Green ConsulTech Project / France-Gabon Debt Conversion Agreement

General presentation

Presentation of the client and its activities

The Debt Conversion Agreement (DCA) between the Republics of France and Gabon is an agreement signed by France and Gabon on January 29, 2008. It has the particularity of being reserved for the financing of projects contributing to the sustainable management of Gabonese forest ecosystems. This agreement is also part of the close cooperation between Gabon and France, on the international scene, in the field of promoting sustainable development and the fight against climate change. It is jointly managed by the Ministry of Water, Forests, the Sea, and the Environment, responsible for the Climate Plan and the Land Use Plan, and the French Development Agency (AFD) under the regulatory body, the Permanent Secretariat of the Agreement (SPACD). The activities of the Debt Conversion Agreement are structured around certain key themes such as:

• Support for sustainable management of the forest-timber sector in Gabon;

• The economic development of new sectors linked to the sustainable development of Gabon's forest ecosystems;

• Improving the means necessary for the development of these economic sectors through professional training and research;

• Improving the institutional, legal and fiscal environment necessary for the sustainable development of forest ecosystems.

Context of the client's request for the realization of the project

As part of the continuation of the agreement's missions in 2022, the Permanent Secretariat of the France-Gabon Debt Conversion Agreement (ACD) for the sustainable development of Gabonese forest ecosystems and the AETS Africa Group - Green ConsulTech signed a Financing Agreement to provide technical assistance to the Project Preparation Study Fund 2 of the Debt Conversion Agreement (DCA).

Project Objectives and Challenges

The Strategic Orientation Committee (COS), the decision-making body of the ACD, at its meeting of December 11, 2021, recommended recruiting a Technical Assistant, financed by the Project Preparation Study Fund (FEPP2), to pursue the following objectives:

• Technical and institutional support for project leaders;

• Support to the ACD SP in the preparation and organization of statutory meetings and monitoring of recommendations from statutory bodies;

• Monitoring of ACD project audits and their recommendations;

• Support for the completion of ACD projects

This project, led by the Aets Afrique-Green ConsulTech Consortium under the leadership of the Permanent Secretariat of the ACD, simply aimed to implement a real sustainable management policy, through project monitoring and training of the leaders of the various projects.

1. Implementation and Resources

   
   

The main steps followed for the realization of the project

To carry out this Technical Assistance project on behalf of the ACD, the Aets-Green Consultech Consortium relied on the mission's terms of reference. It is on this basis that the main stages of the mission were outlined. These stages are presented in the form of intervention axes, namely:

• The start of the technical assistance mission;

• Technical support for the instruction of new projects;

• Monitoring of recommendations from statutory bodies;

• The completion and delivery of purchase orders placed by the Permanent Secretariat;

• Drafting of quarterly activity reports;

2. Implementation and challenges encountered

Overall progress

The Technical Assistance activities were structured around the terms of reference of the mission as well as the work plan proposed by the AETS Africa-Green ConsulTech Consortium. Overall, the activities were carried out under the leadership of the ACD Permanent Secretariat. The Consortium, in its capacity as TA, monitored and implemented the work program initially validated by the ACD Permanent Secretariat through:

• Technical and institutional support for project leaders, having received the agreement in principle of the CTP and the COS:

• Support to the ACD SP in the preparation and organization of statutory meetings and monitoring of CTP and COS recommendations;

• Monitoring of ACD project audits and their recommendations;

• Support for the completion of ACD projects.

Major difficulties encountered/solutions provided

The main difficulties encountered were related to the monitoring of the schedule initially agreed upon by the parties. The suspension and restructuring of project management units were the main cause of the delay, which undermined the continuity of Technical Assistance activities.

However, steps had been taken to effectively continue the Technical Assistance mission. The Permanent Secretariat had extended the Technical Assistance contract by signing an amendment to the initial contract. This extension made it possible to continue and accelerate the work in order to achieve the results expected at the start.

3. Final result and impact

4. Conclusion and Perspectives

Contribution of experience for Green ConsulTech

This mission was an opportunity for the Green Consultech consulting firm to consolidate its experience and increase its skills in the field of technical assistance in sustainable management of forest ecosystems.

Lessons learned

Through this valuable experience with the Debt Conversion Agreement (DCA), the Green Consultech Consulting Firm has acquired expertise in terms of instruction and monitoring of projects in the field of sustainable management of forest ecosystems. His role as Technical Assistant has allowed him to deepen his knowledge of the mechanisms related to the technical assistance mission to institutions.

Openness to new challenges in the same field

After this first enriching experience, the Green Consultech Consulting Firm can now use the technical expertise and mechanisms developed to serve institutions or organizations requesting support in the field of technical assistance for projects.