Lessons of Participatory Governance from Angola The Municipal Development Program and potential lessons learned for REDD+ in Brazil Amy Merritt UNDP-IPC, Brasilia, 22 nd February 2011

Agenda Explain rationale and background to research Share the MDP project as good practice for participatory decision-making Explain ODI’s work in climate change and the environment Background to REDD+ Discussion on the potential for MDP in the Brazilian context, inc. REDD+

MDP Goals and objectives ‘To increase the accountability of municipal governments to the communities they serve and to achieve broad community participation in decision-making and oversight of local public investments’

MDP Goals and objectives Objective 1: Municipal planning, budgeting and project implementation routinely follow a process of broad and inclusive community participation, meet minimum standards for design, implementation and accountability and feed effectively into the provincial planning and budget process

MDP Goals and objectives Objective 2: Targeted communities can organize themselves effectively to make decisions, feed into local issues and demonstrate basic skills in participatory planning, management, and evaluation.

MDP Goals and objectives Objective 3: Completed projects demonstrate social inclusion value to the community, including sufficient community support to give evidence of sustainability.

Context of MDP Post-war context ( – ; ; ) and perception by government of the need for decentralisation USAID responded to need in partnership with corporate partners (2005) CARE, SC and DW had previous experience with LUPP Consortium and partnership reflected principles of good governance

Baseline Legislative context Municipal and communal administrations Community organisation Engagement mechanisms

MDP approach Trainings – community and local government Community organisation – ODAs Forums – communal, municipal, national Micro-projects – communities selected own priorities and development needs Planning process and integrated development plan with shared responsibilities Exchange of experiences Leverage additional funding from donors

MDP outcomes Improved understanding of the role of local government within municipality Improved capacity to respond to community concerns Improved community organisation Capacity to design, oversee and implement projects Bottom-up planning processes endorsed by provincial government Evidence of MDP as pilot project influenced GoA’s commitment to decentralisation In its third phase of implementation, about to enter forth (lessons learned from Brazil can feed into this process)

Important lessons from the MDP Governance matters Community organisation matters A shared participatory space matters Legitimising community concerns into formal political processes matters Leveraging additional financing matters Shared responsibilities and the distribution of benefits matters

Questions on MDP?

REDD+ Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation A policy framework that result of international CoP and UNFCCC negotiations, particular inputs from LA Builds on PES initiatives to provide incentives and compensation from avoided deforestation REDD+ includes wider sustainable development benefits and biodiversity Still in negotiation at international level CoP 17, Durban Brazilian national REDD+ process underway: i.e. REDD+ bill; key inputs from Brazilian civil society, i.e. REDD+ principles

Overseas Development Institute Climate Change Environment and Forest Department (CCEF) Climate Finance (Climate Funds Update) Adaptation (DRR and ACCRA – African Climate Change Resilience Network) Low carbon development REDD+ net (2011 focus on adaptation)

REDD+ net ODI, CATIE, USCD and RECOFT Build civil society capacity to participate in the national and international level REDD+ processes Ensure REDD+ pro-poor Regional partners work on thematic issues to influence advocacy and awareness raising in the regions

Challenges for REDD+ National/sub-national design Local government capacity and risk intensifying poor governance Participation of indigenous communities (i.e. FIP and grant mechanism) and low community organisation Benefit sharing Encourages business as usual and not encourage change in practice

Challenges for REDD+ Adequacy of compensation Privatizing and commodifying indigenous land Leakage Land title Markets for alternative livelihoods Keeping forest communities poor/migration

Opportunities for REDD+ Compensation and incentive structure can galvanise communities, local government and economic actors to work towards common environmental agenda Formalised community participation can strengthen governance mechanisms in forest areas (score cards) Could allow for local revenue raising mechanisms, i.e. green tax for REDD+ on agro-forestry industry ICMS ecological tax can be used to leverage REDD+ funding – addressing sustainable development and greener economy Allow REDD+ to become integrated into governance context vs. stand-alone projects Create a link between private money and public action

Lessons from the MDP for REDD+ ChallengeResponse Communities are bypassed in project design and decision- making processes Forums allow for community inputs where government and other stakeholders jointly participate REDD+ may bring limited sustainable development Through forums and a participatory process communities decide micro-projects,implement and oversee REDD+ does not address root causes of deforestation or provide adequate compensation to affected communities Forums and participatory process allow key stakeholders to design a municipal plan that meets the concerns of stakeholders with shared responsibilities to implement the plan REDD+ will cause a resource curse in local government Linking incentives, municipal planning and community oversight will strengthen overall governance and increase capacity to apply for additional funding - i.e. ICMS or other donors

Discussion Can the MDP model improve effectiveness of REDD+ in the emerging policy context – how?

Contact Details For further information on any of today’s discussion please contact: Amy Merritt Programme Officer Climate Change, Environment and Forests Overseas Development Institute