The UN REDD ProgrammeThe UN REDD ProgrammeWhat Are the Principles & Mechanisms to Ensure

the Protection and Strengthening of Rights?

Rights, Forests & Climate Change ConferenceRights, Forests & Climate Change ConferenceOslo, Norway, 1Oslo, Norway, 16 Oct 20086 Oct 2008

Charles McNeill, UNDP on behalf of FAO & UNEPCharles McNeill, UNDP on behalf of FAO & UNEP

Background on theBackground on theUN REDD ProgrammeUN REDD Programme

ORIGIN OF UN REDD

In response to:

• UNFCCC Decision in Bali 2/CP.13

• Requests from governments in the Coalition for Rainforest Nations

• Requests from other governments – and UN Secretary General -- for joint UN action – “Delivering as One UN”

ORIGIN OF UN REDD• Dec 07 - UNFCCC COP 13 – Initial

discussions among FAO, UNDP, UNEP (Bali)

• Jan-Feb 08 – More discussions among agencies & agreement on collaboration and creation of ‘multi-donor trust fund’ (MDTF)

• Mar 08 – Coalition for Rainforest Nations invites FAO, UNDP, UNEP to support them, in collaboration with WB’s FCPF (Berlin)

• May-Jun 08 - Numerous consultations with potential pilot countries, UNFCCC, WB FCPF, GEF, potential donors

• Jul 08 –MDTF signed by 3 agencies/Norway

• Mar-Oct 08 – Initial discussions with IPs & local communities (UNPFII, CSD, CBD COP9, WCC, etc)

• 24 Sept 08 - Official Launch of UN REDD by UN SG & Norway’s Prime Minister

UN REDD’S ADDED VALUE

• ‘All Hands On Deck’: Challenge of REDD will require everything we can give to it!

• UN Agencies Bring Unique Capacities to REDD: FAO,UNDP, UNEP strengths complement World Bank, GEF and others

• Diversity of Approaches: Assist forest countries and international community gain experience with a range of risk management formulae and payment structures

KEY PRINCIPLES

• Country-driven programmes (one national REDD program that builds on existing processes of UNFCCC, World Bank, GEF, etc.)

• Demonstration activities to contribute to a successful post-2012 UNFCCC process

• Delivering as “One UN”

INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS

• Utilizing UN Country Team mechanisms and UN national programmes

• Building on comparative advantages of FAO, UNDP, and UNEP

• Using well-established “Multi-Donor Trust Fund” modality

GLOBAL SUPPORT FUNCTIONS

UN REDD will support:

1.Development and testing of standards, methods and guidelines for assessment, monitoring, accounting, reporting and verifying (e.g. M&V workshop Sept 08)

2.Knowledge sharing between countries

3.Other global functions where we can provide a useful role (e.g. REDD awareness, data availability & interpretation, co-benefits? Coordinated with WB)

COUNTRY SUPPORT FUNCTIONS

UN REDD will support demonstration activities and capacity building for:

1.REDD dialogue and consultations

2.REDD assessment and monitoring (data collection and management, reporting, etc.)

3.National REDD strategy development (readiness strategies, needs assessments, etc.)

4.REDD payment structuring and distribution options

CRITERIA FOR PHASE I PILOT COUNTRIES

1. Request for Quick Start action2. Existing collaboration with UN

partners in related areas for rapid progress

3. Emission reduction potential 4. Degree of REDD readiness potential5. Regional, biome and socio-economic

representation6. Coordination with international

REDD initiatives7. Leadership potential in sub-regional

experience sharing8. Ability to contribute experiences to

UNFCCC negotiations and development of REDD mechanisms

PHASE I PILOT COUNTRIES

• Africa: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Zambia

• Asia & Pacific: Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Vietnam

• Latin America & Caribbean: Bolivia, Panama, Paraguay

COORDINATION WITH OTHER REDD-RELATED INITIATIVES

• Framework for cooperation with World Bank’s FCPF (at global & national levels)

• GEF Tropical Forest Account

• World Bank’s Forest Investment Program (FIP)

• Bilateral programs (Australia’s IFCI, Germany, UK, etc.)

