This programme aims at putting in place the enabling conditions for a REDD strategy in the DR Congo. Its core objectives are: (i) to prepare a Readiness Plan (R-Plan) through a participatory and multi-stakeholder approach; (ii) to inform and train stakeholders in order for them to actively participate in the REDD process; and (iii) to lay the technical foundations for REDD. The programme is accordingly structured in 3 components that respond to each of these objectives (see Results Framework in Section 4 below).

The Programme corresponds to a phase-1 of UN-REDD, for a duration of one year approximately, during which phase-2 (for years 2-3) will be formulated and duly submitted to the UN-REDD Policy Board. The budget for this phase-1 is estimated at about US$ 1.88 million. The programme was elaborated through a qualitative dialogue with governmental and non-governmental stakeholders, both national and international. Its current structure and contents were developed during a multi-stakeholder and participatory REDD mission in January 2009 (the report is attached to this proposal for reference and details).

The programme will be financed from a Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) for UN-REDD, with funding from the Government of Norway, which may be complemented in the future. The MDTF will be implemented via a Pass-Through mechanism, which distributes technical and financial roles among the participating agencies (in this case: FAO, UNDP and UNEP). Within country, the programme will be lodged in the National REDD Office, which is being established now and to which this programme will support in both financial and technical terms. A Chief Technical Advisor and an administrative assistant will be recruited to manage the programme within Government, as well as to provide qualitative technical advice and to ensure harmonisation between the 3 participating U.N. agencies and other relevant stakeholders.

For more information on the programmatic and techical aspects of this programme, please see the UN-REDD website.