REDD+ Participatory Forest Management in South West Ethiopia - NICFI 2021-2025 The project is a continuation and expansion of a project in Ethiopia supported by Norad since 2013. The main objective is to reduce deforestation in the South West Forest Block (the largest intact tropical forest area in Ethiopia), through assigning forest rights to selected local communities (main target group) as well as establishing sustainable livelihood models that prevent further forest encroachment. The project builds on the use of Participatory Forest Management (PFM) methodology, a step-wise methodology that involves the local population in the formal management of the forest and forest resources. 

Project outcomes are:

1. PFM institutions manage forests sustainably
2. Public institutions have the capacity to provide effective support to PFM institutions in sustainable forest management and diversified livelihoods
3. Forest dependent communities have diversified income base from forest friendly activities

The project will be managed by a consortium led by the Development Fund, with the Ethio-Wetlands and Natural Resource Associaton (EWNRA) being the main implementing partner responsible for implementation of the PFM methodology, and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) being responsible for documentation and dissemination of best practices, in addition to conducting analysis of forest friendly livelihood options. 

Gender equality is integrated in the project design and implementation, with gender sensitive internal rules and minimum number of leadership roles in forest management institutions, micro-enterprises/cooperatives ring-fenced for women, and training for forest management institutions and micro-enterprises supporting women's active participation.