REDD Integrity

Programmes designed to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) intend to reward individuals, communities and countries that cut carbon emissions from forests. They envisage improving incentives towards either retaining standing forests or instigating more sustainable and controlled forestry activity. REDD programmes present a possible entry point for improving forest governance practices in forested developing countries while simultaneously addressing forest-related carbon emissions as part of a global climate regime.

The central role of issues of governance, public integrity and corruption in the success of REDD programmes is widely acknowledged both in relevant academic and policy literature and in ongoing discussions within the development practitioner and research communities. Good governance, anti-corruption and public integrity approaches suitable for REDD are currently being explored both in the literature and in international and national policy workshops, stakeholder meetings, and conferences.

Many salient questions remain to be explored in detail, however, including:

1. How could weak governance and corruption influence the success of REDD programmes?
2. How can REDD programmes have a positive impact on the integrity of existing forest governance?
3. How can those responsible for REDD programmes ensure that necessary good governance and anti-corruption reforms are successful?
4. How should those responsible for REDD programmes respond if anti-corruption measures are not successful?

This project promotes an informed approach among U4 partner agency staff to governance and anti-corruption issues specifically in relation to REDD programmes. The purpose of the project is to assist partner agencies in their governance and anti-corruption efforts related to REDD. This will be done by providing informational resources to assist the partners in building capacity to design and implement governance and anti-corruption strategies and interventions relevant for REDD programmes.

For publications and activities, see the  U4 REDD Integrity theme page