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Greening Zambia’s charcoal business for improved livelihoods and forest management through strong producer groups

VincentZiba,FFFFacilitator,FAOSophieGrouwels,FFFForestryOfficer,FAO

FoodandAgricultureOrganizationoftheUnitedNationsRome,2017

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Introduction

Findingwaystoeffectivelymonitor,manageandsupportsustainableproduction

andtradeinwoodfuel,especiallycharcoal,iscriticalforcountriesacrossmuch

ofAfricatoday.InZambia,thegovernment,withthesupportoftheForestand

FarmFacility(FFF),isexploringwaystohelprecognizeandorganizetheactors

incharcoalvaluechains,contributingtomoresustainablemanagementand

improvedcaptureofvaluebyproducers,tradersandbythegovernment.This

worksupportsthedevelopmentofZambia’snewnationalcharcoalregulation–

inlinewiththeForestActof2015‐andisprovidingapilotdemonstrationof

practicalstepstoimprovelivelihoods.Theworkwillalsohelptoguaranteethe

supplyofthiscriticalsourceofenergy‐sovitalforincomeandfoodsecurity‐

withoutdestroyingforests.

Atpresent,charcoaltradersmostlyoperateillegallyasindividualsandtherefore

theyfearrecognitionbygovernmentandlocalcommunitymembers.However,if

charcoalvalue‐chainplayersbecomeorganizedandabletoobtainrecognitionby

governmentandthecommunity,itcouldprovideanopportunityforcapacity

buildinginsustainablyproducedcharcoalwhilecontributingtoeconomic

development.ApilotprojectthroughtheFFFprogrammeoforganizingcharcoal

producershasalreadyyieldedpositiveresultsintheDistrictofChoma,

promptingthegovernmenttoreviewitscharcoalregulation.

ThecharcoalindustryinZambiaisworthfivebillionkwachaor2.3percentof

grossdomesticproduct(GDP)andithasbeenestimatedthatcharcoal

productionprovidesfull‐timeemploymentforabout41000peopleinrural

areas.Further,about45500peopleareemployedincharcoal‐relatedsectors

urbanareas(Chidumayo,1990).

Woodfuel(charcoalandfirewood)isthemaincookingenergysourceforover90

percentofthehouseholdsinZambia,wherecharcoalisoneofthemost

importantsourcesofenergyforthemajorityofafast‐growingpopulation.

Furtherdemandforcharcoalisexpectedtobedrivenbyincreasesinpopulation

andtheslowrateofelectrification(withanaverageconsumergrowthrateof

threepercent(ZDA,2014).Infact,Zambiahasoneofthehighestpopulation

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growthratesinAfrica,estimatedat2.8percentfrom1990to2010,and2.4

percentfrom2000to2010(CSO,2012).

CharcoaldemandinZambiamainlyconcernsurbancentres(Chidumayoand

Gumbo,2013),with85percentofurbanpopulationsheavilydependenton

charcoalfordomesticusecomparedwithruralareasatanestimatedfivepercent

(Kalindaetal.,2008).

Thisincreasinglyhighdemandforcharcoalhassteadilypushedupproduction

andsupply.Forexample,between1969and2015,charcoalproductionincreased

from33000tonnesin1969to1392000tonnesin2008to1500000tonnesin

2015(Kalindaetal.,2008).Table1showsthetrendsincharcoalproductionover

theyearsfrom1969to2015.

