THINKING beyond the canopy THINKING beyond the canopy
Formalisation of charcoal value chains and livelihood outcomes in Central and West Africa
Jolien Schure, Verina Ingram, Maam Suwadu Sakho-Jimbira, Patrice Levang, K. Freerk Wiersum
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Objective
“To examine the link between formalisation of
charcoal institutions and livelihood outcomes
for actors involved in woodfuel value chains in
Central and West African countries”
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Approach
• Combining: Institutional studies, value chain
analysis and livelihoods approach.
• Charcoal institutions: The formal and informal
regularised patterns of behaviour between
different actors in society that shape access,
rights and obligations related to charcoal
production and trade.
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Formalisation (of charcoal institutions)
Avoid costs of penalties and bribes Promote corruption
Decrease dependence of harvesters Marginalise harvesters
Mitigate negative environmental outcomes
Obstruct effective customary laws
Woodfuel part of urban, environmental, forestry, energy planning
Criminalise extraction practices
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Assumptions
1. Formalisation is likely to advance primarily
urban actors further along the chain.
2. In countries with formalised charcoal
institutions rural actors gain more benefits
than in countries with informal institutions.
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Variable Indicator
Formalisation 1. Existence of written rules and policies dealing with charcoal value chains
2. Degree to which penalties for rule violations are clearly stipulated and enforced
3. Ease and accessibility of formalising
Socio-economic benefits to value chain actors
4. Number of actors involved in charcoal sector
5. Net revenues gained from charcoal production or trade
6. Extent and equity of benefit distribution among actors
Inspired by: Hall and Haas, 1967; Helmke and Levitsky, 2004; Belcher, 2005; Ribot, 1998; Kappel and
Ishengoma, 2006.
Concepts
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Figure 2: Selected urban centres for study on formalisation of charcoal institutions
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Results (1): Formalisation of charcoal institutions
Central Africa West Africa
Woodfuel policies exist related to forest and environment but are largely not implemented (<3% of charcoal under permit)
Woodfuel policies exist, related to forest, environment and energy policy, but Implementation is low (<13% charcoal under permit)
Sector is informal BUT organised according to local rules of access.
Participatory forest management. Differentiated tax incentives. Free riders behaviour.
Unfavourable business environment.
Unfavourable business environment. Importance of political connections even after entering formal system.
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Results (2): Socio-economic benefits to actors
Central Africa
West Africa
>22,000 - >324,000 actors involved per city
13,500 - >50,000 actors involved per city
Large part of household income producers e.g. 75% charcoal producers Kinshasa
Large part of household income producers e.g. 83% charcoal producers Ouagadougou
Relatively equal distribution Unequal distribution with wholesalers and transporters making greatest profits
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Conclusion (1)
• Positive examples: dedicated forest management areas with participatory
approach in West Africa, reinvestment of taxes in social and environmental
projects, rural woodfuel markets with differentiated tax incentives in Mali
and Niger
• Negative unintended outcomes of formalisation: conflicts over tax revenues,
difficulties monitoring and permitting trade, free riders, rich or powerful
urban actors dominating access to permit system, corruption ‘informal’ taxes
deeply embedded, discrepancy between receipts of revenues from taxes
and reinvestments in woodfuel resources and communities.
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Conclusion (2)
• Formalisation advances actors further along the value chain and can
have adverse socio-economic impacts for rural charcoal producers.
• Countries with more formalised charcoal institutions, such as those
in West Africa have systems in place to distribute benefits to rural
actors. However, the implementation of this and actual benefits for
these rural citizens remain low.
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Thank you !
• Website: http://makala.cirad.fr/
• Jolien Schure ([email protected]/ [email protected])
