Outcome mapping is a new and evolving methodology for assessing cocoa and forest initiatives

To the extent that recent forest-based interventions have yielded relevant outcomes complimentarily, they have also been marked by threads of inadequate data sharing which most often result in missed opportunities for cooperation and outcome integration in geographic and contextual scopes.

Random Outcome Mapping (ROM) as a locally adaptive approach lends itself particularly well to forests interventions under the Cocoa and Forest Initiative (CFI), Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA), Accountability Framework Initiative (AFi), etc.

​

By focusing on the change in behaviour and accomplishments of boundary partners, ROM is able to measure the results that forests interventions have achieved within its sphere of influence and provide feedback about its efforts so as to improve future performance. ROM could be essential to CSOs, private sector actors and government departments in areas where it is important to reduce duplication of efforts and encourage joint optimization. Download

The rather passive media attention in forest governance constitutes a significant dent in Ghana’s forest policy discourse. In combatting the menace of illegal logging, media’s role has been instrumental in promoting transparency as they report on illegal and corrupt practices in the forestry sector. As a result, about 5 people in every 10 have been effectively made aware of forest governance issues through local radio programs. Yet the potential of the media in environmental governance has not been fully explored. In practice however, the media has largely been viewed as a passive tool for disseminating remotely ceiled information rather than an active facilitator of agenda building. This has discouraged a sustained media attraction to forest governance leading to poor public awareness and hindering public participation in key forest sector issues. As access to information by stakeholders improve and awareness deepens, it is expected that their contribution to the implementation of VPA in Ghana will be reinforced and mainstreamed into a more inclusive policy reform process. In this paper, we assess the preconditions for an active inclusion of the Ghanaian media as an incoming stakeholder with significant potential in facilitating policy discourses, informing and communicating forest governance complexities, mobilizing and mainstreaming public sentiment but more importantly, delivering real-time feedback on public reactions to forest policy.  We observe and analyze some enabling factors for stimulating net activism as an increasingly ubiquitous means for strengthening governance in the forestry sector of Ghana. We further recognize and recommend the promotion of net activism as an evolving mechanism with huge potentials to transform awareness into commitment and action. Download

The slow pace of compliance with water use charges and water quality requirements is disturbing the overall implementation of the water sector reforms in Sub-Saharan Africa, owing to the reluctance and unwillingness on the part of water users to pay. Managers should always create or re-create awareness of the reforms and obtain key stakeholders’ agreement on a fair price that tackles consumers’ buying power, full cost recovery and the unpredictable watershed environmental trends.
Societal marketing management provides a framework (SWOT analysis) for reflection and communication for consumer behaviour change through adoption of a specific marketing mix or strategy for uptake (‘4Ps’) that translate the management ‘weaknesses’ and ‘threats’ into resources (strengths and opportunities), to minimize serious challenges to the management. The marketing mix should take into account the inner beliefs or values of the target group, their perceptions and choice behaviours, expectations and fears to design a very special brand and message that will condition the mind of members of each targeted group and stimulate positive thinking and quick response. Download