Gender action research leads to greater involvement of women in Brazilian REDD+ Social & Environmental Standards initiative
Background
Acre started using REDD+ SES in 2010 and followed the REDD+ SES process to develop Adre-specific indicators involving widespread consultations and review and approval by multi-stakeholder committee (the State Commission for Validation and Monitoring – CEVA). REDD+ SES is being used as a tool to support CEVA in its role to assure high social and environmental performance throughout the implementation of the System for Incentives for Environmental Services (SISA), in particular to meet the social and environmental safeguards included in the SISA law. The State Institute of Climate Change (IMC) has facilitated the REDD+ SES process, with technical support from CARE Brazil, the REDD+ SES secretariat and Imaflora, and has developed a manual for monitoring the social and environmental safeguards og REDD+ under SISA.
Results
The State of Acre in Brazil has reached a significant milestone by producing a draft report on the progress of their REDD+ program in addressing and respecting a comprehensive set of safeguards. The report was developed using the REDD+ Social and Environmental Standards (REDD? SES) through a participatory process that has enabled indigenous peoples, small producers, NGOs and different government departments to understand the REDD+ program and participate more effectively. As a result, Indigenous Peoples requested greater involvement in the safeguards oversight committee (CEVA) and started to participate more actively after initial suspicion. This process has helped stakeholders to better understand and use their rights to consultation and participation even beyond the REDD+ program.
Outcome
As a result of gender action research conducted by REDD+ SES with Women’s Environmental and Development Organisation (WEDO) in Adre, the Acre Women’s Policy Secretariat started to get work on environmental issues and women have been formally included as a stakeholder group in all subsequent consultations for the SIS. There have also been outcomes beyond the REDD+ program, since REDD+ SES was used as an input for development of safeguards regulations that apply to the full ecosystem service laws (SISA) and stakeholders have learned to take advantage of opportunities to participation are more aware of their rights to consultation and participation.