ANNEX VIIISupplementary provisions
ANNEX VIII INDICATIVE SCHEDULE FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGREEMENT 2011 2012 2013 2014-2017 1st Q 2nd Q 3rd Q 4th Q ACTIVITIES SECONDARY ACTIVITIES PREPARATORY PHASE OPERATIONAL PHASE I. AWARENESS RAISING AND GENERAL INFORMATION 1- Produce and evaluate a communications plan 2- Implement the communications plan 3- Develop and update the Internet site II. INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK 1- Transpose/officially recognise the responsibilities (as described in this Agreement) of the different verification and verification control structures and update the MEFCP’s organic text 2- Establish and run the joint consultation mechanism 3- Establish the Joint Implementation and Monitoring Committee 4- Establish and run the National Agreement Implementation and Monitoring Committee 5- Establish a Permanent Technical Secretariat (STP) III. CAPACITY BUILDING 1- Train the actors in relation to elements of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement) (VPA) 2- Produce a training and capacity building plan for the different verification and verification control structures, along with civil society and the private sector 3- Implement the training plan 4- Establish equipment and logistical needs 5- Acquire equipment and logistical tools 6- Make offices available (STP, ICEF, BMIV, CDF, licensing authority) 7- Establish the Customs Conciliation and Expertise Commission (CCED) and train staff IV. REFORM OF THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK 1- Develop regulations according to the legality definition in Annex II 2- Improve the legal framework relating to the domestic timber market 3- Improve the legal framework relating to forests (community, communal and private forests) and plantations 4- Procedure for ratifying the VPA 5- Produce a non-compliance management manual 6- Develop legal measures to improve governance (organic text, monitoring, national tracking system, etc.) V. ESTABLISHING THE NATIONAL TRACKING SYSTEM (NTS) 1- Finalise procedures relating to the NTS (methods, controls, verifications, etc.), including TEREA mission. 2- Implement the planned national tracking system (NTS) 3- Establish links between the databases of the main structures involved 4- Design then establish database links with CEMAC countries 5- Acquire materials and equipment (identifiers, identifier readers, computers) 6- Roll out the system at national level: establish and equip checkpoints along the supply chains, including border posts (infrastructure, computers, Internet links, etc.) 7- Strengthen the capacity of the actors (MEFCP and other departments involved, private sector and civil society) 8- Train staff involved (ICEF, CDF, BMIV and other ministries), private sector and civil society VI. ESTABLISHING THE SCHEME FOR LEGALITY ASSURANCE (LAS) 1- Where appropriate, produce legality matrices relating to artisanal permits and community forests, to include field tests 2- Each body responsible for verification (public administration) to develop/strengthen its verification procedures, in cooperation with ICEF 3- Develop information exchange protocols on legality assurance between the public administration and ICEF. 4- Develop operational procedures for running the SGBD 5- Pilot test FLEGT licensing scheme and put required actions in place 6- Company preparation test in the procedures for verifying and issuing FLEGT licences 7- Training (particularly for BMIV members) and awareness raising on the procedures for verifying the legality of the logging entity 8- Operational evaluation of the LAS, in accordance with Article 12 of the Agreement 9- LAS up and running VII. SYSTEM FOR ISSUING LICENCES 1- Establish the licensing authority 2- Raise awareness of the detailed procedures for issuing FLEGT licences within the private sector 3- Establish contacts with the competent Union authorities 4- Issue FLEGT licences VIII. INDEPENDENT SYSTEM AUDITS 1- Recruit the independent auditor and develop a detailed methodology (from March 2013) 2- First audit, then successive audits IX. PRODUCT PROMOTION STRATEGY 1- Produce a promotional plan, including a study of the current markets 2- Position and promote FLEGT products coming from the CAR on the targeted markets X. MONITORING THE IMPACTS OF THE VPA 1- Define and monitor social indicators 2- Establish a system for monitoring confiscated timber 3- Establish a system for monitoring socio-economic and environmental impacts 4- Assess the socio-economic impact midway through VPA implementation 5- Monitor and assess forest sector revenues XI. SEEKING ADDITIONAL FINANCING 1- Develop a fundraising strategy