvantagedormarginalisedgroups,chainsawoperatorswhowerehithertocriminalisedhavenowbeenbroughttothetabletoengageindialogueonfindinglastingsolutionstoillegallogging.ThiswasmainlythroughTBIGhana’sworkonillegalchain-sawing.Strongerassociationsofdomesticlumbertraders(forexampleDOLTA)areemerging;someofwhichhavesucceededinattracting

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financialresourcesforcapacitybuildingandadvocacy.

Increasing organisation and income from specific SMFE sub-sectors.Oneoftheunforeseeninterventionsthatemergedthroughtheconsultativevaluechainworkwithhoneyproducerswasthetrainingandcapacitybuilding.Honeyproducershavebeentrainedon‘addressingthreatstohoneyproduction’andtheconstructionofimprovedbeehives.Again,themarketrequirementsassessmentcarriedoutwasnotinitiallyplanned.Recommendationsfromthesteeringcommittee,however,instigatedavaluechainstudywiththerationalethatitwouldprovidethenecessaryinformationforfocusingtheinitialinterventionsofcertification,packaging,labellingforsupermarketsandothermarketoutlets.

Issues to be addressed. Thepiecemealapproach(annualcontracts)withinprojectimplementationhasmadetheflowofactivitiesratherdisjointed.ThisisbecausetheIIEDteamhavehadtosourcefunds(throughPROFORandotherdonors)onanannualandbiannualbasis,andsohaveonlybeenabletoagreecontractswithpartnersovershorttimeframes.ThisisevidentlyquiteunsatisfactoryandonewouldhopethatdonorswillstepforwardtosupportSMFEsthroughtheForestConnectallianceonalongertermandmoresubstantialbasis.Eventhoughthishasalsomadeitpossibletolearnfromourmistakes,ithasnotallowedforlongtermplanningandsubstantialinterventions.

4. Benefits of the alliance TBIGhanaisarelativelyrecentmemberoftheForestConnectallianceanddidnottakepartintheinitialinternationalForestConnectworkshopin2008.Nevertheless,thereareperceivedbenefitsfrombeingpartofthisalliance:

Use of the international website.WeusetheinternationalForestConnectwebsite,thoughnotveryfrequently.Nonetheless,wefindthefollowinguseful:postingofandaccesstodocuments,findingoutinformationaboutcolleaguesinpartnercountries,andhavingaccesstoblogs.Oneexperiencethatdiscouragedusfromusingthewebsitewasapparentspamcirculatedviathewebsiterecently.Itwouldbehelpfulifwebsiteadministratorscouldsendvitalinformation,suchasinvitationstoconferencesandworkshops,directlytopartners’emailaddresses.Thewebsiteteamarealsostretchedandhavenotyet,forexample,createdalinkfromtheinternationalwebsitetotheForestConnectGhanawebsite.

Development of a toolkit on the facilitation of support to SMFEs.Asnotedabove,TBIGhanacontributedtomodule5(Planning and sequencing facilitation intervention),module6(Conducting and presenting an SMFE diagnostic study)andmodule16(Making policy research for change through a project steering committee). WefindthetoolkitpracticalenoughtobeusedbySMFEfacilitationorganisationsandforeseeitbeingusedbyagenciesthatdealwithand/orsupportsmall-scaleindustriesgenerally.ThesewillincludetheNationalBoardforSmallScaleIndustries(NBSSI),AssociationofGhanaIndustries(AGI),RuralEnterprisesProject(REP),DomesticLumberTradersAssociation(DOLTA)andSmall-ScaleCarpentersAssociation(SSCA).

Sharing experiences with other SMFE support practitioners.WehavefoundtheinternationalForestConnectmeetingsveryhelpful.Thesecondinternationalmeeting(Ethiopia)wasparticularlyveryhelpful;welearntofhowothercountriesareimplementingSMFEsupportactivities.

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5. Future prospects and sustainabilityOurvisionforthefutureisthattherewillbeavibrantSMFEsub-sectoradequatelycateredforbypolicy,andwellconnectedtoserviceproviders(includingmicro-finance)andtomarkets,whichcontributestonationaldevelopmentandpovertyreduction.Forsustainability,SMFEpractitionersshouldbebroughttoapointwheretheyappreciatethecatalyticroleofForestConnectandarewillingaswellasabletopayforthatcatalyticservice.

Inthepast,wereceivedinitialfundingfromIIEDandsupplementedthatwithourown(Programme)resources,includingin-kindcontributions.Wehavealsoreliedonpartnershipstoraisein-kindsupport.Forthefuture,weplantosourcefundingthroughprojectproposalstofundingagencies,bothnationalandinternational;wehopethat,ultimately,thebeneficiariesoftheservicesoftheprojectwillbeinapositiontomakeacontributiontotheprovisionoftheservices.WealsoexpectthatGovernmentwillbewillingtotakeonsomeservices.

Sofarwehavemanagedtolayaverygoodfoundationforthetake-offoftheSMFEsupportinGhana.Unfortunately,however,notmanytangibleresultshavebeenachievedintermsofproductdevelopmentoractuallinkages.Whilewehavemadeaconstructivestartinthehoneysector,thereareotherevenmoreimportantSMFEsub-sectorsthathavebroaderimpactsonforestresourcesinGhana.Weneedmoresubstantialsupportoveralongertimeperiodtotranslatesomeoftheverygoodworkdoneintotangibleresultsinthisbroaderarena.

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ReferencesAdu,G.(2009)BusinesssupportplatformsforSMFEsinGhana.PaperpresentedatthenationalworkshoponSMFEs,25-26March2009,ErrataHotel,Accra,Ghana.KumasiWoodCluster,Kumasi,Ghana.

Birikorang,G.(2009)Enterpriseorganisationandmarketrestructuring.PaperpresentedatthenationalworkshoponSMFEs,25-26March2009,ErrataHotel,Accra,Ghana.HamiltonresourcesandConsulting,Accra,Ghana.

Osei-Tutu,P.,Nketiah,K.,Kyereh,B.,Owusu-Ansah,M.andFaniyan,J.(2010)Hiddenforestryrevealed:Characteristics,constraintsandopportunitiesforsmallandmediumforestenterprisesinGhana.IIEDSmallandMediumForestEnterpriseSeriesNo.27.TropenbosInternationalandInternationalInstituteforEnvironmentandDevelopment,London,UK.

Osei-TutuP.,NketiahK.S.,KyerehB.,andOwusu-AnsahM.(2012)Sourcebookonenterprisecharacteristics,activitycentres,productmarkets,supportinstitutionsandserviceprovidersinGhana.IIEDSmallandMediumForestEnterpriseSeriesNo.29.TropenbosInternationalandInternationalInstituteforEnvironmentandDevelopment,London,UK.

Macqueen,D.J.andRolington,L.(Editors)(2011)Testingandenrichingguidancemodulesforthe”facilitationofsupportforsmallandmediumforestenterprises”–proceedingsofthesecondinternationalForestConnectworkshopattheGlobalHotel,AddisAbaba,Ethiopia,16-18February2011.IIED,Edinburgh,UK.

Macqueen,D.J.(Ed.),Baral,S.,ChakrabartiL.,Dangal,S.,duPlessis,P.,Griffiths,A.,Grouwels,S.,Gyawali,S.,Heney,J.,Hewitt,D.,Kamara,Y.,Katwal,P.,Magotra,R.Pandey,S.S.,Panta,N.,Subedi,B.andVermeulen,S.(2012)Supportingsmallforestenterprises–afacilitatorstoolkit-DRAFT.Pocketguidancenotrocketscience!.IIED.Edinburgh,UK.