The presentation of Rubin Rashidi, of CN-REDD in Democratic Republic of Congo, to the IIED-hosted Moving ahead with Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+) workshop on 9-10 April 2014. The presentation, made during the fifth session on social and environmental safeguards of REDD+, focused on work being carried out in Democratic Republic of Congo. Further details of the workshop and IIED's work on REDD+ are available via http://www.iied.org/coverage-moving-ahead-redd-prospects-challenges-workshop.

1. INTEGRATION OF THE SOCIAL AND
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS OF
REDD+ IN DRC
National REDD Coordination
MECNT/DRC

2. SUMMARYSUMMARY
DRC and REDD+ safeguards
Workshop on national social and environmental
standards for REDD+ in the DRC
Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment
(SESA) of REDD+ in the DRC
Problems and Questions raised
Challenges and Perspectives

3. DRC and REDD+ safeguardsDRC and REDD+ safeguards
 Vast forest country, low deforestation rate <=
 still relatively low population density but,
 large/important areas deforested
 Poverty and governance affects implementation of legislation
 Swidden agriculture and the use of charcoal = main causes of deforestation
 Alternatives v.i.

4. STANDARDS WORKSHOP IN DRCSTANDARDS WORKSHOP IN DRC
The 3 principal phases of the mission to establish national social and environmental
standards for REDD+ in the DRC are:

5. Strategic environmental and social assessment
(SESA) of REDD+ in the DRC
Strategic environmental and social assessment
(SESA) of REDD+ in the DRC
 Leadership - REDD-NC, the REDD+ SESA in DRC
 International consultancy « AGRECO-LANDRESSOURCES » recruited through a
competitive process
 Mission began in February 2012
 National results validation workshop - end of April 2014.
 SESA involved a large number of REDD+ stakeholders in the DRC
 Analysis of potential risks linked to the process and activities envisaged by the REDD+
framework strategy
 Proposal of mitigation measures to avoid, reduce or compensate where necessary (three
layer consultation)

6. Key deliverables of the SESAKey deliverables of the SESA
 Propose a Social and Environmental Management Framework for the
whole of the REDD+ process which integrates issues raised in the
Standards and the SIS/DRC.
 Develop specific frameworks according to the activities outlined in the
DRC Framework Strategy and to the World Bank’s Operational Policy
 Cultural Heritage Management Framework,
 Forced Displacement Management Framework,
 Indigenous Peoples Development Framework, etc.

7. ChallengesChallenges
 SESA carried out before development of the National REDD+ Strategy
 Two parallel processes which fed into each other (delays and some
frustrations)
 The national strategy integrated a number of recommendations from:
 Strategic Evaluation
 ESMF
 Feedback from the conceptualisation of the Safeguards Information Systems (SIS)
integrated in the national REDD register

8. Questions raisedQuestions raised
 The SESA has raised importants questions which need governmental and
participatory answers (second phase and national workshops) including:
• Cost and feasibility of national MRV
• Risk of failed negotiations and consequences on national REDD+
investments
 Risks of failures with benefit sharing (governance problems, multiplicity of
stakeholders, etc. )
 Minimum size of projects (cost benefit of MRV and compliance with
procedures and safeguards report)

9. Target mechanism for the SIS in the DRCTarget mechanism for the SIS in the DRC

10. Opportunities and ChallengesOpportunities and Challenges
 The DRC has reaffirmed its commitment to national MRV
 The results of the SESA will be presented to the relevant parties during
the national workshop (April 2014)
 The tools developed through the SESA. improved version of the
Standards and SIS will be disseminated and tested at a national level -
finalised and integrated in the National REDD+ register
 Monitoring and evaluation of their implementation will be a challenge

11. PRIORITIES FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARSPRIORITIES FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS
 Finish the SESA with the organisation of a national workshop
 Test the tools developed (simplified ESIA, the local to national level
information system: respond to indicators, appeals and complaints)
 Develop a transparent online mechanism to evaluate feedback (register)
integrating issues to follow-up on from project objectives, on governance,
related environmental benefits… => coherent and complete follow-up tool
 Communicate regularly on the monitoring and evaluation at provincial and
national level

12. Priorities (cont.)Priorities (cont.)
 Train national experts who can ensure the EIES and Safeguard Plans are
carried out where necessary and advise on the effective implementation of
the safeguards.
 Train project developers to ensure the safeguards are respected
 Ensure lessons are learnt from the feedback and develop the tools
accordingly.

13. CN-REDD/RDC
rubinrashidi@yahoo.fr
www.redd.cd