In the coming year, pilot countries of the Climate Investment Fund's (CIF) "Forest Investment Program" (FIP), including Burkina Faso, Ghana and the Democratic Republic of Congo, can expect to see additional support for their REDD+ activities in the form of a Dedicated Grant Mechanism for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities. The proposed design of the mechanism was approved by the FIP Trust Fund Committee at the CIF Governing Bodies Meetings from 31 October to 4 November 2011 in Washington, D.C.

The USD 50 million mechanism aims to help enhance the capacity of indigenous peoples and local communities to participate fully, effectively and continuously in FIP pilot country REDD+ activities. A global component will focus on knowledge management bringing together indigenous peoples groups and local communities from FIP pilot and other countries to exchange good practices and lessons learned on how to effectively address REDD+.

The mechanism is the culmination of more than two years of consultations among indigenous peoples groups, local communities, the CIF Administrative Unit and multilateral development banks, including the African Development Bank.