Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition (FSN Forum)

Contribution from:

Mauro Bottaro, Gender and Social Safeguards expert, FAO Forestry Division (NFO)

Jean-Claude Nguinguiri, Forestry Officer, FAO Forestry Division (NFO)

José Vilialdo Diaz Diaz, Forestry Officer, FAO Forestry Division (NFO)

FAO also promotes community-based approaches in forestry, fisheries, and land tenure. FAO's community-based forestry (CBF) approach[i] emphasizes the active involvement of local communities in the sustainable management of forest resources. By engaging community members directly, CBF aims to enhance the conservation and sustainable use of forests while improving the livelihoods of rural populations. The FAO Forestry Division recently supported the development of a framework to assess the extent and effectiveness of CBF regimes. Two of the indicators in the global assessment are equity (e.g. equitable sharing of costs and benefits) and inclusiveness (e.g. engaging marginalized individuals and groups, including women and youth, and sharing equitably in decision-making processes and benefits). The assessment framework has been tested in more than 25 countries and its findings are being used to facilitate the strengthening of CBF regimes in selected countries. 

FAO’s Forest and Farm Facility[ii]  provides direct support to forest and farm producer organizations (FFPOs), including women, youth and Indigenous Peoples as primary change agents for climate resilient landscapes and improved livelihoods. The producer organization business model provides advantages in creating job opportunities and access to markets for women, positive spill-over effects in both household and group businesses, and access to social services such as vocational trainings, childcare and maternity leave – all of which support women to participate in the labor market on a more equal footing with men. 

The SWM Programme[iii] prioritizes people’s rights in wildlife management, aiming to balance conservation needs with wildlife use for food security and cultural practices. The initiative developed a community rights-based approach CRBA), identifying governments, institutions, and civil society as accountable duty-bearers for respecting and protecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities. At the same time, it empowers these communities, as rights-holders, to exercise and claim their rights. A cornerstone of this approach is the integration of social safeguards tools, systematically adapted and documented in diverse settings. This standardized methodology, innovative for multi-partner, multi-country conservation initiatives, is influencing similar projects and helping to harmonize rights-based approaches globally.

The SWM Programme’s social safeguards are designed to go beyond compliance with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). While protecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples is central, the safeguards extend to addressing the needs of all marginalized and vulnerable groups, particularly women and youth. This emphasis on inclusion ensures that voices often underrepresented in decision-making—such as women, young people, and marginalized Indigenous Peoples—are amplified and integrated into wildlife management strategies.

Through participatory consultation processes like Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC), the Programme ensures that women and other vulnerable groups are active participants, not passive stakeholders. FPIC meetings are structured to create spaces where women, youth, and other marginalized members feel safe and supported to contribute. These efforts reinforce principles of equity, recognition, and empowerment within partner communities.

FPIC is a legally enshrined process that gives Indigenous Peoples the agency to approve or reject projects impacting their lands and resources. The SWM Programme has innovatively reimagined FPIC as a continuous and inclusive dialogue that fosters agency for all social groups within a community. For women, this represents an opportunity to influence decisions traditionally dominated by male leadership structures, ensuring that their priorities and perspectives are heard and addressed.

Key participatory methods, such as gender-sensitive stakeholder mapping, are used to ensure that the needs and interests of all social groups are accounted for. By addressing the structural inequalities that limit women's and youth's participation in community governance, the SWM Programme is reshaping FPIC to be a transformative tool for broader community engagement. 

In Guyana, one of the implementation sites of the SWM Programme, the Amerindian Act granted in 2006 Indigenous Peoples (referred to as Amerindian villages and Amerindian communities in the Act) the right to consent for specific activities on their formally recognized territories. However, this right was limited to small- and medium-scale mining, logging, and the establishment of protected areas. The Act does not recognize FPIC rights for communities on untitled land and does not cover development and conservation projects, research activities, or other activities that may have positive or negative impacts on the rights of Indigenous Peoples. Without written rules and procedures, communities are struggling to defend their rights over land and other resources they have traditionally used and occupied. Indeed, it is external actors who tend to define the terms of engagement and consultations. The SWM Programme in Guyana has been supporting an innovative community-led initiative aimed at expanding and strengthening the existing consent policies, focusing on the rights of Indigenous Peoples, including those on untitled lands. This is aligned with the SWM Programme objectives to promote and protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities. The SWM Programme began raising awareness among Indigenous Peoples’ leaders (Toshaos) and community members about their FPIC rights under the UNDRIP since 2018. The team then began working with communities that had already secured formal land tenure from the government and where their community council was recognized by, and authorized to, govern access to and use of their territory. The Toshaos recognized the value of having their own consent process and protocols to engage with external individuals or organizations seeking access to community lands. This kick-started efforts with the SWM Programme to create tailor-made community FPIC guidelines that build on the Amerindian Act and international law. This initiative is unique in Guyana because it adopts a bottom-up approach, supporting Indigenous People’s agency to take the lead in defining and managing their own writ-ten FPIC processes. The indigenous leaders’ enthusiasm for FPIC highlighted its potential beyond only formal engagements with external entities, envisioning it as a tool for broader community development and resource management. To develop comprehensive FPIC protocols, in 2023 the SWM Programme facilitated a series of multi-day training sessions with Toshaos and community members, focusing on the implications of a consent process, defining the situations where FPIC would be requested by the community and clarifying the FPIC steps. These sessions led to in-depth discussion and clarification on the specific roles and responsibilities of community members and the obligations of external parties were clearly defined. The whole process has had multiple benefits: 

• Community Empowerment: The training and subsequent discussions empowered community leaders and members to take an active role in managing their territories.

• Protocol Development: Five Amerindian villages (Mocomoco, Surama, Yupukari, Nappi and Rewa), with guidance from the SWM Programme team, developed protocols to standardize FPIC processes, ensuring clarity and consistency in engagement with external entities.

• Capacity Building: Strengthening the capacity of community leaders and members has positioned them to lead future FPIC processes, safeguarding their rights to self-determination and territorial governance,

The protocols developed by these Indigenous Peoples will serve as a blueprint for others across Guyana and in the wider region. This toolkit will enable other communities to create their own FPIC processes, tailored to their specific needs and circumstances, thereby promoting widespread adoption and empowerment. At previous National Toshao Council meetings, Indigenous leaders from the Rupununi explained how they are developing their FPIC Protocols in their communities in Region 9 (Rupununi). They will present their FPIC Protocols at the next National Toshao Council in order to gain official recognition and support for their efforts. This official recognition will provide Amerindian villages with a stronger foundation for negotiating with external actors and government agencies. It will also serve as a model for other Amerindian communities in Guyana that are seeking to further protect their land and resources through the FPIC process by developing their own FPIC protocol. 

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