How do we improve the effectiveness of the FSC normative framework and related processes so that we can meet our overall objective of certifying 20 per cent of the world’s forest-products trade by 2020?
A team of experts at FSC is developing tools that incorporate principles of risk management to identify opportunities to make the normative framework more:
· stable
· responsive
· simple
· predictable
· cost-effective and outcome-oriented.
During the first half of 2017, leading up to the 2017 General Assembly, one sub-team is taking a ‘step back’ to observe from a macro or system-wide perspective, while another sub-team is focusing on lessons learned from a micro or on-the-ground perspective.
The first sub-team has been surveying the needs for risk management tools across the normative framework, and is testing tools that will help us to reach our objectives. After looking at the inter-relationship between standards related to forest management, the team has begun to investigate standards that offer opportunities for streamlining, making recommendations for targeted changes. The team is also keeping abreast of work in other projects and programme areas, with a view to developing a global risk framework for the whole organization in the future.
Building on discussions from the session on ‘Local learnings and global transformation’, we will survey topical issues through provocative leader briefs followed by break-out sessions. These will investigate how FSC can position itself to innovate while ensuring that change is being made for the benefit of the organization. Some of the questions to be explored include:
· Whose risk is being managed?
· What is our risk tolerance?
· What grassroots innovations are emerging, especially in relation to increasing access for smallholders? and
