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A3. Local Institutions and Governance
Another fundamental aspect of a community protocol is how a community makes decisions about its
people and environment. This is also known as governance (see Box 9) and is a matter of power,
responsibility, human relations, participation, legitimacy, transparency, and equity. Initial guiding
questions for informal discussion are set out in Box 10 below to help you gauge the context and better
understand which approaches or tools to use. A comprehensive discussion about governance structures
should feature strongly in the protocol process itself (see Part
Management asks, “What do we do
II: Section II/E). The purpose of these questions is not to build
to conserve X or Y resource?”
a formal description of the governance structure and its
Governance asks, “Who decides what
powers, but rather to facilitate an authentic narrative about
shall we do, and how?”
how community members feel about them and their
capacities to respond to certain threats and opportunities.
Box 9: Distinguishing between management Focus on exploring stories and personal experiences rather
and governance
than allegations of the validity of decisions.
In
some
situations,
community
institutions may not seem equipped to
deal with new challenges. In other
situations, long-standing community
practices may be highly effective at
dealing
with
new
threats
or
opportunities. Assumptions either way
should be withheld. Further guidance on
understanding
and
supporting
community institutions and capacities is
provided in Part I: Section IV.
How are important decisions made in your community?
What are the core values that guide decisions?
Who is involved in making decisions? Who is considered
to be the community authorities?
How can or do you participate in the process?
Do you feel you have sufficient opportunities to voice
your concerns and opinions?
Would you like to change anything about the existing
system or structure?
do community institutions relate to local
government officials?
Could you share an example of a good decision? What
were the main factors that led to it?
How
Biocultural community protocols are not
intended to introduce radical ideas,
foster antagonism, or disrupt traditional Box 10: Guiding questions about community governance
decision-making processes. They aim to
draw on the strengths of customary laws, which are often based on social norms of honour, pride, and
reciprocity. They promote culturally appropriate ways to address conflict and to make decisions that
represent the diverse yet collective voice of the community. At the same time, customary laws are not
static entities that must be upheld regardless of their implications. Customary laws have evolved over
time and will continue to evolve alongside internal and external changes.
A4. Participation and Representation
Participation and representation are essential to biocultural community protocols. As much as possible
within the local culture and situation, the protocol should strive to include the full spectrum of
perspectives, especially those of women, youth, the elderly, and others who are often excluded from
decision-making processes. Although it is often not possible to include every single person, a participatory
approach contributes to building greater consensus and collective learning. It also helps people feel
personally invested in the process, which increases potential for effective social mobilization and tangible
change.