NIRAS is committed to protecting and promoting the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. We view people as the central element of the landscape and support local communities, policy reform, and the implementation of sustainable land management to help protect the landscape-based livelihoods on which so many depend.
Our forestry services aim to balance environmental, social, and economic benefits from the use of land. We pursue integrated, participatory, and multipurpose forest management as an essential instrument in climate change mitigation as well as the reduction of poverty through income generation. Our recipe for improved forest governance calls for comprehensive stakeholder involvement, transparency, and accountability in decision-making.
NIRAS applies a holistic approach to our work in land management, forests and biodiversity, taking people’s rights into consideration alongside a nation’s history and economic growth objectives.
NIRAS applies a holistic approach to our work in land management, forests and biodiversity, taking people’s rights into consideration alongside a nation’s history and economic growth objectives.
In addition to reducing conflict and increasing investments in land, land governance projects enhance land productivity, income, and gender equality. Our holistic approach considers the rights of local people as well as a nation’s history and economic vision. We support governments in the development of cost-effective land administration systems that meet national objectives and conform to international standards. These systems are adjusted to local conditions and developed within the capabilities of the country’s national administration.
of the Earth's surface is covered in forest
Only
of the world's forests are on land protected from deforestation
Tropical deforestation contributes about
of annual global greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions
Active Projects
Responsible and Innovative Land Administration, Phase III in Ethiopia
FUNDER:
The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs (MFA Finland)
DURATION:
2024-2028
NIRAS has been awarded Phase III of the Responsible and Innovative Land Administration project in Ethiopia (REILA 3). Supported by the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Government of Ethiopia, REILA 3 aims to continue its vital work to enhance land tenure security and promote sustainable land management practices in the regions of Amhara and Beneshangul-Gumuz. NIRAS has managed the two previous phases of the project since 2011, which have facilitated registration of land parcels to over 300,000 households with over 20 million parcels registered by other projects using REILA systems. By improving land governance, boosting agricultural productivity, and addressing gender inequalities in land tenure, REILA 3 will continue to make a significant impact on rural communities. It will further embolden NIRAS’ legacy and commitment to land sector reforms across Ethiopia.
Support to the Valorisation of Non-Timber Forest Product Firms in Chad
FUNDER:
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
DURATION:
2022-2027 (Phase I)
As part of a programme to strengthen food and nutritional security, improve the income of vulnerable households and promote the peaceful management of natural forest resources, NIRAS is supporting non-timber forest product (NTFP) firms in Chad together with Caritas Switzerland. Operating in the provinces of Moyen-Chari, Mandoul and Logone Oriental in rural and peri-urban areas, and particularly focused on women and youth, the NTFP programme aims to build market opportunities for micro, small and medium-sized businesses – selling for example néré, tamarind, rônier and honey-derived products – that provide employment and substantial income to approximately 65,000 actors. The overall programme extends over 12 years with three implementation phases. It follows the market system development (MSD) approach with an intervention strategy based on two principles: partnership and stakeholder empowerment. Such interventions modify the incentives and behaviour of businesses and other market players – public, private, formal and informal – to ensure lasting and large-scale beneficial change.
Development and Operationalisation of a Biophysical and Ecological Monitoring System
FUNDER:
World Bank
DURATION:
2022-2025
NIRAS is working on the Development and Operationalisation of an Advanced Spatial Data Infrastructure and Analytic Capabilities required for an effective and scalable biophysical and ecological monitoring system in Malawi. The goal is to be able to track and report the progress of Malawi’s sustainable land management-related policies, strategies, and investment plans to enable policymakers to better coordinate restoration-related programmes and to meet requirements from funding institutions. A sound monitoring and evaluation system enables better understanding of what restoration options work where and why. This understanding is critical to building adaptive capacity, making more informed investment decisions, better planning and targeting, and to mobilise additional finance.
