Training on field activities 2019 to 2020

The second phase of the Support Unit (VPA-SU2), which started in April 2019 and will end in April 2022, embarks on intensified training to ensure the capacity of stakeholders is built so that Liberia can deliver on the VPA. Within 11 months (December 2019-October 2020), the VPA-SU2 Unit has conducted:

11 inspection trainings to train staff of FDA, EPA and MoL in assessing the performance requirements of the Code of Forest Harvesting Practices;
3 scaling trainings to improve the aptitude of FDA staff in scaling of logs and volume assessment as means to provide accurate data for revenue generation, invoicing of stumpage fees and deriving community benefits;
2 Brush-up workshops to refresh FDA staff on work planning and reporting, Forest Law Enforcement issues, and distinguishing roles of different departments to avoid overlaps;
1 Orientation workshop for newly recruited staff to understand basic topics, functions and expectations of their department;
2 trainings on LiberTrace to improve the knowledge of system users to effectively carryout traceability, legality, fiscality, and transparency checks of logs; and
1 training on Quality Management System involving various FDA department.

Participants and venues

The trainings covered all 5 regions of FDA from conference hall to forest sites. They involved over 50 field and regional employees of FDA, EPA, MoL, Community Forest Management Bodies, Forest Operators and some central technical staff of these entities.

Outcomes

The capacity building activities have strengthened the participants’ ability

(i) to conduct inspections using the Inspection Checklist of the Code of Forest Harvesting Practices and to identify non-compliances inlogging operations;

(ii) to improve the knowledge and competence in log scaling and volume calculations, and the essentiality of the Chain of Custody System;

(iii) to enhance the understanding and use of LiberTrace (a software for verification of legality, traceability and fiscality of the logs being exported from Liberia); and

(iv) to strengthen field reporting skills.