Implementing the REDD-Plus Safeguards: The Role of Social Accountability (Draft)

This paper explores and articulates the role of social accountability in implementing REDD-Plus safeguards. Unless social accountability – an emerging and powerful concept centered on citizen engagement with governments – is mainstreamed in the implementation of REDD-Plusprograms, we predict that countries will not be able to adequately implement the social, governance and environmental safeguards agreed to in Cancun. And because these REDD-Plus safeguards are critical for the success of REDD-Plus programs, we argue incorporating social accountability mechanisms increases the likelihood of desired climate change and environmental outcomes and further facilitates just and equitable results.

After providing an overall background on the concept of the REDD-Plus mechanism as a way of addressing climate change, this paper present the case for utilizing existing principles in social accountability—as conceptually established by the Affiliated Network on Social AccountabilityEast Asia and the Pacific (ANSA-EAP)—as a logical system of concepts by which to practically mainstream REDD-Plus relevant social and governance safeguards for implementation in developing countries.