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al. 2011). A team of 5 permanent staff members had been established, consisting ofone field coordinator and one evaluation officer from TFCG, two field officers fromMJUMITA, and one driver. In addition, we were told an additional member with apure agricultural background would be employed in January 2011 (Local resourceperson 2010).Contact with District Staff was also made in the beginning, both as a way of lettingtheir presence be known and to further a good working relationship in the future.According to the field coordinator, “they had a very warm welcome by the districtauthority, meaning the district commissioner and the district executive director,which assured them a good cooperation”(Ibid.)8.2.2.2 Stage one: Getting started.The first step was done following the concept of Free, Prior and Informed Consent(FPIC).The concept of FPIC has been developed as a response to operations with negativeeffects on indigenous peoples in the developing world. So far it has mainly beenapplied by companies investing in forestry operations such as logging. In addition tobe a part of the pilot projects advocacy strategy, the concept of FPIC is beingpromoted as a prerequisite for including villages in the REDD project. FPIC is alsobeing advocated by TFCG and MJUMITA to be included into future national leveloperations (Kibuga, Nguya et al. 2011).At district level the first stage included the selection of villages, (see Table 46),briefing of district staff, and creating a district PFM/REDD facilitation team. TheKilosa District Natural Resources Office (DNRO) has as a result been involved fromthe beginning, and even lent their office to TFCG while they were in the process offinding a more permanent office. As part of the PFM/REDD facilitation team, at leastone Forest Officer at a time have assisted TFCG in their activities, for instance whencarrying out information meetings with Village Assemblies, and also the DistrictLand-Use Committee has been involved when land use planning exercises have beencarried out. Other important District Committees and Offices seemed to be lessinvolved though, and for instance the District Community Development Office and227