Table 1: Estimates of charcoal production and deforestation 

YearCharcoalproduction 

(milliontonnes)

Woodbiomassused(milliontonnes)

Estimatedforestdegradation

(millionhectares)

1969 0.33 1.375 0.017

1980 0.49 2.042 0.026

1990 0.685 2.854 0.036

2000 0.905 3.771 0.048

2008 1.392 5.800 0.073

2015* 1.50 12.605042 0.196646 Note: figures calculated from the consumption figures. Based on the figures from Chidumayo, 1997, ILUA, 2008 data, Fifth national development plan, 2006 

* National wood fuel survey. Source: Kalinda et al., 2008 Charcoal value chain in Zambia

Thecharcoalvaluechainplaysasignificantroleintheeconomyofthecountryin

termsofemployment,incomegenerationandasasourceofenergy(Blodgett,

2011).ThemaincomponentsofthecharcoalvaluechaininZambiainclude:(i)

collectionorcuttingofwoodatthesource;(ii)carbonizationofwoodinkilns;

(iii)transportationofcharcoal;(iv)wholesale/retail;and(v)consumptionand

useofcharcoalbyhouseholdsorbusiness.

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The conundrum of producing charcoal

TherearenumerousproblemsrelatedtoproductionofcharcoalinZambia.One

ofthemajorproblemsaffectingthecharcoalbusinessisalackofclarityon

tenureanduserrightstolandandresources,includingtrees.Therearetwoland

tenuresystems‐thecustomarylandtenure,basedontraditionallandwhere

traditionalleadersholdthelandasacustodianfortheirpeople;andsecondly,

Statelandwheregovernmentholdsthelandasapublicgood.However,alltrees

oneithercustomaryorStatelandarevestedinthehandsofthepresidentand

requireapermitforuse;yetgovernmenthaslimitedcapacitytomanageand

controltheutilisationpatterns.

Charcoalproducersharvestexcessiveamountsofwoodanduseinefficient

methodsofproduction;consequently,muchlessthan20percentofbiomassis

convertedintocharcoal,resultinginlargeareasofforestbeingdegradedtomeet

theincreasingdemand.Further,thegovernmentofZambialosespotential

revenuefromthecharcoaltrade‐moneywhichcouldbeusedforsustainable

forestmanagement‐becausemostproducersandtradersdonotpaytheir

requiredlicencefees.Aswell,thegovernment’sForestryDepartment,whichhas

themandatetoregulatecharcoalproduction,haslimitedcapacitytomonitorand

effectivelymanagethecharcoalvaluechain.Insomecases,traditionalleaders

havemadestrenuouseffortstocontrolcharcoalproductionintheirareas,at

timesleadingtoabuseoftraditionalleadershipauthoritywithdemandsfor

illegalfeesfromcharcoalproducers.

Somesmallholderproducersandtraders,whohavenotfullyunderstoodcurrent

regulations,havelostpropertysuchasgoats,cattle,bicyclesandaxeswhichhave

beenconfiscatedbytraditionalleadersandgovernmentofficersenforcinglaws

tocontrolillegalcharcoalproductionandtrade.Overall,currentcharcoalvalue‐

chainmanagementhasdrivensomecharcoalproducersintotheblackeconomy–

wheretheytrytoavoidbeingidentified,theytradeillegallyandofferlowprices

comparedtothemarketvalueinordertomeettheirbasicfinancialneeds.Such

charcoalproducersarethereforenotabletoaccessanyformofcapacitybuilding

fortradeandsustainableproduction.

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TheForestryDepartment(FD)oftheMinistryofLandsandNaturalResources

hasthemandateformanagingtheforestsectorinZambia;however,ithas

limitedresourcestoenforceitsmandatefully,includingmonitoringforest

resources–especiallycharcoalproduction.Conveyanceandproductionlicence

feesaregiventotraderssotheycanmovecharcoaltomarketareasandtrade,

butthereisnocapacitytomonitortheextentandpracticeofcharcoalproduction

asoftimeofpublicationofthispaper.Therefore,thereisasignificantneedfor

supportinthecharcoalvaluechain‐especiallyattheproductionpoint‐to

ensuresustainableproductionandguaranteeitscontributiontoimproving

livelihoodsofforest‐dependentfamilies.

