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REDD is fully implemented and if being involved in the project can result in suchhigh benefits it might result in elite capture as those most able can utilise their skillsand often tight links to the village government to acquire most of the benefits.However participation is not only important within the villages. In order for the pilotproject to work at its optimal also participation on a district level is crucial.According to Vedeld (2010), one may talk of a “broad unending, inclusive, reflectiveand open dialogue” between authorities and the civil society as an aim forparticipation. By this, it could imply a project approach where politics is more than astrategy to reach pre-determined goals. We find that TFCG/MJUMITA have engagedand included local authorities from the start. This has mainly been done incollaboration with the DNRO. During our stay we had several meetings with the staffat both the DNRO and with TFCG and MJUMITA and got the impression that thecooperation was sound and based on mutual respect. Nevertheless we did receivesome complaints about the project not providing for anything but per diem paymentfor the days they assisted TFCG although other expenses were also there such asadded phone bills or other communication expenses. From what we were told theDNRO suffered from a lack of both funding and staffing. It is thus important to alsotake them into consideration in terms of the time and effort they put into the projectand provide for some compensation. In addition to the DNRO, the TFCG cooperatedwith other offices such as the Community Development Office, the Land Office andLivestock and Agricultural Office. However, our impression during interviews wasthat the awareness of REDD was not as high. This could imply that some localgovernmental offices are more included and informed than others. By working closeto such established governmental institutions, the project aims at creating asustainable project that will continue even after the project has ended. Talking aboutsustainability, one might in fact wonder why an NGO, and not local governmentaloffices are implementing the REDD pilot in the first place. Even though the project isjust a demonstration activity, an ambition with a pilot project should be to includeexisting institutions and conform to the reality in the best ways possible. When a post-2012 climate regime is established, and a national REDD trust fund is in place, theones that will be in charge of further REDD implementing activities will most likelybe local governmental officers and not the NGOs and therefore their full involvementfrom the beginning should be a required pre-requisite.254