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Process
Who will be involved in consolidating the information? What roles will they play?
How can you support the participation of different members and groups in the community?
How do you decide what information to consolidate and how to do so?
Tone
Who is it directed towards? What are the overall and specific messages?
What is overall tone that you would like to convey (positive or negative)? How would this
contribute to the overall objective or goals of the protocol?
Given the local context and communication styles, how could you tailor the message and tone
appropriately?
Format
What format will the protocol take? For example, it could consist of a written document with
maps, videos, photographs, interviews, and so on. What are the pros and cons of each? In what
contexts might some formats be more appropriate or useful than others? Consider which
languages will be used and any technical capacities that may be required.
Consider consolidating into one overarching protocol to begin with.
Consider tailoring different versions, parts of the protocol, or additional annexes directed
towards specific external actors for specific purposes. Each may use different formats and may
adopt a different message and tone, depending on the purpose.
Assuming the protocol was documented and developed in the local language, consider
translating it into the national language and any other widely used languages.
Content and Structure
What information is appropriate to include in the protocol? What information should not be
included?
Can a protocol itself contain a diversity of opinions and perspectives or should it be presented
as a community’s “one voice” (presumably agreed upon through consensus-building)?
Although there is no prescribed list or template, the protocol could set out the following topics:
The community’s identity, story of origin, and core values and norms
Relationships between culture, language, spirituality, customary laws, resource use practices,
traditional knowledge, and their territories and areas
Customary institutions, decision-making processes, and other aspects of self-governance
Challenges and concerns and how the community would prefer to address them
Locally defined development plans and priorities
Specific rights and responsibilities in customary, national, and international law
Specific calls to external actors
Community Validation
Is the protocol accurate and meaningful enough to serve as the ‘public face’ of the community
to external actors?
What would be an appropriate process for the community to endorse the consolidated
protocol? What customary or local authorities should give their approval?
What is the relationship between the protocol and local governance structures?
How could the community validation be confirmed in the protocol itself? For example, a note at
the beginning or end of the protocol could briefly describe the process undertaken to document,
develop, and approve it.