Countries around the world and in the Asia-Pacific region increasingly recognize the impact of an inclusive and participatory forest governance system to solving the world’s greatest environmental challenges. How can policy analysis improve forest governance? Are there available tools for policy and legal analysis? Why do we need to involve civil society organizations and local communities in legal reforms?
Policy Analysis and Forest Governance 101 will address these questions and more. It focuses on the Asia-Pacific region, but the concepts can be applied throughout the world. The journey through the course includes experiential and reflective activities based on real-life conditions provided by civil society organizations working in the Mekong region. You will also have opportunities to share your ideas and collaborate with others.
Who is this course for?
Participants are people who work in the government, non-government or private forestry sector. It is for those who work with forest communities or advocate for policies and laws to improve forest governance. It can be useful to members of civil society networks or multistakeholder forums who want to participate in forest governance. Examples of a governance process include the European Union’s Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) initiative and Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) program of the United Nations.
Participants should have a working knowledge of English. Typical learners are professionals in the forestry and natural resources sectors in civil society, government and the private sector interested in participatory forest governance; early career professionals in the Asia-Pacific who want to gain additional knowledge on the use of policy analysis; organizations that seek opportunities for their employees to gain skills and learn how to engage with policymakers and how forest governance can help them achieve their goals.
Course structure
- Session 1 explains the concepts of policy analysis for improved forest governance
- Session 2 presents examples of policy analysis tools
- Session 3 looks at the processes and conditions needed for civil society to participate and influence policies and laws
- Session 4 discusses how policy analysis can be used for advocacy
