Reference number: 2294
Job status: In-progress
Job category: Consultancy
Duty station: Home-based
Download PDF: 

CIFOR’s Global Comparative Study (GCS) on REDD+ (https://www2.cifor.org/gcs/) has produced information, analysis, and tools to promote effective, efficient and equitable (3E) REDD+ outcomes, including secure rights and livelihoods for indigenous peoples and local communities. The project is in its fourth phase (2021-2023) with a focus on using science to help overcome the barriers to implementation of 3E REDD+ policies and actions in Peru, Brazil, DRC, and Indonesia in light of growing finance for forests.

Work package 3.2 focuses on rights-based approaches and safeguards to support transformational change. At the global scale this WP will produce evidence for different audiences to support implementation of rights-based approaches associated with safeguarding the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLCs) in REDD+ and other forest-friendly initiatives in the four countries. A comparative review will be complemented with key stakeholder interviews and will cover three main topics: (i) RBAs in conservation and development to understand drivers of (rights-based) transformational change; (ii) experience with standards associated with safeguarding or promoting rights of IPLCs and women aimed at understanding drivers of success (and failure); (iii) current REDD+ and related standards regarding content, criteria and associated monitoring.

Duties and responsibilities

The consultant will undertake a review of the scholarly and grey literature on rights-based approaches (RBAs) to conservation, development, and climate actions. Although the consultant will work on a definition for RBAs with the supervisors, they are understood in the context of the project – broadly – as approaches seeking to recognize, protect, and expand the rights of underrepresented groups including IPLCs, women, youth and other marginalized groups in relevant initiatives (e.g., FPIC/participation, land/resource tenure, health/food security, self-determination, etc.).

Outputs will examine different definitions/types of RBAs (including their link to international human rights law), and review earlier experiences with RBAs as well as the more recent resurgence of RBAs (including the role of IPLCs and their allies in this process). The review will outline current priorities related to RBAs, their trajectory/direction in recent discussions in scholarly and policy spheres, and arguments connecting rights to practical solutions (e.g., the impact of rights on the effectiveness of initiatives). 

Depending on the availability of evidence, the consultant will review previous implementations of RBAs by relevant organizations (e.g., donor agencies, multilaterals, and grassroots organizations) to understand drivers and definitions of success/failure. 

The objective of this consultancy is to extract lessons for protecting and supporting the rights of IPLCs, women, youth, and other marginalized groups in forest-based initiatives.

The tasks and activities of the consultant will include but will not be limited to the following activities: 

Literature review 

Working paper on RBA concepts and experiences in conservation, development, and forest-based climate actions, including REDD+. The review will focus on definitions, trends, and examples (including case studies), with close attention to lessons on what has worked well and why, and will include both scholarly and grey literature. 

Infobrief

Set out key findings and evidence-based recommendations for the design and implementation of RBAs in forest-based climate, conservation, and development actions. 

Blog

Summarise findings for a non-technical audience.