DGM Program and Global Learning and Knowledge Exchange Project

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The development objective of the Dedicated Grant Mechanism (DGM) for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) including, a Global Learning and Knowledge Exchange Project for the World is to strengthen the capacity of IPLCs to participate in the forest investment program and other Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD ) programs at local, national, and global levels. Forests comprise the largest terrestrial carbon pool and balance the global carbon budget storing nearly 247gigatons of carbon (45 percent of terrestrial carbon) in their biomass for decades or longer, releasing it to the atmosphere only when burned or cleared for other land uses. Deforestation and forest degradation, however, continue to mobilize greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere, disturbing the carbon cycle and contributing to global warming. REDD has emerged as a promising approach that can tackle forest-based emissions and contribute to development outcomes. Greater voice and role for IPLCs will make REDD more effective in achieving its goals. The DGM program objective will be achieved by: (i) establishing and strengthening representative IPLC-led governing bodies for DGM decision-making in forest investment program (FIP) pilot countries and at the global level; (ii) providing grants to IPLCs in FIP pilot countries for initiatives consistent with DGM and FIP criteria; (iii) providing training and capacity development in leadership, management, and technical skills to IPLCs at country and global levels; (iv) facilitating knowledge exchange and learning on REDD and climate change issues between and among IPLCs at regional and global levels; (v) strengthening networks and alliances of IPLC organizations within and across regions; and (vi) enabling scale up of successful local solutions for forest and landscape management. The program has two parts - the first part comprises the DGM country projects and the second, the global learning and knowledge exchange project which serves as an umbrella to the entire program.