First RCE Thematic Conference: Towards Achieving the SDGs 5-7 December 2017 Okayama, Japan

1. POLICY SUPPORT TOOLS AND METHODOLOGIES WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF
IPBES
05/01/2018
Dr Claire Brown

2. 05/01/2018
IPBES and Policy Support Tools and Methodologies
05/01/2018POLICY SUPPORT TOOLS AND METHODOLOGIES
• IPBES has a mandate to support policy formulation and
implementation for the conservation and sustainable use
of biodiversity and ecosystems.
• This is one of four functions of the Platform and forms a
core part of the first work programme
• Important to remember IPBES aims to be policy relevant
and not policy prescriptive.

3. 05/01/2018
05/01/2018POLICY SUPPORT TOOLS AND METHODOLOGIES
In the current work programme for IPBES, this is being
addressed by:
 Developing a policy support portal (including a Catalogue with policy
support tools and policy instruments linked to assessments, case
studies, learning opportunities, guidance, and communities of practice)
 Preparing methodological guidance on how to address policy support
tools and methodologies within IPBES assessments
 Delivering assessments covering methodological and thematic issues,
and different geographical areas which address policy-related issues
IPBES and Policy Support Tools and Methodologies

4. 05/01/2018
Policy instruments…
05/01/2018POLICY SUPPORT TOOLS AND METHODOLOGIES
…are means or techniques by which
government/public authorities at
local, national or international levels
aim to achieve public policy
objectives
…can take many forms, ranging from
regulatory frameworks to economic
incentives, and are often used in
combinations
…tend to be more effective when the
supporting formal and informal
institutions are in place

5. 05/01/2018
Four main categories of policy instruments
05/01/2018POLICY SUPPORT TOOLS AND METHODOLOGIES
1. Legal and regulatory instruments
Implementing and developing laws and regulations at different levels can enhance the protection of
the environment, the development of sustainable production systems, and human wellbeing
These instruments are sometimes required as part of due diligence and compliance with national
and international environmental legislation and regulations
Examples are: pesticide management, marine resources management
2. Rights-based instruments and customary norms
Representation of rights and norms in conservation and protection of ecosystems can foster
synergies with human wellbeing
International and national human rights instruments, whether binding or non-binding, can be created
to fit socio-ecological systems
Strengthening collective rights, customary norms and institutions of indigenous peoples and local
communities can promote adaptive governance and fair management of natural resources
Example: African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Banjul Charter)

6. 05/01/2018
Four main categories of policy instruments
05/01/2018POLICY SUPPORT TOOLS AND METHODOLOGIES
3. Economic and financial instruments
Fiscal instruments can be used to change people’s behaviour towards desired policy
objectives (for example through subsidies, taxes, charges and fiscal transfers), and can
act to correct policy and/or market failures and reinstate pricing that takes account of
environmental and social costs
Financial instruments, by contrast, are often extra-budgetary and can be financed from
domestic sources or foreign aid, external borrowing, debt for nature swaps, among
others
4. Social and cultural instruments.
These instruments emphasize the relationship between ecosystems and sociocultural
dynamics for the management of natural and cultural resources
Examples of cultural instruments: sacred sites, peace parks, indigenous and community
conserved areas
Examples of social instruments: awareness-based voluntary interventions, corporate
social responsibility, and enhancement of collective action

7. 05/01/2018
Policy support tools and methodologies…
05/01/2018POLICY SUPPORT TOOLS AND METHODOLOGIES
…refer to approaches and
techniques based on science and
other knowledge systems (e.g.
scenarios, models, mapping tools,
valuation tools, indicators)
…can inform, assist and enhance
development and implementation
of policy instruments to better
protect nature and promote its
sustainable use at local, national,
regional and global levels

8. 05/01/2018
Seven families of policy support tools and
methodologies
05/01/2018POLICY SUPPORT TOOLS AND METHODOLOGIES
1. Assembling data and knowledge
…aim to provide the data that is needed to understand the
function and links between biodiversity, human wellbeing and
nature’s contributions to people (including ecosystem services)
e.g. TESSA, South African Risk and Vulnerability Atlas (SARVA),
indicators
2. Assessment and evaluation
…synthesise and assess knowledge relative to status, function,
and drivers of nature, nature’s contributions to people, human
well-being, and the connections between these
e.g. Value Transfer Method, cost benefit analysis, trade-off
analysis

9. 05/01/2018
05/01/2018POLICY SUPPORT TOOLS AND METHODOLOGIES
3. Public discussion, involvement and participatory process
…used to develop a shared understanding of policy objectives and
outcomes and is achieved by supporting discussion and deliberation
e.g. stakeholder consultation, focused group discussion, mass media
communication, and cultural mapping.
4. Selection and design of policy instruments
…supporting the identification and evaluation of policies and institutional
settings
e.g. policy analysis, instrument impact evaluation, ex-ante evaluation of
options and scenarios, policy mix analysis.
5. Implementation, outreach and enforcement
….supporting the implementation phase of existing policies
e.g. include audits, process standards (e.g. ISO), monitoring, reporting and
verification.
Seven families of policy support tools and
methodologies

10. 05/01/2018
05/01/2018POLICY SUPPORT TOOLS AND METHODOLOGIES
6. Training and capacity building
…identify and/or address capacity gaps and shortfalls by enhancing the
skills and capacity of relevant actors and organizations
e.g. handbooks, manuals, guides, e-learning resources, education,
workshops, knowledge sharing.
7. Social learning, innovation and adaptive governance
…aim to improve responsiveness, risk management and overall
performance of the policy process while identifying opportunities to
promote social learning and strengthening links and feedback
mechanisms across elements and activities
e.g. deliberative valuation, adaptive capacity wheel
Seven families of policy support tools and
methodologies

11. 05/01/2018
IPBES Policy support
portal
05/01/2018POLICY SUPPORT TOOLS AND METHODOLOGIES
www.ipbes.net/policy-support

12. 05/01/2018
05/01/2018POLICY SUPPORT TOOLS AND METHODOLOGIES
Work on policy support tools and methodologies within IPBES
is ongoing and evolving
….opportunity to start to interact with the process

13. 05/01/2018
05/01/2018POLICY SUPPORT TOOLS AND METHODOLOGIES
In groups discuss:
1. What policy support tools do you currently use, and why?
2. What tools would you like to use but don’t, and why not?
3. How do you currently find tools or assistance?
Consider issues such as access, licensing, capacity, data,
language for example
Responses on post-it notes

14. 05/01/2018
And in the future…
05/01/2018POLICY SUPPORT TOOLS AND METHODOLOGIES
What role can IPBES play in supporting the use and access to
a range of policy support tools within your work, institutions or
countries?

15. 05/01/2018
Continue your engagement
05/01/2018
POLICY SUPPORT TOOLS AND METHODOLOGIES
Join the community through the IPBES website, and
1) Locate tools and methodologies of potential use to you
2) Seek support in their use
3) Identify yourself as an expert in a particular tool
4) Upload a tool, and support others in using it
5) Upload case study material
6) Upload an assessment

16. UN Environment
World Conservation Monitoring Centre
www.unep-wcmc.org
@unepwcmc
UN Environment
World Conservation Monitoring Centre
www.unep-wcmc.org
@unepwcmc
Dr Claire Brown
Senior Programme Officer
claire.brown@unep-wcmc.org
05/01/2018