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Medium Term Plan 2005-2007

Introduction

CIFOR’s MTP 2005-2007 presents an overview of the research portfolio for the coming triennium and summarises the financing plan for 2005. The center has completed a process of adjustment of CIFOR’s programmatic strategies. The resulting changes build squarely on the strengths and successes of the past, and have increased the emphasis on improving communication, outreach and impact. The current plan reflects the outcome of this reformulation of CIFOR's Project Portfolio presenting the programmatic strategic context and a new set of nine CGIAR Projects managed within three research programmes.

Developing countries need to find ways to use forests to improve the livelihoods of low-income families, particularly of more marginalized groups such as indigenous peoples and women. They need to sustainably produce enough timber and non-timber forest products for livelihood needs while also providing environmental services such as biodiversity, carbon sequestration, watershed services and cultural and aesthetic values. To meet these needs, they will have to manage their forests in ways that are more transparent, accountable, and participatory, where conflicts are better managed and the rule of law prevails.

CIFOR’s three research programs – Forests and Livelihoods, - Environmental Services and Sustainable Use of Forests, and - Forests and Governance and their constituent Projects have been designed to address these objectives. The research is intended to provide specific groups with the information they need to solve real problems. CIFOR will continue to adjust future MTPs to position forest-related research in support of livelihoods / poverty with a strong focus on ecosystems that support large numbers of people. Increased attention to dry forests and woodlands is expected to continue.

CIFOR serves a sector where a longer-term vision is necessary, and where key international analyses, dialogues and processes concerning forests continue to shape that vision. The centre is focusing on the principal problems identified by inter-governmental processes, national governments, and other key stakeholders. It has also identified specific leverage points through which it believes research can influence key decisions and processes.

CIFOR continued to focus on global efforts, designed to influence the main global forestry organizations and processes, the international media, the international scientific literature, and the world’s leading forestry decision-makers and practitioners. This can have impact on the ground by; influencing the way decision-makers think about forest issues, shaping international investment patterns, focusing forestry research priorities, and training of new forestry professionals. At the same time, CIFOR will try to increase its efforts focused on regional and national policies and processes in selected countries and regions. These latter efforts do not substitute for national research organizations, but will strengthen them by providing tools and methodologies, capacity building, and encouraging national research organizations to work in high priority topics where they have limited experience.

Two themes common in all of our work are partnership and capacity building. The great majority of CIFOR’s research activities will be carried out jointly by CIFOR scientists and their partners. CIFOR’s research partners include developing and developed country institutions and individuals from government agencies, inter-governmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, universities and the private sector. Working in partnership allows CIFOR to have greater influence on national and international processes, provides access to high quality information and expertise, increases the relevance, acceptability, ‘ownership’ and uptake of our work  whilst helping to build national capacities in developing countries. CIFOR’s research is rigorous and contributes to the global scientific literature, our researchers publish academic articles and books as a means of influencing key opinion-makers and to help maintain the centers’ scientific reputation and credibility.

Within our host country, Indonesia, President Megawati Sukarnoputri has presided over a period of relative stability, following several years of upheaval after the resignation of former President Suharto. Her Government has pursued policies that increase participation, devolution and decentralization in their attempts to achieve more open social, political and economic regimes. National election processes have proceeded peacefully with final voting for the first directly elected President to be completed in September 2004.

2003 was a period of macroeconomic consolidation and relative economic stability in Indonesia. The growth rate accelerated slightly, yet inflation was restricted to an annual rate of less than 6 percent. The rupiah gained against the U.S. dollar, surplus foreign exchange reserves continued to increase thanks to the resumption of capital inflow, which in turn pushed stock prices up. Despite enhanced international confidence in Indonesia’s macroeconomic policy, the country’s share in global output, trade in goods and services and foreign investment continued to suffer from erosion as Japanese, European and American investors and traders turn to China, Vietnam, India and East Europe.  Notwithstanding these patterns and the uncertainties surrounding the Presidential elections, an economic performance similar to 2003 will most likely prevail throughout 2004.

The risks associated with terrorism, reported in recent MTPs, may have abated following the capture of some leading operators. Nevertheless, religious and ethnic conflicts continue in parts of Indonesia’s outer islands and active separatist movements in Aceh and Papua persist.

CIFOR regional offices outside of Indonesia have also experienced changes in their external environments:

• In Brazil a new government has adopted supportive political position towards forests and environmental issues. On March 15, Brazil's President Luis Inácio (Lula) da Silva announced a major new "Action Plan to Prevent and Control Deforestation in the Legal Amazon." The plan commits the government to spending 394 million reais (approximately US$135 million) on activities designed to reduce deforestation presenting new opportunities for effective policy relevant research and dialogue.
• Our office in Cameroon has for many years experienced difficulty in developing collaborative research initiatives with several forest-rich countries in the region due to prolonged armed conflicts. Peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Libera, are presenting opportunities for the formation of new research partnerships.
• In Zimbabwe, the political and economic crisis remains unresolved, while the region has experienced prolonged drought and poor harvests.
  The internal environment of the regional offices are being strengthened through the appointment of full-time regional coordinators. The first such appointment was in Brazil and is soon to be followed by a similar appointment in Zimbabwe.