As the FCPF begins to wrap up Phase 2 of its 10-year Capacity Building Program for Indigenous Peoples, local communities and Civil Society, program participants across Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean recently gathered at regional dialogues to share best practices, lessons learned, and discuss the opportunities that lay ahead for forest-dependent communities in REDD+.
After 10 years of grassroots outreach with Indigenous Peoples and other forest-dependent communities through FCPF’s REDD+ Capacity Building Program, several realities are clearer than ever. Deforestation and climate change are playing out differently across the developing world, necessitating context-specific responses and support. And excluded people, especially women, are disproportionately affected by our changing climate.
These were some of the main messages that emerged from regional dialogues recently held across Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean on the achievements and future of FCPF’s Capacity Building Program for Indigenous Peoples, local communities and Civil Society Organizations (CBP).
With the second phase of CBP funding coming to a close between December 2019 and June 2020, these regional dialogues gave program participants the opportunity to reflect on lessons learned, share best practices, and discuss what REDD+ capacity building needs and gaps continue to exist. In particular, the dialogues devoted two days to discussions on how to empower indigenous women to participate in and benefit from REDD+ processes.
In Africa
In July, the CBP dialogue for Africa was held in Nairobi, and brought together 100 representatives from 30 organizations across 15 countries. Participants discussed how CBP implementation has advanced and what common threads – both in terms of successes and challenges – exist across projects. They also further refined gender mainstreaming strategies for REDD+ in Africa.
Land use and rights were discussed as a common challenge that affects the ability of communities to preserve and protect the forests they live in. Participants also discussed how economic opportunities can be created by developing non-timber forest products and activities, such as eco-tourism and beekeeping to sell honey.
Marcel, an Africa dialogue participant from Madagascar said, “As a local community leader, I have gained insights and knowledge that I will put to proper use and help reduce carbon emission.”
In Asia-Pacific
In September, about 60 representatives of indigenous peoples and civil society organizations representing over 30 different organizations from 13 countries in the Asia-Pacific region gathered in Bangkok where gender was also high on the agenda.
Dialogue participant Dr. Kinnalone Phommasack from the Lao PDR stated, “It is not enough to have women count as 50% of an audience. It is still the men who speak and take decisions. Female champions must be identified and be given a platform.”
Isolated and hard-to-reach communities must also have access to REDD+ decision making. Participants stressed the importance of innovative outreach methods to overcome the challenges of illiteracy and different local languages across Asia-Pacific’s diverse geographical region. These methods include using translations, radio and visual art (such as drawings and cartoons) for REDD+ capacity building.
In Latin American and the Caribbean
The third and final CBP regional dialogue was hosted in Panama in September. There, 75 participants from over 20 different organizations and 18 countries also stressed the importance of empowering women and local communities in REDD+ decision making.
Participants said it is crucial for information about REDD+ to reach the village level, where projects are implemented, in order to hear from a broader range of voices. One participant said, “REDD+ is about all of us. We are born in the forest, we live in the forest, and we die in the forest. It is our home, and we have to ensure we have the tools and knowledge to preserve it for future generations.”
Moving forward
Across all three regional dialogues, there was clear consensus around the need for inclusive capacity building of indigenous peoples, local communities and civil society organizations. Discussions at these regional dialogues will culminate in a global dialogue on the engagement of indigenous peoples and local communities in REDD+, which will happen in Washington, D.C. from November 7 to 9, 2019.
Moving forward, FCPF plans to continue to support CBP beneficiaries while gradually focusing more on countries that are progressing with their REDD+ agenda.