Responsive Forest Governance Initiative (RFGI) Research Programme
Principal Investigators: Jesse Ribot (University of Illinois), James Murombedzi (CODESRIA), Ebrima Sall (CODESRIA), and Edmund Barrow (IUCN)
The Responsive Forest Governance Initiative (RFGI) was a 5-year, 14-country, comparative research and training program, focusing on environmental governance in Africa. The RFGI is funded by the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) and executed by the Council for the Development of Social Sciences Research in Africa (CODESRIA), the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. The initiative was coordinated by a team of four co-directors, three postdoctoral fellows, and thirty-four researchers working in twelve African countries: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda -- and two additional cases in Nepal and Peru.
RFGI was designed to research “responsive and accountable decentralization” in forestry, so as to strengthen the representation of forest-based rural populations in decision-making. The program worked to identify ways to enhance responsive and adaptive governance processes that reduce vulnerability, enhance wellbeing, and improve forest management. Responsive and adaptive governance are crucial to equitable and sustainable strategies for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD), and for promoting climate adaptation.
The Initiative trained young, in-country policy researchers in order to build an Africa-wide network of environmental governance analysts. RFGI also invited independently funded researchers from other regions of the world to participate in the program. The results from Africa are compared in the RFGI publications with results from studies carried out by collaborators in Asia and South America to enhance RFGI comparative scope, and to broaden its geographic policy relevance.
RFGI Outputs (see related documents below)
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Special Issue on RFGI Research in the Journal Conservation & Society January 2018 (in pubs below)
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Policy Brief Based on RFGI Research Published
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Other Related Publications & Documents (scroll down to past Working Papers)
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RFGI Newsletters
Status: Completed – although a second phase RFGI type initiative is under development.
Note that publications listed below will also be found under other projects since publications have been matched to as many projects as they are relevant to. The Institutional Choice and Recognition research page and the EAA pages are closely related to this work -- democracy and environment. The Working Papers RFGI are only listed here. They have not been listed in other research projects. Please also note that the link to spinoff publications above will lead you to over 100 additional excellent papers by the RFGI team.
Working Papers
RFGI Working Paper 01
Anderson, Emily, Hisham Zerriffi. 2014. The Effects of REDD+on Forest People in AfricaAccess, Distribution,and Participation in Governance. James Murombedzi, Jesse Ribot and Gretchen Walters (eds.) RFGI Working Paper (1). CODESRIA: Dakar.
RFGI Working Paper 02
Mutasa, Mukundi. 2012. Review of REDD+ and Carbon-Forestry Projects in RFGI Countries. James Murombedzi, Jesse Ribot and Gretchen Walters (eds.) RFGI Working Paper (2). CODESRIA: Dakar. More details under RESEARCH/RFGI tabs.
RFGI Working Paper 03
Rutt. Rebecca L. 2012. Social Protection in REDD+ Initiatives: A Review. James Murombedzi, Jesse Ribot and Gretchen Walters (eds.) RFGI Working Paper (3). CODESRIA: Dakar.
RFGI Working Paper 04
Kashwan, Prakash. 2012. Studying Local Representation: A Critical Review. James Murombedzi, Jesse Ribot and Gretchen Walters (eds.) RFGI Working Paper (4). CODESRIA: Dakar.
RFGI Working Paper 05
Ribot, Jesse. 2012. Choix, reconnaissance et effets de la décentralisationsur la démocratie. James Murombedzi, Jesse Ribot et Gretchen Walters (eds.) Document De Travail Du RFGI (5). CODESRIA: Dakar.
RFGI Working Paper 06
Nuesiri, Emmanuel O. . 2012. The Re-emergence of Customary Authority and its Relation with Democratic Government. James Murombedzi, Jesse Ribot and Gretchen Walters (eds.) RFGI Working Paper (6). CODESRIA: Dakar.
RFGI Working Paper 07
Hiraldo, Rocio. 2015. Calling for Democracy? Villagers Experience of the Production of Class Relations for ecotourism and Carbon Markets in Niombato, Senegal. James Murombedzi, Jesse Ribot and Gretchen Walters (eds.) RFGI Working Paper (7). CODESRIA: Dakar.
RFGI Working Paper 08
Samb, Coumba Dem . 2015. Quand la représentation résulte à des fragmentations d'identités de genre. James Murombedzi, Jesse Ribot et Gretchen Walters (eds.) Document De Travail Du RFGI (8). CODESRIA: Dakar.
RFGI Working Paper 09
Oyono, Phil René . 2015. Gouvernance climatique dans le Bassin du Congo: reconnaissance des institutions ed redistribution . James Murombedzi, Jesse Ribot et Gretchen Walters (eds.) Document De Travail Du RFGI (9). CODESRIA: Dakar.
RFGI Working Paper 10
Oyono, Phil René et Floribert Ntungila-Nkama. 2015. Zonage des terres, conservation des paysages et représentation locale déboîtée en RD Congo. James Murombedzi, Jesse Ribot et Gretchen Walters (eds.) Document De Travail Du RFGI (10). CODESRIA: Dakar.
