Foreign economic-aid-related services

Description

DFID's Forest Governance, Markets and Climate (FGMC) Programme is a global programme which has the broad aim of bringing about governance and market reforms that reduce the illegal use of forest resources and benefit poor people who depend on forests for their livelihoods. It supports the EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan and global efforts to tackle deforestation, in particular by tackling illegal logging in developing timber-producing countries and the trade in illegally-produced timber products. Voluntary FLEGT Partnership Agreements (VPAs) are 1 of the main instruments for cooperation with timber-producing countries. Choosing to enter into a VPA is voluntary, but once it is negotiated by the 2 parties and ratified by their respective Parliaments, the VPA becomes a legally-binding bilateral trade agreement between the European Union (EU) and the timber-producing developing country. The EU and EU member states are supporting partner countries to prepare for negotiation and implement VPAs. DFID has agreed to provide support for the preparation and negotiation of Burma's (Myanmar's) VPA. This will include: a) Technical Assistance to the Government of Burma; b) Facilitation services; and c) Financial support to ensure: effective preparation, inputs to negotiations, including stakeholder consultations and communications, development of systems to regulate and enforce law and provide market assurance (legality assurance system), and supporting the logistics of the negotiation process.