Deadline: 30-Apr-2026

The Forest Value Chain Support Program in Gabon funds civil society-led projects to promote sustainable, inclusive, and transparent forest management. The initiative focuses on improving governance, strengthening legal frameworks, and supporting equitable economic benefits in timber and other forest value chains. Grants range from EUR 2,100,000 to EUR 2,175,000, with an emphasis on civil society participation and compliance with environmental and social standards.

Overview

The program aims to consolidate Gabon’s forest value chains while promoting sustainable management, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, conserving biodiversity, and adapting to climate change. It targets inclusive governance, ensuring that civil society actively participates in natural resource exploitation and benefit-sharing.

The program aligns with Gabon’s broader priorities of:

• Green transition and sustainable growth

• Creation of green jobs

• Improved governance and institutional frameworks

It also complements the regional NaturAfrica program, targeting priority landscapes such as the TRIDOM transboundary landscape and the Coastal Forests landscape, while maintaining a national scope.

Objectives and Priorities

Overall Objective: Strengthen Gabon’s forest value chains to comply with sustainable management, climate mitigation, and biodiversity conservation goals.

Specific Objective: Make natural resource exploitation equitable, inclusive, and transparent through civil society participation.

Key Priorities:

• Strengthening legal, regulatory, and governance frameworks

• Improving the business climate while complying with environmental standards

• Enhancing fund mobilization and equitable use

• Ensuring fair distribution of added value and remuneration for small-scale producers

• Optimizing government revenue from forest resources

• Capturing improvements qualitatively and quantitatively

Scope of the Call

Covered Sectors:

• Timber (primary focus)

• Non-timber forest products (limited inclusion)

• Cocoa (limited inclusion)

Central Emphasis: Governance, transparency, and equitable participation in value chains, rather than job creation or resource exploitation alone.

Expected Results:

• Strengthened institutional frameworks

• Improved transparency and accountability

• Compliance with environmental and legal standards

• Equitable economic benefits within forest value chains

Program Structure

The program is structured around three outputs:

• Output 1.1: Technical assistance to improve regulatory, technological, and financial frameworks, promoting high social and environmental standards.

• Output 1.2: Private sector support for market alignment and pilot actions creating high value-added sectors and jobs consistent with climate and biodiversity objectives.

• Output 1.3: Civil society-led actions to ensure equitable, inclusive, and transparent resource exploitation (focus of this call).

Funding and Grants

• Total Indicative Funding: EUR 2,175,000

• Grant Amount per Project: EUR 2,100,000 – EUR 2,175,000

• Funding Allocation: Contracting authority reserves the right not to allocate all available funds

• Eligible Costs: As defined by the call, including civil society project implementation costs, technical assistance, and pilot actions within forest value chains

Who is Eligible?

Lead Applicant Requirements:

• Legal entity

• Non-profit organization

• Classified as a civil society organization

Co-applicants and Affiliated Entities: Must comply with eligibility criteria defined for civil society participation.

Eligible Actions: Projects must:

• Focus on governance and transparency in forest resource management

• Engage civil society effectively

• Comply with environmental, legal, and social standards

How to Apply

1. Prepare a detailed project proposal including:

   • Objectives and expected impact

   • Implementation plan and timeline

   • Budget aligned with EUR 2,100,000–2,175,000 funding range

   • Roles of lead applicant, co-applicants, and affiliated entities

2. Submit the proposal according to the contracting authority’s guidelines.

3. Ensure all activities adhere to sustainability, transparency, and inclusivity criteria.

4. Demonstrate measurable results, including institutional strengthening and equitable benefit distribution.

Tips for a Successful Proposal

• Highlight civil society engagement in governance and monitoring

• Include a robust framework for transparency and accountability

• Show clear environmental and social compliance

• Provide quantitative and qualitative indicators of project success

• Demonstrate equitable value sharing with small-scale producers

FAQs

1. What is the main objective of the program?

To strengthen Gabon’s forest value chains while promoting sustainability, transparency, and inclusivity.

2. Which sectors are eligible?

Primarily timber, with limited inclusion of non-timber forest products and cocoa.

3. Who can apply?

Non-profit civil society organizations legally established in Gabon.

4. What is the funding range?

EUR 2,100,000 to EUR 2,175,000 per project.

5. What is the focus of this call?

Civil society participation to ensure equitable, inclusive, and transparent exploitation of natural resources.

6. Are private companies eligible?

No, this call is restricted to civil society organizations.

7. What results are expected?

Stronger governance frameworks, improved compliance with environmental and legal standards, and equitable distribution of economic benefits.

Conclusion

The Forest Value Chain Support Program offers a strategic opportunity to promote good governance, transparency, and sustainability in Gabon’s forest sector. Civil society-led projects play a crucial role in ensuring that economic benefits are equitably shared, environmental standards are met, and the country progresses toward a green and inclusive transition in forest resource management.

For more information, visit EC.