International agreements and Independent Advisory Groups:

Rationale and experience by Arvind Khare

“Rights, Forests and Climate Change”A joint conference convened by Rights and Resources Initiative & Rainforest Foundation Norway

Oslo, Norway, 15-17 October 2008

International agreements and Independent Advisory Groups: Rationale and experience

Trends in CS engagement with international processes and agreements;

Experiments with new structures of engagement – the forest sector

Implications for UNFCC and climate negotiations

Structure of Presentation

Numbers NGO accreditation with ECOSOC ↑ from <300 in 1972 during the

Stockholm Conference to >3,100 in 2008

Results Shift from pure consultative status → jointly defining agenda

(UNCED) → help in reaching consensus in difficult policy areas (reproductive health, women’s rights)

Areas of engagement From ECOSOC → General Assembly → Security Council

A number of positives – also frustrations

Dramatic Increase in CS Engagement with International Processes

Civil Society Advisory Group (ITTC)

External Advisory Group on Forest Strategy Implementation (World Bank)

Experiments with New Structures of Engagement

Formal/Informal advisory group to the ITT Council since 2002

Parallel structure to the Trade Advisory Group Governance structure:

Co-Chairs: 1 from Producer Countries 1 from Consumer Countries

Regional focal points: Asia (2) Africa (2) Latin America (1)

Civil Society Advisory Group (CSAG)

Participate in negotiations of new ITTA Advise: provide recommendations at each

Council (ITTC) Session Organize panels at ITTC Sessions Ad hoc activities

Advise partnership funds Hold special workshops Conduct special studies

What Does CSAG DO?

New ITTA is a substantial improvement over the previous one

ITTO is reorganized to provide real, robust support to community forestry and policy reform: New Thematic Programs supporting pro-community projects:

- “community forestry and enterprises”

- “policy, tenure, regulatory reform”

New studies/activities in Biennial Work Plan (e.g.):

- A global review of forest tenure transitions and assessment of implications for conservation, production, trade and livelihoods

- Rigorous analyses of policy frameworks for effective community management and enterprises

- New investment in capacity-building on community issues and projects

What Has CSAG Influenced?

Came into existence with the ratification of new

forest strategy of the Bank Consist of a core group of advisers from

international organizations, research institutes,

and client country governments, supported by a

broader pool of experts and representatives from

major stakeholder groups Mutually Agreed Governance Structure

External Advisory Group (EAG) to the World Bank

Assists in guiding and evaluating implementation of the World Bank's forest strategy

Regularly advise the President of the World Bank as to their views regarding the status of the forest program

Provide independent advice on major issues of implementation of the Bank’s new forest sector strategy

Modus Operandi

Review information, seek information, deliberate, recommend (in writing)

What Does EAG Do?

Improved oversight

Improved safeguards

Mid-term correction to implementation strategy

Induction of outside inputs to Bank’s

management

What Has EAG Influenced?

Formal endorsement by intergovernmental body

Self-determined or mutually agreed governance structure

Mutual sharing of timely information and analysis

Meaningful interaction and dialogue (both formal and informal)

Variety of methods employed – presentation in council sessions, written submissions, organization of special panels, joint workshops, new analysis, sponsored studies

Major Attributes of New Structures

Results

Improved agreements, safeguards, preventive measures

More responsive mechanisms

More legitimacy in producer countries

Improved programming

Continuing collaboration and pro-active engagement on complex issues

Complexity of climate change in forest areas demand the best available and credible information about the scientific, economic and social aspects

While the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has played a significant role there has been no credible structure that brings together the social actors and captures the best information (official data is not reliable) and analysis on social dimensions of climate change and options to address them

Social outcomes of the crisis and means to address climate change will play an equally significant role whether the world is able to deal with it.

Implications for UNFCC and Climate Negotiations

Ad hoc and infrequent social inputs into national and international climate processes are inadequate to ensure effective action, risk exacerbating social tensions and do not allow for self-correction over time. It is imperative to:

Establish civil society advisory process to guide, monitor and audit investments and actions at global levels

Establish fully transparent and locally-led indigenous peoples and civil society consultation processes in forest countries to devise, guide and monitor national forest and climate strategies in forest countries

Recommendations

Questions ?

How to initiate this advisory process without supplanting any other existing process

Structure and function of these advisory processes at international and national levels

Modes of consultation

Interface with UNFCCC

Options/Way Forward

Those assembled here should nominate a Group to follow up our recommendations (don’t let perfect be enemy of good, do not try to represent, totally transparent, plan to rapidly evolve)

This Group does not supplant any other civil society or community group working for similar objectives nor does it play a representational role.

In particular, this group does not represent Indigenous Peoples who have their rightful historical, moral and legal claims for representation in international arena

However working group would work closely with other civil society and Indigenous Peoples groups

Structure and Function Self-determined structure that encompasses as wide an array of social

actors as possible without diluting its effectiveness

The group should operate upstream of REDD and Carbon Funds, ideally as an advisory to UNFCCC

Main objective of the group is to ensure that mitigation and adaptation measures in post Kyoto climate regime respect and recognize forest peoples rights and benefits and have sufficient checks and balances to redress grievances

Method and MeansDeliver

Develop specific advisories on key questions of negotiation process

Develop standards and norms for various funds

Make presentations before negotiation contact groups, REDD contact Group, UN REDD

Audit and present finding to fund managers

Means

Consultation with various social groups

Special studies on key questions (through credible institutions and individuals)

Round Table discussion with civil society actors on these studies and key questions

Annual meetings and audit (like Chatham House)

THANKS

Strengthen People Fight Global Warming