2026 Consultant Opportunity: Peasant-Forest Committees in Cameroon and the Congo Basin

The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and World Agroforestry (ICRAF) are seeking a highly qualified consultant to conduct an in-depth analysis of Peasant-Forest Committees (CPFs) in Cameroon and explore their applicability and effectiveness across the Congo Basin. This consultancy offers a unique opportunity to contribute to sustainable forest governance while influencing regional policies and practices.

About CIFOR and ICRAF

CIFOR and ICRAF are leading nonprofit scientific institutions with a combined legacy of over 65 years in forest and agroforestry research. Their mission is to improve environmental stewardship and human well-being through evidence-based approaches to forest management, agroforestry, and sustainable landscapes. Both institutions are part of CGIAR, a global research partnership committed to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving the management of natural resources. Their work emphasizes:

• Multidisciplinary research to address energy insecurity, climate change, and biodiversity crises
• Policy engagement and actionable recommendations for sustainable forest management
• Community participation and equitable benefit-sharing across landscapes

By joining CIFOR-ICRAF as a consultant, candidates will be part of a mission-driven team that bridges scientific research and practical policy solutions for forests and communities in the Congo Basin.

Consultancy Overview

The consultant’s primary focus is to evaluate the performance of CPFs in Cameroon, assessing their effectiveness in promoting local governance, sustainability, and community engagement. CPFs are designed to enhance local participation in forest management, but their success is often limited by structural, resource, and capacity challenges. Across the Congo Basin, sustainable forest management and certification efforts, such as FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and PAFC (Pan African Forest Certification), demonstrate variable social and environmental impacts.

The consultant will provide insights into:

• Governance effectiveness of CPFs and comparable structures
• Impacts of certified versus non-certified forest concessions
• Opportunities to strengthen local participation, accountability, and capacity-building

Key Responsibilities

The consultancy involves comprehensive research, analysis, and reporting. Responsibilities include:

Analysis and Mapping

• Conduct a systematic review of CPFs in Cameroon and participatory mechanisms in the Congo Basin
• Map roles, responsibilities, and operational frameworks of CPFs, village committees, and community forests
• Compare outcomes of certified versus non-certified concessions across social, environmental, and governance dimensions

Identification of Success Factors

• Determine the factors contributing to successful or weak governance, including legal frameworks, inclusiveness, and capacity-building
• Analyze the interaction between CPFs and concessionary tools such as management plans, certification processes, social clauses, and benefit-sharing mechanisms

Reporting and Recommendations

• Prepare an inception report outlining research protocols, frameworks, sampling strategies, and analytical tools
• Produce a comprehensive analytical review of CPFs, certification standards, and governance literature
• Develop a database of social, environmental, and governance indicators
• Prepare an evaluation report with case studies and comparative analyses
• Develop presentation slides and policy briefs for stakeholders and decision-makers
• Draft a scientific article for publication

Stakeholder Engagement

• Facilitate multi-stakeholder interviews, workshops, and validation sessions
• Support collaboration between communities, forest operators, certifiers, and government authorities

Qualifications

The consultancy requires a high level of expertise in forest governance and participatory mechanisms. Essential qualifications include:

• A Master’s degree or PhD in forestry, environmental governance, social sciences, or a related field
• At least five years of experience in evaluating local governance in forest concessions
• Knowledge of FSC and PAFC certification standards and sustainable forest management
• Strong qualitative research skills, including interviews, case studies, and document analysis
• Multi-stakeholder facilitation experience, including workshops and validation sessions
• Fluency in French and/or English

Additional assets include prior publications, policy briefs, or research in community-based forest management.

Terms and Conditions

This is a home-based consultancy with the potential for limited field visits in Cameroon. Key details include:

• Duration: 4 months
• Effort: Approximately 10 working days per month
• Location: Primarily remote, with occasional interaction with CIFOR’s Cameroon Country Office in Yaoundé
• Application Deadline: April 4, 2026
• Application Submission: Single PDF document containing a motivation letter, CV, and evidence of previous work

Applications should be sent by email to cifor-cameroon@cifor-icraf.org with the subject line: "Farmer-Forest Committee - (Your Name)". Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Why This Consultancy Matters

This consultancy provides a rare opportunity to influence sustainable forest management practices in one of the world’s most ecologically significant regions. By assessing CPFs and participatory mechanisms, the consultant will contribute to:

• Enhancing local governance and community engagement in forest concessions
• Improving social, environmental, and economic outcomes across the Congo Basin
• Informing policies and practices for sustainable forestry certification
• Strengthening regional capacity for forest management and equitable benefit distribution

Candidates with a strong research background, expertise in governance, and a passion for sustainable development are ideal for this role. The consultancy not only contributes to scientific knowledge but also has tangible impact on policy, community participation, and ecosystem preservation.

This position offers a platform to combine analytical skills, field research, and multi-stakeholder collaboration, ensuring that the consultant’s work directly supports sustainable forestry and community development in the Congo Basin.

This overview provides a clear, structured understanding of the consultant role, emphasizing its importance, responsibilities, qualifications, and impact on sustainable forestry governance in Cameroon and beyond.

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