TheForestandFarmFacility(FFF)programme‐apartnershipbetweenthe

InternationalInstituteforEnvironmentandDevelopment(IIED),the

InternationalUnionforConservationofNature(IUCN),AgriCordandtheFood

andAgricultureOrganizationoftheUnitedNations(FAO),andimplementedwith

theGovernmentofZambiathroughtheForestryDepartment‐hasidentified

greeningofthecharcoalvaluechainasanimportanttargetforintervention.FFF

‐indirectcollaborationwiththeForestryDepartment,issupporting

organizationofruralcharcoalproducersandexposingthemtoefficientand

sustainablesourcingandproduction.

TheFFFprogrammehasworkedonapilotbasisbetween2015and2017intwo

districtsofZambia:ChomaandMwinilunga.Thesetwowerechosenbecauseof

varyinglevelsofforestrylandscapeissuesandexistingpotentialpartnersfor

implementation.InChoma,thedistrictFarmersUnionhadinitiatedactivitiesin

partnershipwiththeFinnishAgri‐AgencyforFoodandForestDevelopment,

whichisalsoacollaboratingpartnerofFFFatboththeglobalandnationalscale.

Moreover,Chomaisadistrictthathasexhibitedveryhighlevelsofdeforestation

andforestdegradationduetolarge‐scaleclearingoflandforagriculture

production,increaseddemandforfirewoodusedfortobaccoprocessing,and

highlevelsofcharcoalproductionfortradealongtherailwaylinefrom

LivingstonetoLusaka.Chomahasrecentlybeendeclaredaprovincialcapitalof

SouthernProvince,leadingtoagrowingpopulationthatispushingupdemand

forwoodfuel.

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InasimilarwayMwinilungadistrictwaschosenbecauseofapotential

collaborationwithZambia’sForestryDepartment,aswellasdecentralisedforest

andothernaturalresourcemanagementprogrammessupportedbythe

GovernmentofFinland.Intermsoftheforestlandscape,Mwinilungahasmore

undisturbedforestthatisnowthreatenedbyincreasedurbanizationin

surroundingareasduetotheincreasedminingactivitiesandcorresponding

settlements.InChomadistrict,charcoalisproducedonalargerscalecompared

withMwinilungaandhasalsolargerpartsofforestedlandthatisdegraded.

Besidesinterveninginthecharcoalvaluechain,theFFFprogrammealso

supportstreenurseryestablishmentsasapotentialbusinessforsmallholder

producersindegradedlandscapeswhichcouldhelptoincreasethesupplyfor

charcoal.

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Approaches to charcoal interventions

TheForestandFarmFacilityprogramme’sworkwiththecharcoalvaluechain

followsthreekeypillarsofwork,basedonthefollowingoverarchinggoal:

“Smallholders,communitiesandindigenouspeople’sorganizationshave

improvedtheirlivelihoodsandthedecision‐makingoverforestandfarm

landscapes”.ThisisbeingachievedinZambiabasedonFFF’sthreepillars:

Strengthenproducerorganizationsforsmallholders,women,communitiesand

IndigenousPeoples,toachievebusiness/livelihoodsandpolicyengagement.

Response:Zambia’scharcoalproducersarebeingorganisedintoproducergroups

andencouragedtoformdistrictnetworksofproducersforcapacitydevelopment

inhowbesttodobusinesssustainablyandparticipateinpolicydialogue.

Catalysemulti‐sectoralstakeholderpolicyplatformswithgovernmentsatlocal

andcountrylevels.

Response:MinistryofLocalGovernmentandHousingissupportedinthe

formationandstrengtheningofwarddevelopmentcommittees.Thesearethe

basicstructuresinthelocalgovernmentsystemforcommunityparticipationin

goodgovernanceandpolicyengagement.Charcoalproducersareencouragedto

workcloselywiththeForestryDepartment.

Linklocalvoicesandlearnglobalprocessesthroughcommunicationandinformation

dissemination.

Response:CharcoalproducersandgovernmentofficersfromtheForestry

DepartmenthaveparticipatedintwoexchangevisitstoKenya,whichhave

stimulatedideasforthecharcoalbusinessaswellasparticipatorycharcoal

regulation.

