Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI) – a study of different options for organizing the fund

Description

The Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI), established in 2015, is a political initiative and a multi-donor trust fund under the UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office. CAFI's main goal is to contribute to reduce emissions from forests in the Congo Basin, safeguard biodiversity and improve the living conditions for the local population. CAFI as a political initiative consists of six Central African partner countries and ten donor countries. At country level, CAFI promotes political dialogues that ensure the integration of climate and forest goals in sector and development plans with the aim of a sustainable development with low deforestation and reduced emissions from the land use sector. CAFI as a multi-donor fund is organized at three levels: partnership coordination & fund operations (Executive Board and Secretariat) serving the overall CAFI initiative, fund design and administration (MPTF Office), and fund implementation (implementing organizations and national governments). The CAFI Fund has grown significantly since its creation. By the end of 2023, the CAFI Fund has received 695 million dollars from its donors, with more than USD 836 million committed to the fund. 43 projects are currently financed by CAFI. The purpose of this study is to analyze CAFI's objectives considering the challenges and make clear recommendations for changes in the fund's institutional set-up. The task of the consultants is to mainly develop a model for how the fund can be organized as an independent non-profit organization. The aim is a participatory process with the establishment of two reference groups. This option study will guide the donors to CAFI in further discussion and decision-making about the choice of direction and development of CAFI over the next few years.