The State Agency of Environmental Protection and Forestry (SAEPF) developed different management approaches in six pilot state forest enterprises (Leskhozes) to promote reform of the forest sector, aiming to better engage local forest stakeholders in forest management. A number of international financial and technical partners support this process, including the GIZ. A new World Bank project of USD 20 million is being prepared to support integrated forest ecosystem management. Since UNIQUE accompanied the pilot Leskhozes, GIZ commissioned UNIQUE to assist in the project preparation. UNIQUE was asked to develop a concept on community mobilization to strengthen community and Leskhoz interaction in Joint Forest Management together with non-governmental organizations (NGO).

• Revise the community mobilization approach proposed by local NGOs.
• Backstop NGOs together with the GIZ in the implementation of the concepts.
• Accompany and support the World Bank mission and project proposal.
• Present the FSC certification process and suggest the way forward for Kirgizstan.