June 2013: The (FCPF) has released a journal article, titled ‘Implementing REDD+ in the Democratic Republic of Congo: An Analysis of the Emerging National REDD+ Governance Structure,’ which highlights the unique governance structure in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), one that consists of both a national REDD+ fund as well as individual REDD+ projects.

Challenges in the DRC, according to the article, emerge from the fragile nature of national governance and difficulties in linking national and local levels of government. To address these challenges, the article reveals a strong national REDD+ fund that is intended to support institutional and policy reform to address the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation.

The article highlights the pairing of this national fund with a regulatory framework for the national approval of local REDD+ projects to ensure emission reductions, as well as compliance with social and environmental safeguards.

Overall, the article suggests that the hybrid approach to REDD+ governance is best suited to the circumstances in DRC as it will allow for the key national issues to be addressed while mobilizing private sector investments, enhancing stakeholder participation, and responding to the weaknesses in the current governance structures. [Publication: Implementing REDD + in the Democratic Republic of Congo: An Analysis of the Emerging National REDD+ Governance Structure]