RFGI Working Paper 11
Nuesiri, Emmanuel O. 2015. Representation in REDD: NGOs and Chiefs Privileged over Elected Local Government in Cross River State, Nigeria. James Murombedzi, Jesse Ribot and Gretchen Walters (eds.) RFGI Working Paper (11). CODESRIA: Dakar.
RFGI Working Paper 12
Yamo, Antang. 2015. Représentation locale compromise dans la gestion de la rente forestière communautaire au sud-est Cameroun. James Murombedzi, Jesse Ribot et Gretchen Walters (eds.) Document De Travail Du RFGI (12). CODESRIA: Dakar.
RFGI Working Paper 13
Samndong, Raymond Achu. 2015. Institutional Choice and Fragmented Citizenship in Forestry and Development Interventions in Bikoro Territory of the Democratic Republic of Congo. James Murombedzi, Jesse Ribot and Gretchen Walters (eds.) RFGI Working Paper (13). CODESRIA: Dakar.
RFGI Working Paper 14
Namara, Agrippinah . 2015. At the Expense of Democracy: Payment for Ecosystem Services in Hoima District, Uganda. James Murombedzi, Jesse Ribot and Gretchen Walters (eds.) RFGI Working Paper (14). CODESRIA: Dakar.
RFGI Working Paper 15
Marfo, Emmanuel. 2015. The Illusion of Democratic Representation in the REDD Readiness Consultation Process in Ghana. James Murombedzi, Jesse Ribot and Gretchen Walters (eds.) RFGI Working Paper (15). CODESRIA: Dakar.
RFGI Working Paper 16
Susan Wangui Chomba. 2015. REDD+ Institutional Choice and the Implications for Local Democracy in the Kasingau Corridor, Kenya. James Murombedzi, Jesse Ribot and Gretchen Walters (eds.) RFGI Working Paper (16). CODESRIA: Dakar.
RFGI Working Paper 17
Faye, Papa. 2015. From Recognition to Derecognition in Senegal's Forests: Hemming in Democratic Representation via Technical Claims. James Murombedzi, Jesse Ribot and Gretchen Walters (eds.) RFGI Working Paper (17). CODESRIA: Dakar.
RFGI Working Paper 18
Billy Kakelengwa Mbilizi et Aphonse Maindo Monga Ngonga. 2015. Déficit de redevabilité dans la gestion dela rente forestière communautaire Le cas de Yasekwe en Province Orientale(République démocratique du Congo). James Murombedzi, Jesse Ribot et Gretchen Walters (eds.) Document De Travail Du RFGI (18). CODESRIA: Dakar.
RFGI Working Paper 19
Eteme, David. 2015. Gouvernance de la redevance forestière annuelle et citoyenneté au Cameroun Analyse des dynamiques locales autour de la redevabilitéet leçons pour la REDD+. James Murombedzi, Jesse Ribot et Gretchen Walters (eds.) Document De Travail Du RFGI (19). CODESRIA: Dakar.
RFGI Working Paper 20
Karambiri, Mawa. 2015. Démocratie locale « en berne » ou péripéties d’un choix institutionnel « réussi » dans la gestion forestière décentralisée au Burkina Faso. James Murombedzi, Jesse Ribot et Gretchen Walters (eds.) Document De Travail Du RFGI (20). CODESRIA: Dakar.
RFGI Working Paper 21
Makalamba, Patrick Matata et Phil René Oyono. 2015. Choix institutionnel, gestion autoritaireet privatisation de la rente forestière communautaire en Province Orientale(République démocratique du Congo). James Murombedzi, Jesse Ribot et Gretchen Walters (eds.) Document De Travail Du RFGI (21). CODESRIA: Dakar.
RFGI Working Paper 22
Baruah, Manali. 2015. Effect of Institutional Choices on Representation in a Community Resource Management Area in Ghana. James Murombedzi, Jesse Ribot et Gretchen Walters (eds.) RFGI Working Paper (22). CODESRIA: Dakar.
RFGI Working Paper 23
Ece, Melis. 2015. Representation through Privatisation: Regionalisation of Forest Governance in Tambacounda, Senegal. James Murombedzi, Jesse Ribot and Gretchen Walters (eds.) RFGI Working Paper (23). CODESRIA: Dakar.
RFGI Working Paper 24
Mandondo, Alois, Poonam Jusrut. 2015. Waiting for Democratic Representation in Africa's Social Forests. James Murombedzi, Jesse Ribot and Gretchen Walters (eds.) RFGI Working Paper (24). CODESRIA: Dakar.
RFGI Working Paper 25
Ruta, Doreen. 2015. Assuming Women's Representation in Carbon Forestry Projects: The Nile Basin Reforestation Project No. 3 in Uganda. James Murombedzi, Jesse Ribot and Gretchen Walters (eds.) RFGI Working Paper (25). CODESRIA: Dakar.
RFGI Working Paper 26
Côte, Muriel. 2015. Autochthony, Democratisation and Forest: The Politics of Choice in Burkina Faso. James Murombedzi, Jesse Ribot and Gretchen Walters (eds.) RFGI Working Paper (26). CODESRIA: Dakar.
