Africa and the Middle East

摘要

ELI organized and led a workshop on the National Benefit-Sharing Trust for Community Forestry Development Committees in Gbarnga, Liberia. In May, an ELI team led by Senior Attorneys Lisa Goldman and Sandra Nichols joined with local partners to host a workshop attended by 27 community members from 10 Community Forest Development Committees (CFDCs). Liberia's National Benefit-Sharing Trust receives money from a portion of the land rental fees paid by timber companies to the Liberian government. Regulations set forth the procedures to be followed by CFDCs that wish to use funds in the Trust. During the workshop, the ELI team covered the operation of the Trust, the procedures for communities to access the funds, project management, and reporting requirements. The workshop resulted in the publication of a handbook to help communities obtain funds from the trust for development projects.