For the action research showcased in the publication: From research to action, leaf by leaf: getting gender right in REDD+ SES.  WEDO designed a common methodology (research, workshops, site visits, interviews and follow-up) for the action research that was flexible enough to be tailored to each country’s specific conditions. This flexibility was critical for two principle reasons: first, each country is in a different stage in their REDD+ process, and second, each country has different strengths and challenges related to the integration of gender equality and women’s rights into their REDD+ processes.

Description: In Nepal, the final country for action research, the work was done in close collaboration with the Nepal REDD Cell of the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation. The REDD Cell selected Nirmala Bhandari as the government focal point to support the process and Hima Uprety as the local research associate to provide logistical and field support. As Nepal has a history of strong women’s networks, the action research also engaged more deeply with a partner organization in the region, Women Organizing for Change in Agriculture and Natural Resources Management (WOCAN). Given the advanced state of REDD+ in Nepal and the knowledge and networks of WOCAN and the research associate, many interviews and meetings were arranged. In Nepal WEDO was able to expand its activities including more contact with grassroots women than elsewhere and the development and provision of concrete suggestions for the REDD+ SES country indicators.

Activities

• 3-day workshop with 32 participants that included civil society, development partners and government professionals, researchers, grassroots, and indigenous women and men
• 1-day workshop with 18 participants, including 4 participants from the previous workshop and representatives from government, civil society and academic institutions
• 11 interviews with grassroots women from four community forests in Chitwan and Gorkha
• 8 interviews with representatives from Himalayan Grassroots Women’s Natural Resource Management Association (HIMAVANTI), Federation of Community Forest Users (FECOFUN), Dalit NGO Federation (DNF), Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN), representatives Hariyoban Project; Director of REDD+ Cell and Gender Focal Point Ministry of Environment
• 3 sessions with Women Leading for Change in Natural Resources (WLCN) to develop concrete suggestions for the REDD+ SES country indicators

Outcomes

• Potential actions to ensure that the REDD+ National Strategy includes the gender dimension in its Readiness, Policies and Measures, and Implementation phases.
• Lessons learned: Good practices and challenges faced by forest projects.
• Gender equality or women’s rights issues that need to be addressed within each one of the principles of the REDD+ SES.
• Preliminary roadmap with actions to mainstream gender in the national interpretation process of the REDD+SES.
• Specific suggestions to include the gender dimension in REDD+ SES country indicators.

For a comparative analysis between Nepal and the other three countries involved in the action research, explore below:

• Brazil (State of Acre)
• Ecuador
• Tanzania

Download the full publication here.