Institutional Mechanisms for REDD+ - Case Studies Working Paper

� Support efforts to build the knowledge-base, awareness and capacity of communities in a framework to achieve sustainable
rural development, with clearly defined outcomes and results. Capacity building is arguably one of the most critical
gaps to make REDD+ work, by ensuring that communities exercise their rights to use their resources in
a way that is consistent with REDD+ objectives. In addition, capacity building can also be used to
address issues of equity and gender equality, which in turn could be important for successful REDD+
implementation. However, capacity building will require significant investments of time and resources. In
the REDD+ pilot in Chiapas, the two years of the project thus far have focused on capacity building. In
the example from Oaxaca, the project invested four years in building awareness of the project and
educating people.
� Avoid raising unreasonable expectations. It is very important to manage expectations, particularly since the
scale of benefits are not yet clear for REDD+ activities. Although it appears that establishing REDD+
frameworks and projects is a race against time, careful attention must be given to raising the expectations
of local communities. If community expectations to earn income from REDD+ projects are high and are
not met, then projects could backfire and perhaps even increase deforestation rates in the future.
PRRGP INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISMS FOR REDD: CASE STUDIES – WORKING PAPER 19