Small-scale forest-based processing enterprises comprise an important, but neglected, part of the forestry and forest industries sector. They process a large part of the raw materials from the forest and supply some of the main markets for forest products, in particular in the rural areas of developing countries.

This report is based on the proceedings of the Technical Consultation on Gender, Property Rights and Livelihoods in the Era of AIDS, organized by FAO in November 2008. It takes stock of where FAO and its partners are in terms of addressing property rights insecurity and provides a proposed framework through which future action can take place.

An international journal of forestry and forest industries

In September 2008, the FAO-Dimitra project organised its third workshop with all its partners in Brussels, on the theme:“Information and communication strategies to fight gender inequality as regards land access and its consequences for rural populations in Africa”. This document presents a synthesis of the workshop’s activities as well as the different articles which were prepared for the workshop by the participants – the partners of the network and FAO colleagues.

In preparing an investment project, development strategies and project components are defined and revisited during project formulation through a consultative process that often includes Socio-economic and Production Systems Studies. These studies are conducted to develop an appreciation of the situation in which the intended beneficiaries live, and their perceptions of their problems, needs and priorities.

The MISP II aims at initiating a process of sustainable income generation for vulnerable households in Erbil and Sulaymaniyah Governorates of KRG through increased employment and self-employment of household members (beneficiaries). The vehicle for this desired development is technical and business management training of selected beneficiaries undertaken by a number of project trained trainers (TOTs) and a toolkit programme supporting the trainees (TOBs) in performing their acquired skills as employed or self-employed.

Revista internacional de silvicultura e industrias forestales