The objective of the project is to strengthen COMIFAC's capacity for regional coordination of Sustainable Forest Management across the Congo Basin and to align regional program implementation to the Convergence Plan in the context of the GEF Program for the sustainable management of the forests of the Congo Basin.The objective of the Strategic Program is to strengthen sustainable management of forest ecosystems of the Congo Basin as a contribution to the conservation of the globally relevant biodiversity and ecosystem services, maintaining a solid foundation for the region's sustainable development. One of the outcomes of the Strategic Program, as stated in the Program Framework Document approved by the GEF CEO council on November 2008, consists of boosting the capacity of COMIFAC to serve as a regional coordination mechanism for (i) improved advocacy for and harmonization of sustainable forest management across the region, (ii) realization of synergies between various targeted sub-sectoral or thematic initiatives contributing to the SFM agenda, and (iii) strengthened knowledge exchange and learning processes between countries.This project falls under the larger framework of the Strategic Program for Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) in the Congo Basin. The Strategic Program for SFM presents a programmatic approach aiming to deliver multiple global environmental benefits across the Congo River ecosystem and adding value to a proposed portfolio of projects envisioned under the Strategic Program. Each of the projects that together form the portfolio of the Strategic Program for SFM in the Congo Basin presents a highly specialized and targeted entry point to sustainable forest management. By means of being under the Strategic Program, value can be added to each of the projects through realization of synergies and multiplier effects. However, coordination is critical if one wants to achieve this goal and COMIFAC SE, which is the regional entities expected to ensure this coordination, has some limitations and can not always play this coordination role. This is why the need for such an Medium-Size Project has been identified, with the aim of facilitating the information and experience sharing and fostering synergies amongst the different initiatives. This MSP project is articulated aournd four components:Comp. 1: Supporting Coordination & Communication on SFM operations in the Congo Basin under the GEF Program for the Congo BasinComp. 2: Operationalizing COMIFAC Executive SecretariatComp. 3: Creating knowledge on Sustainable Forest Management & Providing guidance to COMIFAC membersComp. 4: Project ManagementComponent 1: Supporting Coordination & Communication on SFM operations in the Congo BasinThe GEF Strategic Program only accounts for a dozen operations, executed by four different agencies (World Bank, UNDP, UNEP, FAO, AfDB). There are also numerous different initiatives at the regional and national level supported by the international community. The challenge to implement all these initiatives in a coordinated manner, to learn lessons from each of them and cross-fertilize is enormous. The COMIFAC SE has undoubtedly a key role to play in this coordination and is well positioned to foster knowledge sharing and dissemination amongst Congo Basin countries.The proposed component aims at supporting to COMIFAC SE in its role of coordination of the SFM operations in the Congo Basin. It will mainly rely on the following activities:(i) Support to the communication activities: a key aspect is a smooth transfer of information and an efficient knowledge sharing amongst the different institutions in charge of SFM activities in the Congo Basin. The COMIFAC has already elaborated a communication strategy that is partially supported by the French Cooperation and the GTZ. However, some activities are still lacking resources to be properly implemented, such as the publication of the COMIFAC Brief notes, the participation to international events to make the Congo Basin forests better known within the international community, #(ii) Operationalization of the electronic platform: This activity is one pillar of the communication strategy. A web-site platform has already been set up, with the support of the German cooperation. However, this platform still needs some additional refinements to effectively provide relevant information to the different users and ensure a fruitful forum on SFM issues.(iii) Organization of workshops: Creating direct contacts amongst actors of the SFM in the Congo Basin surely remains the best way to share knowledge and support cross-fertilization. This sub-component will allow the COMIFAC SE to organize workshops on relevant thematic topics and to create opportunities for project operators to meet and exchange lessons learnt and ideas.Main outcomes of this component are expected to be:-Information on Congo Basin forests are available and easy to access-The e-platform is operational and allows knowledge sharing-Coordination across the region and with national levels is improved.Component 2: Operationalizing COMIFAC Executive SecretariatCOMIFAC is the unique political and technical Authority in charge of orientation, monitoring, decision making, harmonization and coordination of actions and initiatives for the preservation and sustainable development of forest ecosystems in Central Africa. COMIFAC provides institutional shelter to a number of specialized regional collaborative bodies such as the Libreville based Réseau des Aires Protégées de l'Afrique Centrale (RAPAC); Yaoundé based Conférence sur les Écosystèmes des Forêts Denses et Humides d'Afrique Centrale (CEFDHAC); Réseau des Institutions de Formation Forestière et Environnementale de l'Afrique Centrale (RIFFEAC); and Agence pour le Développement de l'Information Environnementale' (ADIE).The Convergence Plan is the product of a sub-regional process started at the first Summit of Central African Heads of State on conservation and sustainable management of forests held in Yaoundé, Cameroon, on 17 March 1999, when the ' Yaoundé Declaration' was adopted and countries committed themselves to place forestry issues among their main priorities, to insure concerted and sustainable management of their forest resources, and to consolidate partnerships between their countries and the international community.The Executive Secretariat of the COMIFAC, based in Yaoundé-Cameroon, is the operational structure in charge of the supervision of the Plan de Convergence, is responsible for the coordination of all sub-regional entities and plays a critical role in the harmonization of national policies on SFM. It has a mandate for promoting knowledge creation and sharing at the regional level.Though the role of coordination of the COMIFAC SE is well perceived by the all stakeholders in the Congo Basin, some weaknesses remain and the purpose of this component is to contribute to the removal of two of the these constraints:(i) Buildings for the COMIFAC SE are under rehabilitation and should be made available very soon. However additional resources are necessary to allow the acquisition of appropriate IT equipments.(ii) Reinforcing the Monitoring and Evaluation of the Convergence Plan: a M&E system has already been developed and training sessions are now needed to familiarize SFM actors at the regional and local levels. These sessions are curcial to ensure that information and data collected at the the different levels (including project level) can be included and contribute to a better monitoring of the implementation of the Convergence Plan;(iii) Institutional arrangements amongst the different sub-regional entities are still to be clarified and there is a need for adjustments. This Component will support studies on institutional reforms and help clarify roles and responsibilities at the regional level (i.e. OFAC/ADIE).Main outcomes of this component are expected to be:-COMIFAC SE is fully equipped and