April 18, 2023

REDD+ Safeguard Information Systems:

Vietnam’s nascent response

Stevo Swan

Contents

1. Current status

2. Near-future interventions

3. Take-home messages

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Background

• Vietnam – one of the first countries to engage in REDD+

FCPF - R-PIN (2008) → R-PP (2010; mid-2012 inception)

UN-REDD – first country programme (Phase I: 2009-2012; Phase II: in prep.)

Numerous NGO interventions (SNV largest and most diverse REDD+ prog.)

• Vietnam - not one of the earlier starter safeguard countries in 2011

Responding to Cancun safeguards - number of national processes instigated

Brazil (Acre); DRC; Ecuador; Indonesia (Central Kalimantan) Nepal; Tanzania

Responses driven by external multilateral initiatives (SEPC; SES; SESA)

Readiness efforts

• Vietnam – focus of readiness efforts to date:

1. Institutional development

2. Stakeholder engagement

3. Benefit Distribution System

4. Reference (Emission) Levels

5. MRV framework

6. National REDD+ Programme

• Vietnam - focused on main elements of national REDD+ architecture

Institutional foundations

System of accounting for emission reductions/enhanced removals

System of compensating local actors for implementing REDD+ activities

Next key piece of REDD+ architecture to be designed and installed – SIS…?

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UN-REDD activities

• National MRV Framework Document ‘With reference to safeguards information’ – web-based portal by Phase II

• Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) Guidelines developed, applied and evaluated in one pilot province

• Benefit distribution system (BDS) R-coefficients (payment weighting); self-selection procedures for BDS models

• Participatory governance assessment (PGA) Multi-stakeholder assessment (instigated March 2012)

• Participatory carbon monitoring (PCM): Technical manual developed and tested in one pilot province

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‘High-biodiversity REDD+’

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International intervention

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How to operationalize Cancun safeguards and deliver co-benefit performance?

• Technical assistance from UNEP-WCMC

• SNV remains product-neutral; focus on facilitating multi-stakeholder process

• Make significant and necessary contributions to forestry sector-wide policy(Circular guiding strategic environment and social assessment in forestry - 2012)

National intervention

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Subnational and local interventions

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STWG-SG overview

• Sub-technical working group on safeguards (STWG-SG) 1 of 6 STWGs: BDS; governance; local implementation; MRV; private sector

Inaugural meeting (28 March 2012); 2nd meeting (19 April 2012)

Chaired by VNFOREST-Vietnam REDD+ Office and SNV (HB-REDD+ PMU)

 • Objective

Co-ordinated technical assistance delivered to GoV and other stakeholders

Operationalising safeguards to promote social and environmental co-benefits

At national, subnational and local levels

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STWG-SG results

1. STWG-SG established and operationalized

2012 indicator – six STWG-SG meeting agendas and minutes

2. Options for operationalizing REDD+ safeguards in Vietnam identified

2012 indicator - options paper - existing and potential safeguard actions

3. National REDD+ programme environmental & social safeguards developed

2012 indicator – first coherent draft of national REDD+ safeguards

4. National safeguard information system (SIS) developed

2012 indicator – first coherent draft of SIS framework document

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National SIS

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Concluding remarks

• There are a range of options available for operationalizing safeguards: national policy strengthening, integrated subnational planning, regulatory and economic instruments and improved monitoring systems

• Incorporating co-benefits into a national REDD+ strategy or programme doesn’t necissitate the creation of brand-new systems or technologies but the re-evaluation and enhancement of those already at a country’s disposal

• REDD+ countries are already committed to environmental and social outcomes in the forestry sector. Integrating co-benefits into REDD+ could reduce investment and transaction costs of delivering these outcomes

• It is important to adopt national-level standards as a direct intervention that demonstrates political commitment to environmental and social co-benefits, but they are not the totality of a country’s safeguard response

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National REDD+ Programme

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Thank you

• Further information:

www.vietnam-redd.org

www.snvredd.com

www.forestcarbonasia.org

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