ANNEX VIISupplementary provisions
ANNEX VII IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE This schedule indicates major milestones on the path in implementing the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA). Development of systems, further development of the legal framework, capacity-building and other supporting measures required to establish an effective, fully functioning national legality assurance system will all start once the VPA has been agreed and initialled. However, ratification of the VPA could take some time and the formal structure of the Joint Implementation Committee (JIC) and consequent reporting and monitoring obligations will not be put in place until the VPA has been ratified by both Parties and enters into force, as described in Article 31 of this Agreement. In the mean time a mechanism for dialogue will be created (Article 19). As shown in the indicative schedule, activities planned for 2011 will commence once the VPA is initialled. Key outputs Milestones (Activities) 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Preparatory Phase Operational Phase VPA implementation structures established Interim VPA Union-Liberia dialogue structure (pre-JIC) established X Interim stakeholder committee established (e.g. Steering Committee for VPA negotiations) X JIC established X JIC reporting established X Annual reports produced X X X X X X JIC procedures established X National implementation structures: Cross department coordination mechanism(s) established X National stakeholder committee for monitoring implementation of the VPA established X Liberia Licensing Department (LLD) fully equipped, staffed and operational X Capacity improved A comprehensive five-year training and investment plan X Implementation of capacity-building investment plan X X X X X Training for commercial private sector X X X Outreach to small-scale chainsaw operators X X X X X Outreach by civil society to build capacity of communities X X X X X X Financial mechanism established and resources secured for effective implementation of the VPA Mechanism established to coordinate and deliver external donor and national support for implementation of the VPA X X Development of short-term and long-term implementation plan targeting potential sources of support for VPA action X X Support secured X X Long-term sustainable national financing secured for operation of the LAS X X Legality assurance system: legality verification established Systems developed COCS revised to incorporate VPA requirements X X Legality verification procedures incorporating new regulatory requirements developed X X Data management systems developed to incorporate VPA requirements X X Detailed procedures and guidance developed for abandoned logs and confiscated timber X X Detailed procedures and guidance for imported timber X X Domestic market and informal sector integrated into the LAS X Agriculture-sourced products integrated into the LAS (rubber and other plantation wood) X Institutions strengthened External service provider (ESP) contracted X Government body established to oversee service contract X ESP building and operating the LVD (including working with FDA staff seconded to ESP) X X X X X ESP building capacity of different government agencies for legality verification as prescribed in detailed procedures X X Transfer of verification functions to the LVD in the FDA (detailed transfer in key stages to be integrated into contract) X X Legality assurance system: licensing established Licensing procedures developed by the LLD X Export permits phased out and application of the new licensing system by LLD X FLEGT licensing for exports to Union and other markets X X X X Mechanisms to communicate with Union competent authorities established X Legality assurance system: independent audit established Independent auditor contracted X Operating procedures developed and agreed with the JIC X Independent audits initiated and reports published X X X X X FLEGT licenses accepted in the Union External evaluation of functioning of the LAS and Union procedures; adjustments made if necessary (see Annex VI) X JIC confirms date when Union starts to accept FLEGT licenses X LAS operational and Union accepting licenses X Civil society monitoring established Capacity-building for civil society (CS) to conduct monitoring X X CS monitoring designed in detail X CS monitoring established X X X X X Law enforcement and regulatory framework improved Community forest regulations adopted X Legality definition (LD) updated X Chainsaw regulations adopted X LD updated X Regulation on abandoned logs in concession areas adopted X Regulations on transit timber adopted X Detailed procedures and guidance for timber in transit adopted X X Regulations on timber imports adopted X Regulations for confiscated timber adopted X Refinement of procedures for social agreements and other social and environmental provisions in place X X Amendments to the LD X X Review of regulations framed in the LD, based on practical experience of implementation of the LAS X Law enforcement capacity strengthened X X X Regulation and monitoring of domestic market established Procedures for legal verification for the domestic market established in the LAS (integration in the legality verification and in COCS) X X Establishment of information-gathering system X Assessment of contribution by the informal sector to the national (local) economy (regular monitoring will be established subsequently) X Training of chainsaw operators to work with new regulations and procedures X X X X X Monitoring the impact of the VPA Monitoring organisation(s) for baseline studies engaged X Monitoring framework agreed by the JIC X Routine monitoring, with reporting to the JIC X X X X X Communication A costed communication plan for raising public awareness prepared (P) and implemented (I) P I I I I I Trade shows with trading partners to promote the benefits of FLEGT-licensed timber X X X Public information sites and capacity established (see Annex IX) X X X Guidelines for developing social agreements X X X Targeted guidance for LAS compliance for different stakeholders X X X X VPA monitoring and JIC reports published X X X X X X