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Districtcharcoalnetworkexecutivecommitteeformed 

ForestryDepartmentstaffgivingexchangevisitfeedbacktothecharcoalproducers 

ForestryDepartmentstaffgivingexchangevisitfeedbacktothecharcoalproducers 

Photos: ©Vincent Ziba

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Major FFF interventions

Charcoalproductionandtradeisconductedacrossallwardsorchiefdomsof

Chomadistrict.Thegovernment’sForestryDepartmenthas,throughtheFFF

programme,identified10hotspotsforcharcoalproductioninwhichtopilotthe

FFFtheoryofchange;thatis,theprogramme’sbeliefthatwell‐organized

producerscantogetherpoolmoreknowledgeandresourcestoimprove

productionmethodsandcan–withonevoice‐participateinpolicydialogue

withgovernmenttobecomeadirectinterlocutortoimprovetheenabling

environmentforcharcoalbusinessinasustainableandinclusiveway.

TheFFFprogrammehasengagedwithchiefsinthetargetareastomakethem

awareoftheimportanceofmobilizingcharcoalproducerssoastotake

advantageofcapacity‐buildingopportunitiesandpromotingsustainable

charcoalvalue‐chains.Further,theFFFprogrammehassupportedproducersin

formingadistrictcharcoalassociationforeffectivepolicydialogueand

engagementwithotherstakeholders.

Reasons for charcoal producers to form interest groups

Charcoalwillberecognisedasanecessaryandpotentiallysustainable

business‐unlikethecurrentsituationwherecharcoalproducersareattimes

consideredimmoralandillegal;

Valueingainingknowledgeofimprovedandsustainableproductioninorder

tomaximisebenefitsfromthelabourinvolved;

Opportunitiestoimprovetheirbusinessbyworkingtogetherandidentify

supportingagenciesforasustainableandsociallyinclusivebusiness

development;

Opportunitiesforbusinessfinancing;

Tohaveavoiceandengagewithpolicymakersinthecharcoalvaluechain.

Motivation for Zambia’s Forestry Department to support organized charcoal producers and other actors in value chain

Clearinterlocutorswithlocalgovernment,insteadofunfriendlypolicingrole;

Improvedmonitoringofplayersinthevaluechain;

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Licenceswillbegiventogroupsaroundhotspots;

Rolloutmethodsthatensuresustainabilityofforestresourcessuchas

promotionofthecoupe‐systemofmanagingcharcoalproductionareaswhich

allowsregeneration;thissystemalsoallowsallocationofplotsforcharcoal

productionandregenerationoftreesonusedareas.Alsoimprovedcharcoal

productiontechnologiescanbedisseminatedmoreeasily.

Higherrevenuesduetoreducedillegalactivities.

FFF achievements and moving forward with charcoal producers

Zambiahasreviseditscharcoalregulations,andanassociationofproducer

groupshasbeenorganizedinChomaasaresultofexchangevisitsbysenior

governmentofficialsandproducerorganizationsarrangedbyFFF.Thefirst

exchangevisittoKenyawasinJune2015,back‐to‐backwiththeAfricaFarmand

FamilyForestproducers’conference.AfurtherexchangeinJune2016focusedon

visitingcharcoalandnurseryproducerassociationsinKenya.

Thisworkhasalreadyresultedinahighlevelofenthusiasmfromcharcoal

producersforrecognitionasproducergroupsbygovernment,andactive

participationofcharcoalproducersinwarddevelopmentcommittees.

Charcoalproducersareshowinggreaterresponsibilityinhonouringgovernment

licencerequirements.Chomadistrictofficehasrecordedarecord‐highvaluefor

charcoalrevenuesin2016,accordingtoreportsfromHumphryNchengamwa,

DistrictForestOfficerforChoma.Thisisattributedtoincreasedengagementby

ForestryDepartmentworkerswithcharcoalproducersthroughtheplatforms

developedundertheFFFprogramme.

