This project focuses on developing and demonstrating a tool to assess the power, authority and influence of various actors involved in the management and governance of protected and conserved areas (PCAs). Designed for site-level stakeholders, the tool aims to identify barriers to empowering Indigenous Peoples and local communities and support actions that enhance their role in decision-making processes. 

The project involves designing an assessment process, field-testing the tool at a minimum of two sites and developing a user manual and virtual training package. A key component is monitoring progress and refining the approach based on field experiences. The findings will be documented in a working paper that validates the tool and provides recommendations for scaling up its application, contributing to more inclusive and effective PCA governance.