Fresh momentum for Congo forestry governance
On 9 December 2025, the Congolese Observatory for Human Rights, working with PGDF, REFADD and RENAPAC, gathered dozens of activists, experts and officials in Brazzaville to officially launch a national project aimed at strengthening civil-society participation in the country’s multi-stakeholder working group.
Called the Groupe de travail multi-acteurs, this forum brings together administration, private companies and grassroots organisations to review and refine regulations flowing from the 2020 Forestry Code. The new initiative signals a fresh chapter where communities can weigh in before decrees shape daily life in forest zones.
Opening remarks stressed transparency and unity. Representatives reminded participants that the forest sector accounts for 4.9 percent of national GDP and supports thousands of families. “Inclusive governance is non-negotiable,” summed up the moderation note shared after the workshop.
Why the 2020 Forestry Code needs strong voices
Adopted in the wake of regional climate commitments, Congo’s 2020 Forestry Code sets ambitious standards for sustainable logging, land use and benefit-sharing. Yet many implementing decrees still await drafting. Civil-society groups fear delays could water down hard-won safeguards unless they remain at the drafting table.
The GTMA therefore acts as an early warning system. Whenever ministries circulate proposed texts, observers can flag gaps, suggest clearer language and ensure that economic growth continues to respect biodiversity. For rural households who rely on non-timber products, each article of law directly affects income and food security.
Workshop facilitators highlighted another stake: international credibility. Transparent governance reassures trading partners that Congolese timber meets legal and environmental standards, keeping jobs and taxes at home. By voicing concerns early, local NGOs help authorities avoid costly revisions once contracts are already signed.
A four-month roadmap backed by FGMC2
Funding for the project comes from the United Kingdom’s Forest Governance, Markets and Climate programme. FGMC2 has allocated sixty-thousand euros over four months, a modest envelope designed to cover coordination meetings, expert briefings and outreach to remote departments such as Sangha and Likouala.
Technical guidance is provided by the European Forest Institute. EFI analysts will compile feedback, map overlaps between platforms and help draft common positions before every GTMA session. Organisers believe external expertise will accelerate consensus while letting Congolese actors steer priorities.
“We are here to serve, not to dictate,” an EFI briefing paper explained, underscoring that final decisions remain sovereign. The note also praises Brazzaville’s proactive stance in inviting scrutiny, framing it as a sign of confidence in national institutions.
Women and indigenous concerns move to the front
A central objective is to weave gender equality and indigenous rights into every recommendation. The project specifically tasks REFADD and RENAPAC with collecting testimonies from women entrepreneurs and forest peoples so that the GTMA hears first-hand how regulations translate on the ground.
Congo’s 22.4 million hectares of forest are home to diverse communities whose knowledge has preserved ecosystems for generations. Yet their participation in formal policy debates remains limited. By financing travel and interpretive support, organisers hope to bridge linguistic, cultural and digital divides that often sideline local wisdom.
Civil-society networks will also encourage young volunteers to produce short videos and photo stories from the field, feeding social media channels that resonate with urban audiences. The idea is to replace abstract jargon with relatable images of farmers, artisans and schoolchildren who rely on healthy forests.
Ten-day rule to boost transparency
One practical gain announced in Brazzaville is a strict timeline. Draft decrees must reach civil-society focal points at least ten working days before any GTMA meeting. The window gives volunteers time to translate, consult communities and prepare evidence-based comments rather than last-minute reactions.
According to the Ministry of Forest Economy, the arrangement embodies the spirit of shared responsibility championed by President Denis Sassou Nguesso. Officials argue that predictable schedules help business too, because clearer rules reduce litigation and foster investor confidence in the sector’s long-term stability.
Observers welcomed the pledge, noting that past consultations sometimes arrived minutes before sessions, limiting meaningful debate. If respected, the ten-day rule could become a model for other policy areas such as water management, land tenure and community health planning.
What happens next for the GTMA
Over the coming weeks, partner organisations will map which implementing texts require urgent attention. Priority is expected to go to community forestry guidelines, social-clause enforcement and traceability systems. Draft technical notes will then circulate for signatures before submission to ministerial drafters.
A public debrief at project mid-term will evaluate progress against three indicators: diversity of contributors, quality of technical analysis and degree of uptake by authorities. The findings will shape a final roadmap designed to extend participatory mechanisms well beyond the four-month grant.
For now, organisers say momentum is on their side. The Brazzaville workshop closed with a symbolic handshake between civic leaders and officials, signalling shared commitment to protect the 22.4 million-hectare treasure that sustains livelihoods and helps the planet breathe.