Thereisalsoimprovedmonitoringofcharcoalproductionsitesunderthe

responsibilityofChiefSingani,whonowembracescharcoalgroups,leadingto

peacebetweencharcoalproducersandtraditionalleadersinthevillage.Chief

Singanipreviouslybannedcharcoalproductioninhisarea,althoughillegality

remainedprevalentandcausedconflictsamongvillagersandtraditional

leadership.CharcoalproducergroupsintroducedthroughtheFFFprogrammein

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productionareasnowworkwiththelocalheadmeninidentifyingsuitablesites

forproducingcharcoalandlateringettingconsentfromthechiefandreceiving

thenecessarylicences.ThishasimpressedChiefSingani.

Moving this work forward

Thereareanumberofactivitiesthatcanbeimplementedtoensurethatthe

achievementstodatewillcontinueintothefuture.Asapriority,theFFFprogrammecan

supportgovernmenteffortsinscalinguptheformationofcharcoalproducergroups

acrossZambiathroughtheimplementationofanewcharcoalregulations.Governments

mustalsobesupportedinboostingawarenessandimplementationofthesecharcoal

regulations.Inter‐sectoral,multi‐stakeholderdialoguesacrosstheentirecharcoal

valuechainshouldbeencouraged,todiscusscoordinatedoptionsforreducing

greenhousegasemissionsandmitigatingclimatechange,includingthroughsuch

workasmakingthecharcoalvaluechainaspecificcomponentofZambia’s

NationallyDeterminedContributions(NDC)undertheUnitedNations

FrameworkConventiononClimateChange(UNFCCC).1

Supportcanalsobegiventostrengtheninternalgovernance,legalization,operational

efficiencyandmonitoringandevaluationofdistrictcharcoalassociationssothattheycan

proactivelyengageinpolicy‐makingandimprovedcollaborationamongproducers,as

wellaswithgovernmentandmarkets.

Helpcanbeprovidedtofacilitategovernmenttraininginsustainablecharcoalproduction

byestablishingdemonstrationsiteswithimprovedcharcoalproductiontechnologies.As

well,programmeassistancecanhelptofacilitatetheestablishmentofwoodlotswithfast‐

growingagroforestryandothernaturaltreesbycharcoalproducersasfuturefeedstock

andproductionofcertifiedcharcoalforpremiumprices.

1AsofNovember2016,atotalof117partiestotheUNFCCChadsubmittedtheirNDCs.Insub‐SaharaAfrica,46countriesincludingZambia,submitted,butfewcountrieshighlightthefactthatasustainablecharcoalvaluechainisneededasawayforward(e.g.RwandaandCoteD’Ivoire)andthatimprovedcharcoalkilnsshouldbepromotedandused(e.g.Burundi,Somalia,Zambia).Inaddition,afewcountrieshighlighttheneedtopromotewoodlotsforwoodenergyproduction(e.g.Benin,CoteD’IvoireandMalawi).

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Improvedbusinessskillsamongproducersandtradersshouldalsobesupportedasthis

willleadtogreatercontrolofpricingandsettingstandardsforqualitycontrolamong

producers.Lessonslearnedfrompilotprojectsshouldbesharedandtopicalstudies

issued.Acasestudyontheroleofwomeninthecharcoalvaluechainmustbedeveloped.

Workwillberequiredtofacilitatenetworkingandcapacitybuildingamongthedifferent

charcoalvalue‐chainplayersforsustainablebusiness,upwardlinkagesandpolicy

dialoguewellintothefuture.

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Photo: ©bathyporeia

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Bervoets,J.&al.2016.Achievingfoodandwoodsecurityinthecontextof

climatechange:TheroleofurbanforestsandagroforestryintheNDCstothe

combatingglobalwarminginsub‐SaharanAfrica.Unasylva,vol672016/1

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2008.Seeingthewoodforthetrees:anassessmentoftheimpactofparticipatory

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Bond,I.,Chambwera,M.,Jones,B.,Chundama,M.&Nhantumbo,I.2010.

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