EFI launches international study on the costs and benefits of timber legality assurance systems (TLAS)

This initiative is part of the International Forest Governance Hub (IFGH) program, supported by the UK foreign development office, which aims to produce independent analyses useful to tropical countries and their partners. The Hub aims to strengthen South-South and North-South learning and support the development of transparent and inclusive forest governance systems.

Why is this study important?

TLAS are central to the implementation of Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPA-FLEGT): they define national legality, control the timber supply chain, verify compliance, issue FLEGT licenses, and rely on independent audits.

However, EFI emphasizes that the relevance of TLAS extends far beyond the FLEGT framework. Robust systems can now address several major challenges:

improving forest governance and reducing illegal logging;
enhancing transparency in national and international markets;
supporting regulatory compliance in the face of increasing due diligence requirements in consumer countries (particularly the EU);
creating a framework of trust for market access.

For both governments and private operators, the question is therefore no longer simply “how much does a TLAS cost?”, but also “what economic, social, environmental, and institutional benefits does it bring, and under what conditions?”

A scope focused on several VPA countries at different stages

The study will cover several VPA countries representing different levels of maturity:

operational FLEGT licensing systems: Ghana and Indonesia;
deployment of traceability systems: Cameroon, Gabon, and Liberia.

EFI expects a structured analysis of costs:

TLAS design,
development and deployment (capacities, IT, verification and licensing procedures),
day-to-day operation (human resources, maintenance, independent audit, monitoring),
necessary institutional and regulatory adjustments.

In particular, the study should distinguish the incremental costs attributable to the TLAS (comparison “with TLAS/without TLAS”) in order to avoid confusion with broader forestry reforms or non-specific donor support.

Expected methodology and deliverables

EFI requests a mixed qualitative and quantitative approach, combining:

a systematic review of literature (academic, policy, and gray) with an explicit protocol and Excel coding;
national case studies based on interviews and new data from a balanced panel of stakeholders: administrations, private sector, civil society, donors, and system operators.

Specific attention should be paid to:

the diversity of viewpoints;
the inclusion of under-represented groups (smallholders, women, indigenous peoples, local communities);
consideration of gender and social inclusion (GESI) in the design and effects of TLAS.

The expected deliverables are:

Methodology and work plan,
Literature review report,
Presentation (slide deck) by case study,
Full final report, including country fact sheets (2-5 pages), cost/benefit tables, data appendices, consolidated bibliography, and operational recommendations.

The timeline allows for approximately 4 months of implementation, with a final report due on March 27, 2026.

Terms and conditions of the call for tenders

Procedure: “extended procedure” according to EFI procurement rules.
Maximum budget: €60,000 (lump sum contract).
Bid documents must be sent before December 15, 2025, to: ipf.contracting@efi.int
Candidates must provide:

CVs of experts (in English),
experience and methodology note (max. 3 pages),
activity schedule and workload per expert,
financial offer using the EFI template.

A key priority for ATIBT

This study is particularly strategic for ATIBT and its members. TLAS, whether directly linked to FLEGT Voluntary Partnership Agreements or designed as national traceability and legality instruments, are now a pillar of sustainable market access, the credibility of the tropical forestry sector, and international dialogue on governance.

ATIBT will closely monitor the progress of this initiative, the results of which will inform ongoing discussions in the Congo Basin and beyond, particularly on financing models, the actual effectiveness of systems, and the conditions that maximize their positive impact for governments, businesses, and local communities.