EMPAFORM: Stands for “strengthening and Empowering civil societies for partiipatory forest management in East Africa”

This is a programme aimed at strengthening civil society to demand and effective participation in Forest Management. This programme of civil society strengthening  promoted a pro-poor approach to the management and conservation of natural forests in  E. Africa. CBOs  were the primary target group.

By strengthening and empowering these organisations the programme made the implementation of new forest policy more demand driven, and more equitable in addressing the interests and rights of poor men, women and children. Major areas of activity include access to information, advocacy, organizational strengthening, networking at local, national and regional levels, and demand-driven technical assistance.

The programme’s focus on CBOs will also give the rural poor, and particularly women and other marginalized groups, a stronger voice in policy development at national level. By influencing the underlying power relationships within communities, and between communities and the State, the programme will promote good governance both within and beyond the forest sector.