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About REM

Resource Extraction Monitoring is an organisation specialised in the independent monitoring of law enforcement and natural resources extraction. We have offices abroad (Cameroun and Congo) and operate in the field to identify and investigate cases of illegal activity, then follow their progress through administrative and judicial systems. We analyse the illegal forest activities documented and Government action in order to propose solutions to tackle them more efficiently, and participate to the implementation of these recommendations through continuous work with those concerned.

Independent monitoring is a systematic audit-style approach which enables good governance of state-owned natural resources and compliance with resource-extraction laws, treaties, and contracts. Founded in 2003 by experts with over 15 years of monitoring experience, REM bridges the gaps between governments, environmental and human rights NGOs and local communities, donors and the private sector by providing objective and timely information on natural resource allocation and use.

REM is not a lobbying organisation and has no political agenda, but we are pro-active in researching and presenting the issues of governance and transparency during project implementation. We recognise that good governance enables citizens to share more equitably in natural resource use whilst protecting those which they prefer to leave off-limits, and that compliance ensures a level playing ground for competing commercial interests.

While other organisations involved in monitoring the forest sector tend to focus mainly on forest cover through remote sensing, REM is unique in that it monitors on-the ground governance mechanisms and provides objective, site-specific and feasible recommendations for long-term policy and enforcement improvements. Formal contracts with the recipient governments, endorsed by the donor community, provide leverage and ensure REM access to necessary information as well as providing mechanisms to increase government accountability.


Our staff

REM Cambridge Office, UK

Valérie Vauthier, director
Stuart Wilson, director
Elodie Barralon, ROC project assistant
Patrice Crochet, RDC project assistant
Sho Protacio, finance manager
Cheralyn May, administrator

REM CAGDF and Forests Monitor joint Brazzaville Office, Républic of Congo

REM
Serge-Christian Moukouri, IM-FLEG supervisor and forester

CAGDF
Alfred Nkodia, forester
Lambert Mabiala, lawyer
Teddy Ntounta Bonazebi, SIG and database expert
Romaric Moussiessi Mbama, forester
Bled Louzala Kounkou, CSO local expert

FM
Brad Mulley, IM-FLEG project coordinator and training specialist
Bambi Bidhel, administrator/bookkeeper
Raïssa Nsonde-Mfoumou, secretary
Jacques Bazabana, driver

REM Kinshasa Office, Democratic Republic of Congo

Laurent Granier, team leader and lawyer
Jean-Cyrille Owada, co-team leader and forester
Essylot Lubala, lawyer
Serge Bondo, forester
Igerha Bampa: Junior forester
Christelle Lushule: Junior lawyer

Pacifique Muhombo, administrator/bookkeeper
Ernest Luwanga, driver


Our partners

Brainforest, Gabon
Centre National d'Appui au Développement Et à la Participation Populaire (CENADEP), Democratic Republic of Congo
Centre pour l'Environnement et le Développement (CED), Cameroon
Forests Monitor (FM), United Kingdom
Observatoire Congolais de Droits de l'Homme (OCDH), Republic of Congo
Organisation Centrafricaine pour la Défense de la Nature (OCDN), Central African Republic


Our approach

REM promotes a constructive approach involving each of the following participants:

Governments

Where appropriate REM works with governments to help them develop monitoring systems for law enforcement, which brings international credibility to efforts undertaken. The transparency required in a working partnership and the recording of any denial of access to information is powerful evidence in and of itself. As always, when working with local officials we believe our work is most effective when we provide our partners with the tools and expertise to help themselves. REM supports improved law enforcement but law enforcement itself remains a function of governments. REM also sees as crucial that ownership of any improvement in law enforcement as well as monitoring processes is built within government.

The International Donor Community

The International Donor Community formulates programmes in partnership with local governments but often lack detailed information on law enforcement and governance. The Resource Extraction Monitoring approach can fill this information gap to help target funding more strategically. Through our monitoring activities REM enables improved governance and transparency and support the achievements of donor programme objectives.

The Private Sector

REM recognises that illegal trading in natural resources leads to the corruption of the level and fairly competitive marketplace and steals revenue not only from the state but from legal commercial interests. The private sector benefits from strong governance because compliance is rendered easier to maintain and companies need not waste money fighting corruption or damaging their market image. REM values the experience of the private sector in dealing with administrative systems and the issues of governance that arise in carrying out their activities.

The Public

Nobody benefits more from good governance than the public. As recent international investigations have demonstrated, states are losing enormous amounts of revenue through illegal extraction of natural resources. Corruption is difficult if not impossible to document and prove. REM's approach provides a systematic documentation of processes in areas where opportunities for corruption arise and provides recommendations to reduce them. The mere presence of an independent monitor often reduces opportunities for corruption. Information is published and helps the public understand the mechanics of corruption so that they can counter it effectively.

NGOs

REM works with NGOs who seek to curtail illegality and human and environmental rights abuses. Often their independent investigations provide crucial data for in-country monitoring; REM works to corroborate the data of all groups working in a given space and to make their findings available to local law enforcement and policy-making officials. Monitoring findings can be used by other NGOs to support calls for improved governance. REM provides GIS training and monitoring techniques to increase local capacity. Where there is political space monitoring should be implemented by local NGOs, however they may need support in the early stages.


Contact REM

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REM
69a Lensfield Road
Cambridge CB2 1EN
UK

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Registered in England no. 04905100

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