Technical Facility

The Technical Facility on Deforestation-free Value Chains, managed by the European Forest Institute (EFI), collaborates with commodity-producing countries to assist in transitioning to legal and deforestation-free value chains, in line with the EU Deforestation Regulation´s (EUDR) market requirements.

It provides technical expertise to country stakeholders and supports the development and implementation of inclusive tools, frameworks and processes. Value chains in the Facility’s scope include cocoa, coffee, rubber, palm oil, soy and cattle. 

The Facility aims to provide a flexible and rapid response to country stakeholders´ policy and technical needs, in close collaboration with other EU initiatives and programmes.

Partners

The Technical Facility is managed by the European Forest Institute.

It is funded by the European Union and steered by the European Commission ´s Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA). It works in close collaboration with the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission (JRC). 

Key Activities

Policy Support

Facilitating informed dialogues between the EU and producing countries.
Promoting multi-stakeholder dialogues and ensuring the inclusion of smallholders.
knowledge and experiences to inform policy and practices at national, EU and international levels.

Technical Support

Developing robust, credible and transparent systems for tracking commodities.
Clarifying legal and regulatory frameworks and means of verification.
Strengthening national information systems and data availability.
Analysing value chain dynamics and supporting incentive mechanisms.

Operational Approach

Demand-driven

Activities structured around priorities set with EU Delegations and the DG INTPA, based on commodity-producing country needs and demands.

Flexible expertise

Offering specialised and tailer-made knowledge and solutions with a broad set of stakeholders and value chain actors.

Global reach

Operating in Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia, focusing on commodities like coffee, cocoa, rubber, palm oil, soy, and cattle.

Smallholder focus

Ensuring the role of smallholder farmers is recognised and supported in the transition to sustainable practices.

Requesting

Support

EU Delegations can contact the thematic unit F3 on “Sustainable Agri-Food Systems and Fisheries” at DG INTPA, who will liaise with the Technical Facility.

Technical support

Offering analysis, technical assistance and facilitation support on issues related to legality, traceability, deforestation risk monitoring, trade and incentives, and smallholder inclusion

Inclusive approaches

Working with governments, civil society and private sector in commodity-producing and consuming countries.

Multi-stakeholder approaches

Promoting inclusive dialogues and the development of inclusive, technical solutions.

Flexible and versatile

Providing in-house technical expertise through EFI staff based in Europe and partner countries, combined with service contracts and grants with external partners.

Region:

(Lower) Kafue Catchment Ecosystem

Target group:

Farmers and community forest management groups

Key activities:
  • Support community forest management groups in the
    sustainable management of natural resources and livelihood creation
  • Support farmers to produce soy in line with the EUDR and increase productivity, and implement transparency and traceability pilots
Commodities:
Region:

Lampung, West Kalimantan, and Central Sulawesi

Target group:

Smallholder farmers, private sector, and civil society organizations along the value chains

Key activities:
  • Empowering Smallholder Farmers and Farmer Organizations by facilitating traceability and legality, building capacity on Good Agriculture Practices (GAP), and strengthening farmer organizations, ensuring inclusive support for both men and women farmers.
  • Promoting sustainable practices and collaboration by supporting village HCV/HCS conservation efforts, testing and strengthening the National Dashboard for traceability and legality, and fostering national and regional exchanges.
Commodities:
Coming soon
Coming soon
Region:

Provinces of Orellana and Sucumbíos

Target group:

Smallholder farmers, women, indigenous people and youth

Key activities:
  • Promoting Multi Stakeholder Dialogues
  • Improving traceabilty systems
Commodities:
Region:

Xingu territory, State of Pará

Target group:

Family farmers

Key activities:
  • Improve market access; value creation and access to finance
  • Integrate farmers into tracability systems
Commodities:
Global activities