PRISCILLA M. ACHAKPA

WOMEN ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMME (WEP) BLOCK E FLAT 2 ANAMBRA COURT GADUWA HOUSING ESTATE, APO AFTER LEGISLATIVES QUARTERS P.O.BOX 10176 GARKI ABUJA NIGERIA (W/A) &SALISU DAHIRUNATIONAL COORDINATOR -REDD NIGERIAFEDERAL MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, NIGERIA

E-MAIL: wep2002@hotmail.com OR info@wepnigeria.net OR TEL: 234 9 2910878

GENDER CONSIDERATIONS FOR SAFEGUARDS

AND MULTIPLE BENEFITS IN

REDD+ ACTIVITIES

OVERVIEW OF REDD+ IN NIGERIA 2009: Nigeria joined the UN-REDD Programme.

2010: Nigeria began institutionalizing REDD+: Preliminary Assessment of the Context for REDD in Nigeria;

plus others Political commitment built Stakeholder engagements and dialogue, and community

training REDD+ coordinating structures created (Federal & Cross River

State) UN-REDD scoping mission (October 2010) Nigeria’s REDD approach presented at Cancun climate summit

November 2010, the 5th UN-REDD Policy Board “invited Nigeria to submit a full National Programme for consideration by the Policy Board at its sixth meeting in March 2011” (UN-REDD PB-5 report, #14).

Draft National REDD+ Readiness Document submitted to PB-6 (Vietnam, March, 2011), final approval expected at PB-7.

THE REDD+ SAFEGUARDS FROM THE CANCUN AGREEMENTS (2010)

Actions complement or are consistent with the objectives of national forest programs and relevant international conventions and agreements;

Transparent and effective national forest governance structures, taking into account national legislation and sovereignty;

Respect for the knowledge and rights of indigenous peoples and members of local communities, by taking into account relevant international obligations, national circumstances and laws, and noting that the United Nations General Assembly has adopted the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples;

Signifying safe guards

THE REDD+ SAFEGUARDS FROM THE CANCUN AGREEMENTS (2010) CONT’D

The full and effective participation of relevant stakeholders, in particular, indigenous peoples and local communities, in actions referred to in paragraphs 70 and 72 of this decision;

Actions are consistent with the conservation of natural forests and biological diversity, ensuring that actions referred to in paragraph 70 of this decision are not used for the conversion of natural forests, but are instead used to incentivize the protection and conservation of natural forests and their ecosystem services, and to enhance other social and environmental benefits;

Actions to address the risks of reversals; Actions to reduce displacement of emissions.

Gender Considerations in REDD+

Men and women often have different roles with regards to forest resource management. They play differing parts in planting, protecting or caring for seedlings and small trees, as well as in planting and maintaining homestead woodlots and plantations on public lands.

Men are more likely to be involved in extracting timber and non-timber forest products (NTFPs) (and women too) for business-related purposes.

Women typically gather forest products for fuel, fencing, food for the family, fodder for livestock and raw materials to produce natural medicines, all of which help to increase family income (Aguilar et al., 2007)

Gender Considerations in REDD+ Con’t

The integration of gender considerations into a REDD+ framework brings

about improved efficiency and sustainability as it contributes to the

involvement and commitment of women, who are critical players of local

forest management. A gender consideration in REDD+ also ensures that

incorporation of the wealth of women’s unique knowledge, skills and

experiences, which are vital to successful REDD-related initiatives.

Taking into account the existing instruments of international law on

gender equality, with particular reference to CEDAW and Economic and

Social Council Resolution 2005/31 on mainstreaming a gender

perspective into all policies and programs in the UN system, the

inclusion of gender considerations ensures that the REDD+ framework

respect international law instruments and human rights standards.

GENDER ISSUES IN NIGERIA’S NATIONAL FOREST POLICY Policy Statement: Actively involve women in forest policy enunciation,

implementation and sustainable management of forest resources.

3.3.22.2 Objective:i. To improve the socioeconomic status of women.ii. To ensure efficient utilization of wood and non-wood products.iii. To facilitate women’s involvement in the conservation and protection of the environment for sustainable use. 3.3.22.3 Strategies:i. Create awareness to enable women to appreciate the benefits derived from involvement in forest resources management. 

GENDER ISSUES IN NIGERIA’S NATIONAL FOREST POLICY CONT’D

ii. Involve women in agro-forestry practices. Building up capacity of the technical implementers on

gender.  Developing grassroots women’s group promoters’

capacities to motivate and empower women on their rights to forest resources management vis-`a-vis other development opportunities.

Promoting an environment in which women’s group promoters are visible and gaining credibility as agents of development with their own NGOs at the local level and associations that will allow them to advocate at the national level.

Cultivating, sharing and learning cultures by linking grassroots-level learning and challenges to national and international forums.

ENSURING EFFECTIVE SAFEGUARDS IN NIGERIA’S REDD+ READINESS PROGRAMME

Design of social & environmental safeguards, including design of information system [in conjunction with Output 3.3]

Field-level testing and monitoring of social & environmental safeguards.

Assessment of ecosystem multiple benefits and proposed indicators/actions [to feed Output 3.3] & participatory collection of information on the achievement of ecosystem-based benefits

SOCIAL & ENVIRONMENTAL DIMENSIONS

Social & environmental safeguards (Outputs 3.3 and 4.3)

Carbon rights and land tenure (Outputs 1.3 and 3.3)

Multiple ecosystem benefits (Output 4.3)

FPIC and recourse mechanisms (Output 3.3)

Participatory Governance Assessments (Output 3.3)

Community initiatives for REDD+: Technical advice, coordination and creation of a fund (Output 4.1)

Knowledge management & dissemination of best practices (Outputs 2.3 and 4.3)

WAY FORWARD Assessment of gender issues in REDD readiness

process in Nigeria as well as the subregion; Awareness-raising for government officials, state

legislators and local governments. Awareness raising, training & organizational

strengthening for forest-dependent communities Mainstream concept of Gender in the free, prior &

informed consent consideration (FPIC) for REDD+ and recourse mechanisms in national programs

Creation & administration of a fund to support community initiatives for REDD+ with emphasis on gender (aim: to provide alternatives to deforestation as a source of livelihood, promote local forest management & community empowerment)

STAKEHOLDERS CONSULTATION IN NIGERIA

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