Organisation: SGS Société Générale de Surveillance S.A. Objectives: Assist Governments in the development and implementation of timber traceability and legality systems Countries: Liberia Cameroon Republic of Congo Democratic Republic of Congo

LiberFor Organisation: SGS Société Générale de Surveillance S.A. Objectives: Develop, implement, and manage a Chain of Custody Information System (COCIS); develop national capacities (forest administration staff and private companies), and conduct regular field inspections at critical points in the supply chain. Main target groups: Multi-stakeholder groups Main area of work: Verification systems Location: Liberia (HQ Monrovia; bush offices in Buchanan, Greenville, Zwedru) Main local partners: Forestry Development Authority (FDA), forest companies, USAID, US Forest Service, Helveta Dates of implementation: January 2008 to January 2013 Budget: € 7.5 million Funding partners: Word Bank, DFID, and autofinancing

The project has set the foundations for the Legality Assurance System which is to be established in Liberia, by ensuring: –Full traceability of logs and processed wood back to the forest of origin –Verification of key aspects of legal compliance along the supply chain The main tool being used is the COCIS online database hosted in the UK, which uses barcoded tags, PDAs and electronic data-entry forms to monitor forestry activities and wood flows in close to real-time. The project calculates taxes due by private operators and monitors payments to the Government of Liberia. The project develops capacities through training to the FDA staff and forest companies. A good traceability system is prerequisite to the development of a legality verification system to issue Certificates of Legality and FLEGT licences.

To make our contribution stronger We should: –Enhance capacity building through additional training sessions for FDA –Enhance communication with the private sector –Gradually increase the number of bush offices in order to improve the frequency and efficiency of inspection activities –Manage the project with a real change management strategy accompanying the introduction of new technology –Develop a legality verification module –Improve the user experience of the current online database FDA should: –Gradually take ownership of the COCIS operations