Strengthening transparency for REDD+ in Vietnam

On 8 May 2012, Transparency International (TI)/ Towards Transparency (TT) in collaboration with Bi Doup Nui Ba National Park organised a workshop on “REDD+ and International requirements for REDD+ development and implementation” in Da Lat, Lam Dong province.

Chaired by the Lam Dong Provincial People’s Committee, the workshop was attended by more than fifty participants including a range of local government agency representatives, international and national experts on forestry and environment, and journalists. The workshop aims to update participants on the implementation of REDD+ in Lam Dong and to introduce international requirements for enhancing transparency and accountability in REDD+ implementation.

As part of the Vietnam’s National REDD+ programme, two districts in Lam Dong province were selected as pilot sites. The first component is currently taking place, which focuses on improving the technical and institutional capacity of relevant organisations to ensure that by the end of 2012 Vietnam is ready to coordinate and manage REDD+. Due to the massive financial flows involved and the complex technical understanding of carbon finance management required, the implementation of REDD+ is particularly vulnerable to corruption. Participants raised a number of questions on REDD+ and expressed ultimate concern about how to enhance transparency, accountability and involve communities in monitoring REDD+ implementation.

During the workshop, TT/TI introduced the Preventative Anti-Corruption Measures for REDD+ (PAC REDD) initiative with an emphasis on enhancing current anti-corruption regulations and tools, reviewing sustainable climate finance governance and increasing local participation in climate finance governance mechanisms. Mr. Cao Hai Thanh, the national coordinator of PAC REDD from TT said a range of locally-adapted tools will be developed for anti-corruption in REDD+ implementation and piloted in a number of provinces across Vietnam.

In the second part of the workshop, local policy makers and authorities had the opportunity to contribute to the strengthening of anti-corruption tools and measures for REDD+. Participants discussed and proposed a number of locally-driven solutions based on analysis of local obstacles and situation. Proposals included enhancing the capacity of provincial authorities and civil society organisations involved in REDD+ so that they can play a greater role in monitoring its implementation.

Following the workshop, international experts and stakeholders continued to work with local anti-corruption agencies and joined a field trip to Lam Ha and Di Linh districts, where PAC REDD will be piloted.

PAC REDD is currently being carried out across the Asia Pacific region in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Vietnam.