The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) recently published a sourcebook for local governments called “Towards Wellbeing in Forest Communities.” It defines concepts of wellbeing and poverty and provides four tools that will help local governments identify and collect relevant data” address challenges” and implement policies that will have positive impacts on poverty and wellbeing in the region.

Decentralization in countries such as Indonesia has given greater power to local governments. The book addresses how to effectively utilize these new powers to reduce poverty and promote social and economic development. Local governments” the book maintains” must improve communication with rural communities under their jurisdiction” support small and medium sized investors” promote collaboration among local interest groups” offer mediation for conflicts and disputes” and collect data on social and economic indicators with regularity. By collecting data frequently” local governments will be able to note changes through time” and make comparisons among various places. This will allow them to properly allocate funds and design programs so as to most effectively distribute resources and aid. Furthermore” engaging local communities in what is called “participatory planning” will help bring a sense of transparency and legitimacy to the process” and will enhance the efficiency of projects” as communities will be able to explicitly state their needs.

There are four tools that can help make participatory planning a successful reality:

1. Interactive Mapping

• Can help rural communities create detailed maps that pinpoint resources and housing

• Show the availability of government programs and services to rural peoples

• Track changes over time if mapping done regularly

2. A Local Wellbeing Monitoring System

• Surveys (typically) filled out by communities

• Can link statistics to development needs

• Assists in learning how the public defines wellbeing

• Enables comparison of local indicators to national indicators” and tracking of changes over time

3. Evaluating Local Government Programs through Community Focus Groups

• Reports how well government programs were implemented

• Determines if programs had the desired impact

• Results can be given to local government for future reference

• Quick and cost effective

4. Scenario Based Planning

• Communities develop a vision or goal for the future

• Communities develop a plan to meet this goal

• Helps involve poor” often marginalized groups

• Creates ownership for new initiatives

• Improves working relationships and chance of success

These four tools” in addition to enabling a more comprehensive understanding of poverty” can help address issues that rural” forested communities face. Use of the tools can improve the wellbeing of these peoples. While the sourcebook acknowledges that change won’t be easy” the sourcebook provides the “necessary inspiration for getting the process started.”

A PDF version of the Sourcebook can be found here.