Participatory Plantation Forestry Programme (PFP)
FUNDER:
Ministry for Foreign Affairs Finland
DURATION:
2019-2024
The Participatory Plantation Forestry Programme (PFP) is a 5-year programme in its 2nd phase of a long-term partnership between the Governments of Tanzania and Finland. PFP supports private plantation forestry and strengthening of wood industries in the southern highlands of Tanzania. Partnering with Indufor on this economic development and poverty alleviation project that focuses on supporting tree-growing smallholders and related SMEs with training and capacity building, access to finance and sustainable production along the value chain, NIRAS is providing long- & short-term national experts and project support staff as well as technical backstopping.
Biodiversity Challenge Funds
FUNDER:
UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
DURATION:
2003-2025
Biodiversity Challenge Funds (BCFs) is the collective name for three of the UK Government's competitive grants: Darwin Initiative, IWT Challenge Fund and Darwin Plus, aimed at conserving biodiversity and safeguarding the environment for local people. NIRAS is the administrator for all three funds. We have been responsible for managing as many as 800 grant applications per year. We monitor and evaluate over 300 live projects at any given time and provide financial management of and technical support to the projects, including the commissioning of studies, analyses, and briefing notes. NIRAS also manages the BCF (collective and sub) websites and digital communications. BCF supports projects across the globe. One example is a Darwin Initiative-funded project in northern Benin where students' associations are involved in reforestation and agroforestry activities to expand habitats, increase biodiversity, and generate income for the school and community.
Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT)
FUNDER:
The European Union and Agence française de développement (AFD)
DURATION:
2023-2027
The EU champions legal timber trade via voluntary partnership agreements (VPAs) on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) with timber-producing nations. Recognising the need for multi-stakeholder involvement, NIRAS is supporting the establishment of Facilitation Units to help stakeholders achieve VPA compliance. Since 2021, the European Commission has tasked Agence Française de Développement (AFD) with collaborating in multiple countries under the EU FLEGT VPA Programme. VPA Facilitators will drive a deliberative process, furnishing crucial information and inputs to support local ownership and propel VPA implementation forward. Anticipated outcomes encompass supporting Joint VPA Structures, providing information on VPA implementation progress, documenting VPA lessons learned, documenting progress on improved forest governance and management, and communicating information on VPA implementation plan milestones. Facilitation Units have been set up in the Republic of Congo and Liberia, with plans for expansion into Guyana, and later Cameroon, Ghana, and the Central African Republic.
Mobilising Finance for Forests
FUNDER:
UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and the Dutch Development Bank (FMO)
DURATION:
2022-2026
NIRAS is managing the Mobilising Finance for Forests (MFF) technical assistance facility to help agro and forestry companies grow and expand, while reducing deforestation in vulnerable tropical forests in Africa, Asia and Latin America. MFF invests in private companies whose activities have a high degree of impact on at-risk tropical forests. The MFF investment helps these companies reorient their activities or grow their business away from deforestation and towards deforestation-free practices while producing a financial return for the companies. Part of the value-add of the MFF programme is that it will offer technical assistance (TA) to its investees, in order to both provide capital and the expertise to deploy it in the best possible manner. For MFF, this is a way to “de-risk” investments by making them more likely to succeed. For the investees, it is a way to gain access to world-class expertise, specifically tailored to their needs. NIRAS, in consortium with the Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH) and Form International is managing the TA Facility for MFF. The consortium works with MFF and investees to (1) develop and design TA assignments, (2) deliver TA through our network of in-house and associated consultants and experts, and (3) offer ad-hoc support to MFF and FMO during the programme’s operation.
Development of an Environmental and Social Management Framework and Livelihood Restoration Framework (for Projects Supporting Protection & Conservation of Plantation Forests in Tanzania)
FUNDER:
Agence française de développement (AFD)
DURATION:
2024
In collaboration with local consulting firm EcoTek, NIRAS is leading the development of an Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) and a Livelihood Restoration Framework (LRF), which will contribute to the larger Silayo, Wino-Ifinga and Mtibwa-Pagale plantation forest projects in Tanzania, supporting the improvement of national forest plantations in the country. The project team will also conduct training and capacity building activities for the implementing agency Tanzania Forest Services (TFS), giving them the tools they need to administer future outcomes indicated in the ESMF and LRF.
