The Forest Action Network (FAN) is a networking Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) with head offices at Nairobi, Kenya. Established in 1995, FAN has since worked with local communities, policy makers and researchers to develop a niche in advocating for an improved policy and legislative climate to support the sustainable management of natural resources. With stakeholders at the local, national, regional and international levels, FAN’s scope of operation gives it both a national and international outlook.
Vision:
"A prosperous and just society, which manages its natural resources sustainably for improved livelihoods"
Mission:
"To work with people in natural resources management"
The Forest Action Network Programmes & Activities
The Forest Action Network runs and works through the following programmes:
- Programme I. The Management of Trees and Forests: to take advantage of the Forests Act 2016 and continue to promote on-farm forestry; private sector participation in forest management; carry out capacity-building activities for community forest associations (CFAs); and tree planters associations; assist CFAs to prepare forest management plans; and support the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and local level structures to implement the new legislation (Forest Conservation and Management Act, 2016). The programme also focuses on forests, climate change and REDD+ and related processes.
- Programme II. Policy Research and Analysis: to support the development of advocacy materials, engage the media, build coalitions and gather evidence to mount effective advocacy campaigns. The programme also conducts policy research and analysis on Natural resource Management and other related legislations. Its basis for policy research and analysis is the country’s written policies as well as policy statements that are not based on any written law or policy.
- Programme III. Environmental Protection and Conservation: to support stakeholders to participate in the implementation of the Environment Management and Coordination Act (1999); amendments, 2013 to ensure a clean environment for all; to support community-based organizations to protect water springs; to carry out soil and water conservation activities using good forestry practices; and to access County and Constituency based development funds through training, using local CBOs as a base. FAN continues to support the strengthening of existing resources throughout the country. The programme also focuses on climate change issues related to water, rangeland management, pasture management and controlled charcoal production in arid and semi-arid areas.
Partners & Collaboration
The spectrum of cooperation partners of FAN covers many areas of civil society such as NGOs, community-based organizations (CBOs) and some dioceses of the Catholic Churches in Kenya. FAN works with government agencies, research institutes, and universities. This includes; the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Regional Development Authorities, Ministry of Water and Irrigation, Ministry of Land, Kenya Forest Service (KFS), National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Kenya Forestry Research Institutions (KEFRI), Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Kenya Land Alliance (KLA) Moi University, Egerton University. Furthermore, FAN has maintained working relations with the Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), the IUCN, and the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF).
Through this broad network, FAN strives at influencing policy and policy implementation in the area of Environment and Sustainable Natural Resource Management in Kenya for improved livelihoods.
- From 2001 to 2005, FAN played a significant role in developing Kenya’s new forest Policy and Forests legislation. Firstly, the organization conducted a series of workshops across the country that enabled stakeholders to make inputs into the drafting process. Once the bill was published, FAN spearheaded the campaign to convince the members of Kenya’s National Assembly to pass the bill into law.
- From July 2007, FAN assisted the government of Kenya to reform the new Kenya Forest Service (KFS) by participating in the writing of forest rules and regulations to operationalize the Forest Act, of 2005. FAN also carried out massive capacity building of Community Forest Associations across the country to be Co-managers of Kenya’s forest with KFS.
- In 2008, FAN organized a stakeholder workshop to enable various interest groups to make inputs into the proposed national environment policy.
- In 2009, FAN led a major effort to establish the Kenya Climate Working Group. During that year, FAN participated in the 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
- In 2010, FAN assisted the then County Councils of Narok and Koibatek to draft their by-laws; the then Town Council of Molo to draft its Environment By-laws; and the then Municipal Councils of Karatina and Nyeri to draft their Environment By-laws.
- In 2011, FAN assisted the national government of Kenya to prepare a draft Wildlife Management Policy and draft Bill. The draft Bill became the current Wildlife Management and Conservation Bill, of 2013.
- In 2015, FAN worked with Turkana County Government to successfully develop the draft Turkana County Natural Resources Management Policy, 2015; the Turkana County Natural Resources Management Bill, 2015; the Turkana County Environmental Regulation and Control Policy, 2015.
- FAN experts are conversant with Turkana County Government’s efforts to reform the Environment, Agriculture, Agropastoral, energy, Forestry, water and Wildlife sectors through new sustainable policies and laws. In addition, the experts have a wealth of experience in developing, managing, monitoring and evaluating donor proposals and projects.
As of today, Forest Action Network has successfully carried out more than 30 long-and-short term assignments at local and regional levels utilizing a broad base of local and international experts.
FAN has worked in Turkana County for over eleven years in partnership with the Catholic Diocese of Lodwar and the County government as well as local natural Resources management institutions such as Community Forest Associations, water resources users’ associations, NRM committees, Charcoal producers Associations among other entities.
FAN has consultative status with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and observer status at the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). During the plan period, FAN will continue to build partnerships and collaboration with other organizations. Partnership will be sought and strengthened in the following areas: advocacy, publications, capacity building, environmental education, research, policy analysis, forest management, marketing of forest products, protection of water springs, soil conservation and continue to invest in completing office space in order to host other NGOs who will in turn pay rent and contribute to sustainability of FAN.
We hope to continue our partnership with all relevant stakeholders across the country in conserving the environment and managing the Natural resources on a sustainable basis with the continued support from Trocaire, and other important development partners that we have worked with in the past.