Project Overview
Africa's timber sector is at a critical juncture. The newly adopted European Union Regulation on Deforestation-free Supply Chains (EUDR) is set to reshape timber trade dynamics by imposing strict due diligence requirements on exports. While some African countries may strive to comply, others risk diverting trade flows toward markets with weaker sustainability standards—undermining progress in sustainable forest management.
This project takes these disruptions as a point of departure and seeks to chart alternative, more sustainable pathways for Africa's timber sector. Working closely with stakeholders, it will explore policy options to strengthen intra-African timber trade, reduce trade barriers, and advance the vision of a continental green economy. The project will also assess opportunities and challenges for an Africa-wide certification scheme tailored to local contexts.
Project Goal
The goal is to co-develop strategies that promote the sustainable use of timber as a driver of green growth while reducing reliance on external markets. Implementation will involve participatory consultations, policy analysis, and value-chain assessments across key timber-producing regions. Monitoring will focus on tracking stakeholder engagement, policy uptake, and alignment with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Expected Outcomes
- Roadmaps for integrating timber into green growth strategies (e.g., construction, energy, bio-refineries)
- Strengthened intra-African trade under AfCFTA
- Enhanced domestic value addition and job creation
- Proposals for a simplified African certification system
- Sustainable forest management supporting biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation
Project Information
AFF Programme Areas
AFF Enablers
Target Groups
Global & Continental Alignment
- United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Paris Agreement on Climate Change
- EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)
- UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030)
- African Union Agenda 2063
- African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)
- Strategy and Action Plan (2022–2032)
- Pan-African Great Green Wall Initiative
Project Manager
Resources
Review of land use, land use change and forest sector potential for green economy in Anglophone West African countries
Private forestry sector in Kenya: status and potential
Private forestry sector in Tanzania: status and potential
Private forestry sector in Cameroon: status and potential
Positioning forestry as an entry point and pathway for green economy development in West Africa: African Forest Forum
Community of Practice
Shaping Timber Trade in Africa
AFF–CDE Community of Practice
Connect with experts, stakeholders, and practitioners working on sustainable timber trade and forest governance across Africa. This community of practice facilitates knowledge sharing, collaboration, and innovation in promoting sustainable intra-African timber trade.