RFGI Working Paper 27
Oyono, Phil René , Deng-Athoi Galuak. 2015. Land Governance, Local Authorities and Unrepresentative Representation in Rural South Sudan: A Preliminary Exploration. James Murombedzi, Jesse Ribot and Gretchen Walters (eds.) RFGI Working Paper (27). CODESRIA: Dakar.
RFGI Working Paper 28
Osei-Wusu Adjei, Prince. 2015. Decentralization, Institutional Choice and the Production of Disgruntled Community Representation under the Modified Taungya Forest Management System in Ghana. James Murombedzi, Jesse Ribot and Gretchen Walters (eds.) RFGI Working Paper (28). CODESRIA: Dakar.
RFGI Working Paper 29
Mbeche, Robert. 2015. REDD Stakeholder Consultation: Symbolic Or Substantive Democratic Representation in Preparing Uganda for REDD+?. James Murombedzi, Jesse Ribot and Gretchen Walters (eds.) RFGI Working Paper (29). CODESRIA: Dakar.
RFGI Working Paper 30
Kijazi, Martin H.. 2015. Resources, Rents, Representation and Resistance: The Struggle for just Conservation on Mount Kilimanjaro. James Murombedzi, Jesse Ribot and Gretchen Walters (eds.) RFGI Working Paper (30). CODESRIA: Dakar.
RFGI Working Paper 31
Mandondo, Alois. 2015. Examining the Democracy Outcomes of Environmental Subsidiary: The Case of a Carbon Forestry Initiative from Central Mozambique. James Murombedzi, Jesse Ribot and Gretchen Walters (eds.) RFGI Working Paper (31). CODESRIA: Dakar.
RFGI Working Paper 32
Jusrut, Poonam. 2015. The Process of Institutional Choice and Recognition for Decentralized Forest Management in Charcoal-Producing Zones of Tambacounda, Senegal. James Murombedzi, Jesse Ribot and Gretchen Walters (eds.) RFGI Working Paper (32). CODESRIA: Dakar.
RFGI Working Paper 33
Agyei, Frank K. 2015. Chiefs, Representation and Non-Citizenshipin Forestry Lessons from the Social Responsibility Agreement in Ghana. James Murombedzi, Jesse Ribot and Gretchen Walters (eds.) RFGI Working Paper (33). CODESRIA: Dakar.
RFGI Working Paper 34
Ribot, Jesse. 2016. ‘RFGI Handbook I: Leveraging Local Democracy through Forestry’ Responsive Forest Governance Initiative Working Paper No. 34, Dakar: CODESRIA/ IUCN/ University of Illinois.
RFGI Working Paper 35
Barrow,Edmund, Gretchen Walters, Barbara Nakangu, Kenneth Angu Angu, Saadia Bobtoya, Regina Cruz, Sophie Kutegeka, Moumini Savado. 2016. RFGI Handbook II: Implementing Improved Natural Resources Governance in Practice. James Murombedzi, Jesse Ribot and Gretchen Walters (eds.) RFGI Working Paper (35). CODESRIA: Dakar.
Related Documents
BOOKS & SPECIAL ISSUES
BOOKS & SPECIAL ISSUES
Ece, Melis, James Murombedzi and Jesse Ribot (eds.). 2017. “Disempowering Democracy: Local Representation in Community and Carbon Forestry in Africa,” Conservation and Society. 15(4): 357-370. Special Issue on Rights, Representation and REDD+. This is a collection of seven articles from seven researchers in the five-year thirteen-country thirty-five case study comparative research program the Responsive Forest Governance Initiative (RFGI). More details under RESEARCH/RFGI tabs.
POLICY RESEARCH BRIEFS
POLICY RESEARCH BRIEFS
Ribot, Jesse. 2017. ‘Choose Democracy: Guidance for Democratizing through Natural Resource Management Interventions,’ a Responsive Forest Governance Initiative (RFGI) policy brief of the Swedish International Center for Local Democracy (ICLD) with CODESRIA, IUCN and University of Illinois [Also available in French 2018 as ‘Choisir la démocratie : la gestion des ressources naturelles pour les décideurs, bailleurs de fonds, et agents de terrain’].
WORKING PAPERS
WORKING PAPERS
Ribot, Jesse. 2015. ‘Leveraging Local Democracy through Forestry.’ A Natural Resource Management Implementation Policy Brief and Handbook. Responsive Forest Governance Initiative, CODESRIA, IUCN and University of Illinois
BOOK REVIEWS, FORWARDS, AND NON-REVIEWED ARTICLES
BOOK REVIEWS, FORWARDS, AND NON-REVIEWED ARTICLES
Ribot, Jesse. 2014. “Responsive Forest Governance Initiative (RFGI): A Research Update” Perspectives: Research Notes & News. Vol. 32, No. 1. See RESEARCH/RFGI page.
PROJECT DOCUMENTS
PROJECT DOCUMENTS
Other RFGI Publications -- List of 115 books, articles and other documents