Principles and Principles and Mechanisms to Ensure Mechanisms to Ensure

Protection and Protection and Strengthening of RightsStrengthening of Rights

PRINCIPLES & MECHANISMS• UN Mandate for 3 Pillars: Development,

Peace and Security, Human Rights & SG’s current focus on mainstreaming Human Rights into UN’s work (2005)

• UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (2002)

• UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2007)

• UN Development Group (UNDG) Guidelines, Action Plan & Resource Kits on UN Declaration & Indigenous Peoples Issues (2008)

• UNDP Policy on Engagement with Indigenous Peoples (2001)

• UNDP CSO Advisory Committee and Liaison Committee on Indigenous Peoples (2001-2008)

UN’s Commitment and UN’s Commitment and Work on Governance and Work on Governance and

Local EmpowermentLocal Empowerment

GOVERNANCE AND LOCAL EMPOWERMENT WORK

• UN REDD may be recent, but body of work underpinning it is not …

• ‘Governance’ as UNDP’s primary Practice Area

• Oslo Governance Centre • Commission on Legal Empowerment of

the Poor• Support for CSOs and Local

Empowerment since 1987 (PDP, Africa 2000, LIFE, etc)

• ‘Local Empowerment’ as Pillar of UNDP’s Environment & Energy Group

• UNDP-GEF Small Grants Programme, Equator Initiative, Community Water Initiative, etc.

• FAO and UNEP could tell similar story.

IP & Local Community IP & Local Community Consultation Process for Consultation Process for

UN REDD: UN REDD: What Have We Heard What Have We Heard and How We Plan to and How We Plan to

ProceedProceed

INFORMAL CONSULTATIONS HELD SO FAR

• 7th UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (Apr 08, UN HQ)

• 16th UN Commission on Sustainable Development (May 08, UN HQ)

• Convention on Biological Diversity Conference of the Parties (May 08, Bonn)

• Forum on Readiness (May, Jun, Aug, WDC, Bonn, Ghana)

• World Conservation Congress (Oct 08, Barcelona)

MESSAGES HEARD SO FAR(IP & COMMUNITY INPUT)

• Need for access to information• Uncertainty around mechanism for IP

inclusion• Cultural disconnect around

monetization• Fear of further marginalization (e.g.

biofuels, little benefit from CDM)• Skepticism around market mechanism

incentives • Need for non-market-based REDD

mechanisms• Need for consideration of retroactive

benefits

MESSAGES HEARD SO FAR(OTHER STAKEHOLDERS)

• Country’s governance capacity is key to success or failure of REDD

• Experience (SFM, PAs, PES, etc) should inform REDD process

• Challenge of rising commodity prices

• IP inclusion in REDD may reduce risks from business perspective

• Developing countries with already low deforestation rates need to benefit

• Need for collaborative approach with local communities and IPs

UPCOMING GLOBAL IP / CSO CONSULTATION ON UN REDD

Baguio City, Philippines

12-14 November 2008

Organized by UNU, SCBD, Tebtebba and UN REDD

Your Guidance Needed Your Guidance Needed on These Issueson These Issues

LESSONS FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE

• What is important to you vis a vis UN REDD? What concerns do you have? What mistakes should we be sure to avoid?

• What additional principles, standards, guidelines, approaches, should UN REDD adopt?

• What are you counting on UN REDD to do or deliver?

• What experience with other forest finance-related activities should inform us? (both good and bad practice)

MAKING REDD WORK

• What mechanisms / processes to follow for national level stakeholder consultations?

• How to ensure legitimate representation in consultations?

• How to ensure CSO representation on UN REDD Policy Board

• How to monitor if REDD or UN REDD is working for CSOs?

• What recourse if civil society undermined by REDD or UN REDD?

• What role for UN REDD in facilitating/mediating IP/civil society-government dialogue?