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THINKING beyond the canopyTHINKING beyond the canopy

Félicien KENGOUM DJIEGNI

REDD+ in the Cameroon policy arena: Perceptions, power and politics

GCS-REDD C1

THINKING beyond the canopy

Presentation agenda

1. Introduction

2. A quick refresh on REDD+ policy process in Cameroon

3. Networks in the REDD+ policy arena in Cameroon

4. Conclusion


Introduction

-Difficult to date to assess the real place of non state actors in the decision making process

• No data available on policy actors (Gami et Al, 2001)• Few attempt to study actors of the forest arena (Ngouffo et al, 2006,

Dkamela, 2011)

-A policy network analysis of REDD+ in Cameroon

•Opportune for some (Gami et Doumengue, 2001, Wafeu Toko, 2006)•…questionable for others (Tchouala, 2006, Darbon,2006)•…But done by us (within the GCS-REDD+ C1.)


3 questions to answer

-Who are the REDD+ actors in Cameroon and what are their perceptions of the still discussed mechanism?

-What type of power relations do exist between these actors?

-Which directions to foresee in terms of REDD+ politics according to perceptions and power relations between the actors?

Introduction


-Increasing interest in discussions on RED (D+) •Participation to international negociations (Cop to the UNFCC since 2005)•Increasing discourse of media on REDD+ at the national level (Kengoum, 2011)•Involvement in the FCPF supported by the World Bank

- Some steps carried out already:•R-PIN submitted in 2008•Creation of the REDD+ pilot projet by the decision 09/MINEP OF January 2009•Agreement signed for a grant of USD 200,000 from the WB for the drafting of the R-PP 2010

- Some undertaken:•The position of the country on REDD+ international discussion declared in 2009•The creation of the climate change national observatory in 2009•The feedback of the participation of the REPAR to the COP meeting in Copenhagen•The recruitment of the consultant for the drafting of the R-PP outstanding

- Some still left:•Not yet got the grant for the REDD+ implementation phase•No results available yet

CONSEQUENCE: No REDD+ strategy available to date

A quick refresh on REDD+ policy process in Cameroon


RESULTS THE REDD+ ACTORS IN CAMEROON:

Who they are!

64 identified with expert panel , 50 met, 42 surveyed and 18 interviewed (semi structured)


RESULTS THE REDD+ ACTORS IN CAMEROON:

Interest in the mechanism

0

5

10

15

20

25

State organizations

National NGOs and individual

International NGOs

International research institute

Governmental institutions

International business

Agences gouvernementales étrangères

Donors


-The broad optimism about the feasability of REDD+ in Cameron – A good natural potential and a « good » forest legal framework– Many REDD+ pilot activities undertaken on the field– An increasing political will (e.g creation of the national climate

change observatory…)

-But some challenges to tackle first:-The MRV as a non yet a definitively closed concern-The coordination of agencies from different sectors-The contradictions in and between some sectional laws (eg.

Forest Vs Mining…)-The form of the participation of the non state actors to the decision

making process-The implementation of political decisions

RESULT THE REDD+ ACTORS IN CAMEROON:

Mixed perceptions about the REDD+ national strategy


RESULTS Networks in the REDD+ policy arena in Cameroon:

Influent actors


RESULTS Networks in the REDD+ policy arena in Cameroon:

Influent actors

Influent actors in the political arena:Government agenciesInternational organizations (Donors, ENGOs…)Domestic NGOs Business organizations


• Ressources flows (1-information)• High centrality of International actors in the

information sharing (with government, and civil society actors)

• Very weak information sharing between government agencies and civil society organizations

• Strong and frequent ties between international actors

Networks in the REDD+ policy arena in Cameroon:

Influent actors and ressources flows (1)


• Ressources flows (2-financing)• High centrality of International donors in financing

(mostly toward civil society organizations and the government )

• Absence of the government in financing• No governmental agency acting as broker• Governmental organizations competing with other

categories of organizations in search of financing

Networks in the REDD+ policy arena in Cameroon:

Influent actors and ressources flows (2)


DISCUSSION

• REDD+ national coordination: A Key challenge in Cameroon

• Mixed feelings about the power relations between state actors and non state actors• Institutional decision power for the government• Material power for international organizations• Structural weaknesses and low voice for the national civil

society organizations

• Facts and influence of international organizations in REDD+: toward a remake of the 1994 forestry reform?– Central in information sharing, financing, implementation activities– Difficult ownership of the process by national actors


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