National REDD+ processes and policies

REDD+ is in its infancy, so good practices will be continuously evolving. The first component of GCS analyses how national processes that formulate and implement REDD+ policies are accounting for diverse interests at all levels. It also analyses whether the resulting outcomes are effective, efficient and equitable while also producing cobenefits, thus meeting the 3E+ criteria.

The study of national processes is underway in nine countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Indonesia, Nepal, Peru, Tanzania and Vietnam. Partial analysis is taking place in three additional countries: Burkina Faso, Mozambique and Papua New Guinea .

The research investigates how the 3E+ outcomes of REDD+ national strategies, including their formulation and implementation, depend on existing governance conditions. These conditions include the actors, mechanisms and structures involved in policy making. More broadly, it analyses how the institutional context, the discursive practices and macro-economic conditions of the countries affect national policies. Political commitment, internal power dynamics and the existence of mechanisms for policy adjustment are analysed to assess policy design and implementation. The study also investigates how the lack of appropriate institutional mechanisms limits the effective targeting of financial incentives to reduce deforestation and achieve broader co-benefits. The study assumes that the 3E+ content of a country's national REDD strategy can be enhanced in two ways.

1. Understanding the relationship between actors, structure, process, country context and REDD+ policy content;
2. Incorporating this understanding into the design of national policy strategy options for REDD+.

Comparative analysis complements in-depth case studies and assesses the social, political-economic and institutional factors that explain varying 3E outcomes of the REDD+ national strategies.

To analyse national REDD+ strategies, CIFOR researchers have developed five work modules: a country profile, a media analysis, a policy network analysis, a REDD+ policy content analysis, and a fifth flexible module for specific policy studies that respond to single country research needs.

The research objective is to inform national policy makers about how policy design can address constraints to improve outcomes. Particular focus lies in providing evidence-based options for achieving efficient, effective and equitable REDD+ policy strategies. Policy recommendations will include aspects of institutional design for specific country contexts.