Free, Prior, and Informed Consent for REDD+

Training course on negotiating community consent for REDD+ projects and programs

As REDD+ programming progresses, new international and national guidelines governing the mechanism and its financing may alter the landscape of the rights of indigenous and local people. Based on international conventions, national laws, and voluntary industry standards, communities affected by REDD+ have the right to give or withhold their Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) for the field activities or management changes involved in a REDD+ project or program.

Recognized by the United Nations and other international bodies, FPIC requires governments and project proponents to implement REDD+ in a way that fully respects the rights of affected communities. Where the right to FPIC is established, communities have the right to accept or reject projects, as well as the right to negotiate the terms of engagement for proposed developments on their land.

Aims and Objectives

This course addresses the growing need for government officers, field facilitators, and project proponents to understand and accommodate meaningful and verifiable processes that respect the right of indigenous people and local communities to Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) in REDD+ programming.

This course will enable you to:

Understand the need for FPIC in the design and implementation of REDD+
Learn fundamental steps and techniques for respecting local communities' rights to FPIC in REDD+ projects and programs
Develop action points for interventions to address potential issues and concerns for applying FPIC

Who Should Attend?

REDD project proponents, independent community facilitators or advisers, indigenous and local community leaders, national and local government staff, project staff, private sector investors, and nongovernment organization facilitators and advocates. Participants should be highly literate with a basic level of understanding of REDD+ in working contexts.

Course Contents

Introduction to FPIC
Fundamental procedures for respecting the right to FPIC
Core elements of FPIC in the context of REDD+
Integration of FPIC in the design and implementation of REDD+ projects

Course Length

This set course lasts six days.