Safeguards and standards for equity in REDD+

Phil Franks, IIED/REDD+ SES Secretariat

Safeguards and standards – what the difference (in REDD+)?

• Safeguards are measures such as policies,

laws, regulations, procedures and customary

norms which provide protection to the

interests/rights of stakeholders to avoid/reduce

harm and/or enhance benefits.

• Standards are technical specifications that

define a certain level of achievement in

complying with the safeguards. Can be used

in assessing the implementation of safeguards.

Elements of a Country Safeguards Approach

Safeguards Information System

Provides information about how safeguards are

addressed and respected, including a summary for UNFCCC and for other

information needs

Feedback and Grievance Redress

Mechanism Country level mechanism

to receive and address grievances related

to the country safeguards approach

Policies, Laws and Regulations

Normative framework that defines &

operationalizes country-specific REDD+

safeguards interpretation

Institutions (formal and informal)To ensure fair and effective design and implementation of these elements

Processes and Procedures That support operationalization of the country safeguards approach including processes for

consultation, access to information, strategic assessments, analysis etc.

Standards structure

PrincipleKey objectives that define high social and environmental performance

CriterionConditions that must be met related to policies, processes, and outcomes to deliver on principles

IndicatorQuantitative or qualitative information to show progress achieving a criterion

Essence Qualifiers

Basic idea Key quality elements

When undertaking REDD+ activities, the following safeguards should be promoted and supported:

(a) Complement or consistent with the objectives of national forest programmes and relevant international conventions and agreements

(b) Transparent and effective national forest governance structures

(c) Respect for the knowledge and rights of indigenous peoples and members of local communities

(d) Full and effective participation of relevant stakeholders

(e) Consistent with the conservation of natural forests and biological diversity

• not used for conversion of natural forests

• protection and conservation of natural forests and their ecosystem services,

• enhance other social and environmental benefits

(f) Address the risks of reversals

(g) Reduce displacement of emissions

REDD+ Safeguards from an equity perspective

Recognition

Procedure

Distribution

REDD+SES indicators from an equity perspective

Recognition• Recognition and respect for rights • Respect for knowledge and institutions

114

Procedure• Effective participation • Access to appropriate information/capacity Building • Access to justice

14142

Distribution• Benefit according to results• Benefit according to efforts• Benefit according to costs • Benefit according to rights • Benefit according to needs • Should be equitable/become more equitable

001152

REDD+ SES theory of change• Race to the top (2008-11)

• REDD+ SES is used as an assessment framework for reporting high social performance

• CCBA carbon project standards prove that this works IF

• High social performance is strongly recognised/rewarded by REDD+ financing agencies (markets and funds)

• Incremental gains (2012- ). Multi-stakeholder process in which:

• Governments establish a system to provide safeguards information to national and local stakeholders, as well as to provide a summary to the UNFCCC and international stakeholders.

• Governments ensure that design and implementation of a safeguards approach has a high level of transparency and stakeholder participation.

• Key civil society actors engage in defining the safeguards approach and assessing how safeguards are addressed and respected (i.e. SIS)

• Civil society calls for change to strengthen policy and practice related to safeguards and accepts, where necessary, an incremental approach

Reflections on using safeguards/standards to enhance equity in ecosystem governance

• Safeguards are a cornerstone of social agenda of ecosystem gov – all dimensions. Nothing new - just packaged in one place in REDD+

• Different kinds of safeguards based on:o State policies/laws/regulations

o Policies of non-state actors

o Customary norms

• Standards (C&I) provide a basis for assessing performance vs safeguards and informing action planning (adaptive management)

• What to do where major gaps in safeguards e.g. FPIC, gender equity?

• Implies a twin track approacho Work with safeguards that exist

o Standards-based M&E can cover gaps and inform safeguard development

• But development of standards and performance assessment is complex and costly (esp if multi-stakeholder). Need to be a highly pragmatic and strategic