D2.2.1. Key mechanisms for stakeholder participation in forest management and REDD+
Viet Nam’s policies, laws and regulations set out detailed requirements about the types of information to be shared and the mechanisms for participation of relevant stakeholders in policy and legislative development, planning and management in the forest sector, which are applicable to REDD+, including the National REDD+ Action Program (NRAP) and Provincial REDD+ Action Plans (PRAPs). Other mechanisms also include Free, Prior and Informed Consultation (FPIC) and Grievance Redress Mechanisms (GRMs) (see SIS C.2 and SIS B.4 respectively).
National level
At the national level, there are various processes and mechanisms in place to ensure the participation of stakeholders in forest activities, including REDD+. The coordination mechanisms for REDD+ include the Central Steering Committee for the Program of Sustainable Development (also responsible for the NRAP), the REDD+ Network (with around 300 members), and Sub-technical Working Groups (see SIS B.2 for more information).
The NRAP (2017) also calls for the full and effective participation of relevant stakeholders, including communities and women. Development of the NRAP included extensive bilateral, formal and informal consultations with multiple stakeholder groups.[1] (See SIS D.2.2.3 on stakeholder participation in development of national and sub-national REDD+ programs for more information).
The Law on Forestry (2017) requires that the development of national forestry strategies and programs shall include consultation with relevant stakeholders. Before submission and approval by the Prime Minister, these draft documents have to be the subject of broad consultation. They are shared through official documents to provinces and on websites of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE), Departments of Agriculture and Environment (DAEs) and other relevant agencies. MAE collects and integrates all relevant comments before submitting the final draft for approval. For example, the draft of Sustainable Forestry Development Strategy in 2021-2030 period was shared and received comments from relevant stakeholders.[2] The websites of MAE and Viet Nam Department of Forestry and Forest protection (VNFOREST) also include sections for seeking comments on drafts of legal documents.[3]
Gender equality is considered a key element in Viet Nam’s safeguards framework related to participation as well as governance (see also SIS B2.4). To promote gender equality, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) (now Ministry of Home Affairs) is the State Management Agency for the Law on Gender Equality (2006)[4] and for implementing the National Strategy on Gender Equality (2021-2030).[5]
Sub-national level
- are also a number of processes and mechanisms at subnational level to ensure the participation of stakeholders in forestry activities, such as: forest and allocation to communities, companies, household and individuals; forest protection contracting; and participation in Viet Nam’s for Forest Environmental Services (PFES) scheme (see SIS B2.2 for more information on implementation of these mechanisms).
In terms of REDD+ specific processes, the guidelines on PRAP development[6] set out engagement of stakeholders throughout the PRAP development process. The guidelines include the establishment of Provincial REDD+ Steering Committees comprising representatives of local authorities and other stakeholders. As of 2018, 12 provinces had established Provincial REDD+ Steering Committees/REDD+ working groups to guide the implementation of REDD+ and local forest protection and development plans.
An Adaptive Collaborative Management Approach (ACMA) was adopted for the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility Emissions Reductions Program (FCPF ERP)[7] in the North Central provinces, with stakeholder participation mechanisms outlined in the ERP document. There has been participation from the local to the national level in the preparation of management plans and consultations, with elected representatives from villages to attend ACMA meetings; workshops and focus group discussions at different levels; surveys and interviews of key informants; and facilitation of participatory approaches by a participation expert. For the FCPF ERP, communities are also expected to have a role in the forest monitoring system, including assisting in data collection assessing information, etc.[8] A Gender Action Plan (GAP) has also been developed for the FCPF ERP as part of its Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF): the objective of the GAP is to promote women’s participation in the program, share in the benefits, and maximize gender equality, and it includes gender specific indicators to monitor outcomes and impacts.[9]
For the proposed Green Climate Fund (GCF) REDD+ results-based payments project, a gender action plan has been designed to operationalize the constraints and opportunities for women and men identified during the gender analysis towards fully integrating them into the project design and implementation.
For the proposed Lowering Emissions by Accelerating Forest Finance (LEAF) Program in the Central Highlands and South-Central Coast regions, a consultation protocol has been prepared, setting out consultation processes from local to central levels and the participation of all relevant stakeholders, particular local communities and ethnic minorities. A gender participation target has been set at 30% of female participants in consultation meetings at provincial, district and commune level with the participation of relevant stakeholders such as forest owners, forest protection contractees, and affected communities.[10]
More information on the implementation of consultation processes is provided in SIS D2.2.3.
| [1] | Viet Nam’s First Summary of Information: https://redd.unfccc.int/media/4850_1_first_soi_viet_nam__28eng_29.pdf |
| [2] | Some comments: https://snrd-asia.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/6-Contrbutions-to-VFDS_-EN.pdf https://nature.org.vn/vn/2020/10/pannature-gop-y-chien-luoc-phat-trien-lam-nghiep/ https://www.cifor-icraf.org/publications/pdf_files/OccPapers/OP-209.pdf |
| [3] | Notices seeking comments on draft legal documents -MAE website: https://mae.gov.vn/van-ban-du-thao.htm; VNFOREST website: https://vnforest.gov.vn/category/gop-y-van-ban/ |
| [4] | Law on Gender Equality (2006) |
| [5] | Resolution No. N028/NQ-CP dated March 3, 2021 on National strategy for gender equality in 2021-2030 period |
| [6] | Decision 5414/QD-BNN-TCKL dated December 25, 2015 on guideline to develop PRAP |
| [7] | FCPF ERP Document (2018): https://www.forestcarbonpartnership.org/system/files/documents/00_FINAL%20ER-PD%20Viet Nam%205%20Jan%202018__0.pdf |
| [8] | FCPF ERP 1st Monitoring Report (2023) p. 7-8: https://www.forestcarbonpartnership.org/sites/default/files/documents/vietn am_mmr1_final_06.09.2023_vn_updated_01.10.2023_clean.pdf |
| [9] | FCPF ERP Document (2018): https://www.forestcarbonpartnership.org/system/files/documents/00_FINAL%20ER-PD%20Vietnam%205%20Jan%202018__0.pdf |
| [10] | LEAF consultations report (2024): https://vnff.vn/en-us/leaf-program/soi-and-others |