Equity in Climate Change and REDD+: A Handbook for Grassroots Facilitators

This handbook is the result of collaboration between two regional RECOFTC projects – Grassroots Capacity Building for REDD+ in Asia (REDD+ Grassroots Project) and Grassroots Equity and Enhanced Networks in the Mekong Region (GREEN Mekong Program). The objective of this question and answer handbook is to support grassroots facilitators who are engaged in delivering training programs on promoting social equity in climate change mitigation, specifically in Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+). It is also a quick reference material for key stakeholders at provincial or district levels, particularly forestry officials, who are engaged in local and regional level learning processes for promoting equity in the development of climate change mitigation measures, and related forest management practices.

Although several, more complex, publications on the approach of REDD+ are available and, more recently, material on REDD+ related equity issues have been published, the fact remains that grassroots stakeholders have limited access to concise and easy-to-read material on equity in REDD+. As a consequence, it remains a challenge for grassroots stakeholders to comprehend and use relevant information to promote equity at the local level. Moreover, the concept of social equity is complex, even abstract to some extent; simpler explanations that can be easily understood and articulated at the local level are necessary. Low capacity of grassroots stakeholders, including local civil society and non-government organizations (CSOs and NGOs), impedes them from effectively articulating their aspirations and perspectives to policy-makers, leaving them vulnerable to manipulation by vested interest groups.

This question and answer (Q&A) handbook therefore aims to provide simple explanations on some of the key aspects of social equity in the context of forests, climate change and REDD+.