Social Safeguards
Nearly all conservation work now engages people as key stakeholders, actors, beneficiaries, or potentially negatively impacted individuals or groups, so a review of safeguards at the beginning of any project is important. While social safeguards are commonly thought of when working with indigenous communities (i.e. Indigenous peoples have collective rights recognized under international law), there are many other groups that should be considered under this analysis.
KEY QUESTIONS
1. Has free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) of primary stakeholders been obtained for activities affecting lands and other resources traditionally occupied and/or used by those stakeholders?
2. If applicable, does the project fully consider the dignity, human rights, traditional knowledge, and cultural heritage and practices of people affected by the project?
3. If the project contributes to sustainable economic and human development, is it done in a manner that is socially and culturally appropriate for the primary stakeholders?
4. Is full consideration given to how to share or distribute benefits from the project equitably, fairly, and transparently?
5. How does the project ensure that adverse effects from conservation programs are assessed, prevented and mitigated for affected groups?
6. Are all stakeholders being given the opportunity to meaningfully participate in the conservation process?
7. If applicable, does the project intentionally benefit gender equality, equity, and women’s empowerment?
8. Does the project support transparency and accountability of natural resource conservation and good governance by consistently disclosing and sharing information about intervention plans and results with primary stakeholders in a culturally appropriate manner?
9. Does the project comply with applicable local and national laws, international treaties and conventions, and other relevant rules?
10. Is there an accountability system that is transparent and accessible for primary stakeholders to share concerns or file complaints about the conservation program?
11. If there is a significant risk of adverse impacts that directly threaten marginalized groups, or that threatened the project (e.g., through reputational, financial, or legal risk), is there a monitoring system in place to track adverse impacts?
The Conservation by Design 2.0 guidance document provides a full list of considerations that can help with the incorporation of social safeguards into conservation planning work. An abbreviated version of 11 key safeguard questions has been provided here for reference.
Return to Stakeholder Analysis Methods Kit.