STRONG VOICES, ACTIVE CHOICES TNC’s Practitioner Framework to Strengthen Outcomes for People and Nature We would like to thank the more than 100 staff members who participated in the survey titled “Tracing TNC’s Roots in Indigenous Peoples and Local Community-led Conservation,” which provided the basis for our understanding of TNC’s work in this field, and emphasized the value of tools and guidance such as this. Further, we would like to thank the staff who engaged in the Conservation in Partnership with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities strategy development process, from which the overarching theory of change evolved. Finally, we would like to thank the staff who contributed to this guide through their input, expertise, peer review, provision and vetting of tools and resources, and provision of case studies, particularly: Matt Brown, Laurel Chun, Rane Cortez, Eric Delvin, James Fitzsimmons, David Hinchley, Andrew Ingles, Allison Martin, Patricia Mupeta, Luke Preece, Helcio Souza, and Heather Wishik. This framework was made possible thanks to support from The Boeing Company and other generous donors. Edited and curated by Nicole R. DeMello and Erin Myers Madeira. Designed by Epstein Creative Group. Preferred Citation: The Nature Conservancy. 2017. Strong Voices, Active Choices: TNC’s Practitioner Framework to Strengthen Outcomes for People and Nature. Arlington, VA. STRONG VOICES, ACTIVE CHOICES TNC’s Practitioner Framework to Strengthen Outcomes for People and Nature FRAMEWORK PURPOSE AND NAVIGATION This framework describes The Nature Conservancy’s approach to partnering with indigenous peoples and local communities on shared conservation and sustainable development goals. The framework will be most useful in situations where human well-being outcomes and conservation outcomes are linked and interdependent, where the leadership of indigenous peoples and local communities is essential to achieving shared goals, where power imbalances may hinder achieving sustainable results for nature and people, and where projects may significantly impact local communities. Beyond a detailed description of the framework and overall theory of change for strengthened voice, choice, and action, we provide practical tips, tools, and resources to implement the framework. The framework can be used in part or in whole, and introduced at any stage of a project. A review of literature and conversations with experts have revealed that approaches and results can be extremely context specific. Hence this framework is not meant to be a step-by-step guide on how to implement the theory of change. However, we do provide helpful tips, questions, tools, and resources that can aid the practitioner who wishes to dig deeper on any of the elements of the overarching theory of change. These specific resources were chosen because they can be applied across multiple regions and contexts. STRONG VOICES, ACTIVE CHOICES 4 Environmentally Secure rights to sustainable economic territories and development resources opportunities Effective multi- Strong community stakeholder platforms leadership and for decision-making capacity For an overview of TNC’s approach - Strengthening For key points, tools and resources on securing Voice, Choice, and Action, see page 6. rights to territories and resources, see page 28. For detail on what science and theory tells us For key points, tools and resources on leadership about different aspects of the overarching theory of development and capacity building, see page 35. change for strengthened voice, choice, and action, see page 9. For key points, tools and resources on effective multi-stakeholder platforms for decision-making, Before digging into the next four themes, read the see page 42. section about important cross-cutting considerations. This section will ensure you are following human For key points, tools and resources on rights-based approaches. See page 22. environmentally sustainable economic development opportunities, see page 49. For a visual depiction of TNC’s overarching theory of change for strengthened voice, choice, and action, see page 27. 5 FRAMEWORK PURPOSE & NAVIGATION TNC’S COMMON APPROACH: STRENGTHENING VOICE, CHOICE, AND ACTION Indigenous peoples and local communities—specifically those people who possess a profound relationship with their natural landscapes and depend on these territories for their cultural, religious, health, and economic needs—are vital leaders in the pursuit of lasting solutions to the world’s most pressing conservation and development challenges. Their rights to and relationship with lands and waters, and deep knowledge of natural systems and resources, make them critical leaders for building a healthy and sustainable future. Eighteen percent of the world’s land is owned by or designated for indigenous peoples and local communities (RRI 2015), and at least double that is claimed but not yet legally recognized (Alden Wily 2011). With their territories harboring more than 24 percent of the world’s tropical forest carbon (RRI, WHRC, and WRI 2016), and much of global biodiversity (Sobrevila 2008), indigenous peoples and local communities are among the Earth’s most important stewards. Their leadership is key to conservation and sustainable development of their own lands, the territories surrounding them, and ecosystems globally. STRONG VOICES, ACTIVE CHOICES 6 Indigenous peoples and local communities face challenges to making their vision for conservation and healthy communities a reality in part because of power imbalances at local, national, and global scales. These challenges may include: • Lack of recognized and enforced rights over territory and resources; • Insufficient capacity to engage and negotiate positive outcomes in decision-making about managing natural resources, even when rights do exist; • Exclusion from or under-representation in decision-making processes; and • Development pressures that undermine cultural and environmental priorities. These challenges present a problem for us as a conservation organization. Evidence shows that conservation and development initiatives are less likely to be successful and sustainable when they lack the active engagement and leadership of the people who have the greatest stake in their outcome and when such initiatives are not guided by traditional knowledge and values. Despite United Nations declarations to the contrary, throughout the world many cases exist where indigenous peoples and local communities are ignored or actively denied the opportunity to participate effectively in the decisions and interventions that impact their lands, waters, and livelihoods. They face exclusion and dispossession, and confront development prospects that undermine their cultural heritage and environmental priorities. These threats to people and nature, both locally and globally, will become more acute as pressures on land and resources continue to grow. TNC is working to address these issues by creating and supporting opportunities for indigenous peoples and local communities to play a stronger role in natural resource decision-making and management. TNC does so by strengthening the voice, choice, and action of indigenous peoples and local communities through approaches consistent with UN human rights standards. Specifically, TNC supports: • Recognition and enforcement of rights to and responsibility for territories and resources; • Strengthening local leadership and capacity for managing territory and resources; • Effective multi-stakeholder platforms for decision-making; and • Environmentally sustainable and culturally aligned economic development. TNC’S COMMON APPROACH 7 STRENGTHENING VOICE, CHOICE, AND ACTION In the last 10 years, TNC’s partnerships with indigenous peoples and local communities have spanned 27 countries, led to the conservation or improved management of more than 235 million acres (95 million hectares), and had demonstrably positive impacts on the well-being of 925,000 people (TNC 2016). STRENGTHENED VOICE, CHOICE, AND ACTION The Nature Conservancy aims to help transform the way land and waters decisions are made by strengthening the voice, choice, and action of indigenous peoples and local communities to shape and manage natural territory in ways that improve lives and drive conservation. A stronger voice leads to the inclusion of traditional knowledge, identity, local priorities, and values in plans and solutions; the ability to exercise and influence choice builds leadership and engagement in decision-making; and greater action provides the opportunity for communities to initiate and participate in the implementation of programs and the management of resources that impact their well-being both now and in the future. STRONG VOICES, ACTIVE CHOICES 8 WHAT THE SCIENCE TELLS US Land Tenure Security Multi-Stakeholder Platforms Common Pool Resources and Indigenous Sustainable Economic Development Land Management Community Capacity and Leadership Human Well-being and Conservation LAND TENURE SECURITY Land tenure is the set of institutions and policies that determine how land and its resources are accessed, who can benefit from these resources, for how long and under what conditions. Land tenure can come in a variety of forms and refers to the rules and norms associated with any number of entities, such as an individual, a public institution (e.g., the National Park Service), a private company, a group of individuals acting as a collective, a communal or common property arrangement, or an indigenous group. Likewise, land tenure security