A Training Manual on “Advocacy, Lobbying and Negotiation Skills for Indigenous Peoples in Climate Change and REDD+”

While indigenous peoples’ low carbon lifestyles contribute little to climate change, it is on our ancestral lands that impacts of global climate change are first felt. The ways that indigenous peoples have sustainably managed natural resources for hundreds of years can help mitigate climate change impacts. Given this wisdom, indigenous peoples should play central roles in international climate change negotiations. Strong and concerted advocacy and lobbying by indigenous peoples of the world is necessary to achieve this.

Indigenous peoples have proactively engaged in international negotiations for their full and effective participation in decision making and collective rights to lands, territories and resources including free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) as stipulated in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Some of the demands of indigenous peoples are reflected in the REDD+ Cancun Agreement, which states that rights and traditional knowledge must be respected and full and effective participation of indigenous peoples must be ensured. Similarly, the Cancun Adaptation Framework adopted by Parties in 2010 affirms that enhanced action on adaptation should be based on and guided by the best available science and, as appropriate, traditional and indigenous knowledge. Indigenous peoples assert that rights cannot be compromised; however, indigenous peoples’ delegates have recognized the need to strengthen existing skills and capacities for lobbying and advocacy. AIPP member/partner organizations pointed out the need for a manual to help empower indigenous peoples with knowledge and skills for effective advocacy and lobbying. Thus, AIPP developed this training manual on “Advocacy, Lobbying and Negotiation Skills for Indigenous Peoples in Climate Change and REDD+.” This manual is the fourth
in a series of the manuals after What to do with REDD? A Manual for Indigenous Trainers, Understanding Community Based REDD+: A Manual for Indigenous Community Trainers and Training Manual on Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) in REDD+ for Indigenous Peoples under
the project “Climate Change partnership with Indigenous Peoples: Promoting Rights Based, Equitable and Pro-poor REDD+ Strategies
in South and South East Asia.” Like other manuals, this manual will be translated, localized and published into different languages in REDD+ countries in Asia. This will help strengthen the ongoing advocacy, lobbying and networking of indigenous peoples at all levels.

This manual aims to improve the existing skills of indigenous peoples on advocacy, lobbying and negotiations. It also aims to build new generation of indigenous leaders who can advocate for indigenous peoples in climate change negotiations, including REDD+ processes. The manual is suitable for indigenous peoples, indigenous leaders and activists, indigenous peoples’ organizations and civil society organizations engaging in the climate change negotiations and beyond. This is a working manual and will thus be revised or adjusted as and when needed and appropriate.

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