Assessment Of Actors’ Brokerage Strategies And Power Struggles In The National Redd+ Process In Tanzania

ABSTRACT 

Deforestation and forest degradation are among the sources of greenhouse gases emissions. Therefore, reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, ‘plus’ forest conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks (REDD+)are considered asa unique opportunity of improving forest governance in developing countries. REDD+ has already been included as amitigation mechanismin the Paris Agreement onclimate change.Tanzania is among the countries thatembarked on instituting REDD+ governance structures. This study investigatedbrokerage strategies and power struggles in the national REDD+ process in Tanzania. Data were collected between 2012 and 2014.The study was conducted in Dar es Salaam and some selected districts namely Kilosa, Kondoa, and Rufiji wheresome REDD+ demonstration projects have been undertaken.Data were collected by usingPRA, focus group discussions, structured questionnaire, semi-structured and unstructured interviewsas well asparticipant observation. Structured questionnaire was conducted on 68 actors from government, parastatal organizations, development partners, private sector and non-governmentalorganizations (NGOs). Secondary data wereobtained from NGO pilot project documents, policy briefs, published and unpublished documents and reports.Data were analysed using SPSS version 20 and Social Network Analysis (SNA) with UCINET 6 and NetDraw software. Results revealed thatthe National Fund and Market Based systems arethe emerging National REDD+ governance structures in Tanzania. The study also found that themajority of actors have vested interests in the national REDD+ governance processes.Consequently, both governmental and nongovernmentalactors striveto be brokers in the national REDD+ governance process in order to advance or protect their interests. Thebrokerage strategies deployed include:provision of consultancy services, financial resources, and technical services. Other brokerage strategies revealed include:the use of non-state diplomacy or insider- iii outsider relations, acting as observers, advisers, lobbyists and pressure groups. The study also indicated that power struggles that involvedgovernment and non-government actors emerged during the national REDD+ governance process. The factors underlying power struggles include:the number of assigned roles and responsibilities; the level of awareness and knowledge of actors on REDD+, economic expectations of carbon credits, the level designation or position of actors and ownership of forests. Other factors that contributed to power struggles include membership in the national REDD+ Task Force and organization mandates of actors. The study concludes that brokerage strategies and power struggles may spark legitimacy concerns and subsequently affect performance of the emerging governance structures.The studyrecommends forthe assessment of performance of the emerging governance structures in order to enhance theirlegitimacy.The study also recommends for the establishmentof a national REDD+ dialogue platform todebate and deliberateon REDD+ issues as both national and global lessons unfold. In addition, the study recommends for the revisionof National Forest Policy, Livestock Policy, Agriculture Policy, National Land Policy andother legislations to align them with the implementation of REDD+.