The Silayo, Wino-Ifinga and Mtibwa-Pagale plantation forest projects are part of the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania and Agence Française de Développement's commitment to strengthen the TFS and its role in conserving the East African nation’s forest plantations and resources.
Norwegian International Climate and Forest Initiative
FUNDER:
Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad)
DURATION:
2021-2025
NIRAS is providing consultancy services mostly – but not limited to – the Norwegian International Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI) as part of a framework agreement on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+). The overall thematic focus of the framework agreement is related to REDD[A(1] + (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) including land use planning, sustainable food systems and forest law enforcement. Further, green economy and low carbon development are also thematic focus areas. NICFI is global and operational in Niger, Mali, Zambia, Ethiopia and Tanzania, among other countries. Most recently, NIRAS conducted an appraisal of the development of an MRV System and National Capacity towards the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) for the United Republic of Tanzania (MRV4Tanzania). The appraisal reviewed the funding application and commented on its relevance, realism, budget, implementation modalities, and its results framework. It advised on possible improvements to the programme document and indicated critical elements that should be in place before programme initiation. Previously, among other call down assignments, NIRAS conducted an end review of the project ‘Contribution to the Climate Resilient Green Economy Facility’ in Ethiopia, assessing the level of achievement against the programme targets, objectives and outputs, as per the agreement with the Government of Norway.
Other significant projects in recent years
Participatory Plantation Forestry Programme Invitation to Tender for Provision of Services to Manage Human Resources
COUNTRY: Tanzania
CLIENT: Ministry of Forestry, Tanzania
CONTRACT VALUE: €1.8M
DURATION: 2020-2024
National Incubator/Accelerator Facility for Wood Sector
COUNTRY: Rwanda
CLIENT: GIZ
CONTRACT VALUE: €1.2M
DURATION: 2020-2022
Lessons Learned from the Implementation of MRV Systems for REDD+
COUNTRY: Multi
CLIENT: World Bank
CONTRACT VALUE: €110K
DURATION: 2020-2021
MozFIP: Agroforestry Systems Promotion in Zambezia Province
COUNTRY: Mozambique
CLIENT: World Bank
CONTRACT VALUE: €1.5M
DURATION: 2019-2021
Monitoring Mission for the Extension of the Forest Policy Support Programme
COUNTRY: Morocco
CLIENT: EU
CONTRACT VALUE: €177K
DURATION: 2019-2021
Consulting Services Contract to Develop National Guidelines on Community Consultation Involving Forest Resources
COUNTRY: Liberia
CLIENT: World Bank
CONTRACT VALUE: €153K
DURATION: 2018-2019
Participatory Plantation Forestry Programme Invitation to Tender for Provision of Services to Manage Human Resources
COUNTRY: Tanzania
CLIENT: Ministry of Forestry
CONTRACT VALUE: €1.8M
DURATION: 2020-2024
National Incubator/Accelerator Facility for Wood Sector
COUNTRY: Rwanda
CLIENT: GIZ
CONTRACT VALUE: €1.2M
DURATION: 2020-2022
MozFIP: Agroforestry Systems Promotion in Zambezia Province
COUNTRY: Mozambique
CLIENT: World Bank
CONTRACT VALUE: €1.5M
DURATION: 2019-2021
Monitoring Mission for the Extension of the Forest Policy Support Programme
COUNTRY: Morocco
CLIENT: EU
CONTRACT VALUE: €160K
DURATION: 2019-2021
Consulting Services Contract to Develop National Guidelines on Community Consultation involving Forest Resources
COUNTRY: Liberia
CLIENT: World Bank
CONTRACT VALUE: €153K
DURATION: 2018-2019
Satellite Monitoring for Forest Management
COUNTRY: Multi
CLIENT: World Bank
DURATION: 2016-2020