Independent audit of the FLEGT (Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade) system in the Republic of the Congo

While the general objective of the VPA (Voluntary Partnership Agreement) is to help build and improve forest governance and the sustainable management of natural resources in the Republic of the Congo (and thus fight climate change by reducing GHG emissions, and limit biodiversity loss), the specific objective of the assignment of the Independent Auditor of the System is to audit the legality assurance system (LAS), identify gaps therein, evaluate the efficiency of corrective measures, and check the use of licences upon entry into the EU market.
The audit of the LAS must reassure operators and authorities of the fact that the FLEGT licences issued (resulting from the LAS) comply with the commitments made under the VPA and give the FLEGT licences delivered by the Congo, the credibility on which the entire FLEGT system is based.