Transparency International tracks corruption in REDD+ process

Transparency International Cameroon, TI-C, through REDD+ Governance and Finance Integrity for Africa, is tracking and sensitising stakeholders on corruption risks.

The risks could arise from reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. The 36-month REDD+ project being co-financed by the European Union, EU, and implemented by TI Germany globally and TI-C, in Cameroon, is also going on in Belgium, Ghana, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

In Cameroon, the project areas include Yaounde in the Centre Region; Lomie and Ngoyla in the East; Edea in the Littoral; Djoum and Mintom in the South; and Buea and Kumba in the Southwest.

During a restitution workshop of the first 12 months of the project in Cameroon, held at the Muna Foundation in Yaounde on February 24, the President of TI-C, Barrister Charles Nguini, hailed the French Embassy and GIZ for assisting them in the project, and the EU for providing funding.

He said the idea behind the “REDD+ Governance and Finance Integrity for Africa,” is to enhance the fight against corruption in the REDD+ processes in the country.

He said with the help and collaboration of all, TI-C could be able to eradicate corruption and bad governance in Cameroon.

The Chargé des Programmes, Rural Development and Environment Section at the EU Delegation in Cameroon, Carl Frosio, said the EU is heading a world coalition for the fight against climate change after defining global measures to be taken which include; limiting temperature to pre-industrial level of 2oC and significantly reducing emissions of greenhouse gases.

Going by the declarations of the European Council and a group of experts on the evolution of the climate, there is no doubt that the world is experiencing global warming.

Carl said they are, therefore, insisting that a global and resolute emergency action be adopted at the December 2015 Paris Summit on Climate Change that would be applicable to all the parties.

He talked of the accord reached by Heads of State and Government of the EU on reducing greenhouse gases by 40 percent by 2030, remarking that the REDD+ mechanism is one of the measures to stem the negative effects of climate change and is being supported by the EU through various channels.

He said the “REDD+ Governance and Finance Integrity for Africa” project was selected for funding by the EU last year, after a rigorous evaluation procedure.

Presenting the activities and results of the project for the first 12 months, the Head of the REDD+ Project at TI-C, Lucian Nyassi, said the risks of corruption in regards to the implementation of the REDD+ process in Cameroon could be the inequitable distribution of benefits from forest conservation, misappropriation of funds, deception and carbon crime.

He said according to the Growth and Employment Strategy Paper, GESP, and the Vision 2035 of Cameroon, sustainable development is a priority. He remarked that it is within this context that Cameroon got involved in the REDD+ process since 2005, to address the adverse effects of climate change. The country validated its REDD+ R-PP (Readiness Preparation Proposal) in early 2003.

“For Cameroon, this mechanism is a development tool that should help achieve the goal of sustainable development…The multiplication of the REDD+ financing and the impact on related land sector projects may bring about major policy and institutional reforms,” Nyassi stated.

He said the REDD+ project “aims primarily at improving anti-corruption policies and practices in finance as well as REDD+ governance in Cameroon, through the implementation of effective strategies that will help prevent corruption in the REDD+ process.”

Nyassi also remarked that for this to happen, governance, transparency and the fight against corruption must be strengthened.