Links - Livelihoods and Culture
Timber Investigator Centre
The Timber Investigation Centre is dedicated to improving the ability of civil society to monitor illegal logging & deforestation, track illegal wood through international supply chains, and use the information obtained to best effect. It has a particular focus on helping communities and activists in forested countries harness the power of consumer country laws meant to prevent illegal wood reaching end markets. It hosts information and resources that can help communities and non-profits across the world stem supply chains that are contributing to deforestation, the loss of biodiversity, and harming the livelihoods and rights of rural communities. At the heart of the website is a Guidebook that provides in-depth guidance on how individuals or groups can contribute their knowledge and expertise to this effort. The guidebook has been developed to benefit interested parties at any stage of the supply chain, whether they work on the frontline with forest-dependent communities, or in a timber-importing country in Europe. Supply chains are complex, and many people only have the ability to examine one stage of it. This website has been founded on the principle that, collectively, we can build a clearer picture of these supply chains and prevent illicit products, stolen from forests, from entering the market.
Community Land Protection Facilitators Guide
From Namati, an international organisation that tests the potential of legal empowerment through innovative interventions and research, this Facilitators Guide is a step-by-step, practical “how to” manual for grassroots advocates working to help communities to map their boundaries, adopt equitable rules for land governance, and secure legal tenure. The Guide details a five-part process for protecting community lands and examines questions like: “Who is included or excluded when defining a ‘community’?”, “How to resolve longstanding boundary disputes?”, and “How can communities prepare for interactions with potential investors?” The Guide goes beyond documentation to address issues of women’s land rights, inclusive governance, cultural revitalization, ecosystem regeneration, and more. Every chapter includes exercises, sample forms, and tips from veteran land protection advocates. All activities are easily adaptable to a range of cultures, contexts, and community goals. Use this link to download the guide.
COMPAS
COMPAS (comparing and supporting endogenous development) is an international network implementing field programmes to develop, test and improve endogenous development methodologies. Endogenous development is based on local peoples' own criteria of development, and takes into account the material, social and spiritual well-being of peoples.
Community Protocols
Protocols developed by Indigenous peoples or mobile or local communities ("community protocols") are gaining recognition as a useful means by which a range of peoples and communities can engage with others according to their values, and on the basis of customary, national and international rights and responsibilities. This website is intended for Indigenous peoples, mobile and local communities, their community-based and non-governmental organizations, governmental agencies, and researchers, among others, to: - Provide information about community protocols, - Share good practice about the development and use of community protocols, - Highlight the questions that peoples and communities are raising about community protocols, - Provide a range of resources relevant for the development and use of community protocols, and - Act as a clearing house for protocols developed by Indigenous peoples and local communities.
Center for Indigenous Knowledge and Organizational Development (CIKOD)
The Center for Indigenous Knowledge and Organizational Development (CIKOD) is a Ghanaian NGO working to develop methodologies for the strengthening of traditional authorities and civil society organizations to facilitate sustainable grassroots organizational development that gives voice to the poor and vulnerable rural families.