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The provision of a summary of information on how safeguards for REDD+ (also known as the Cancun safeguards) are being addressed and respected during the implementation of REDD+ activities is a requirement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Summaries of information can be a key element to support transparency in REDD+, providing an opportunity to involve stakeholders and build their confidence in safeguards and the wider REDD+ process. These safeguards reports can serve as a vehicle for communicating countries’ progress on safeguards to an international audience, notably those entities financing REDD+.

By creating trust – domestically and internationally – in country safeguards processes, summaries of information can also be viewed as a tool for mobilizing further investments from a number of REDD+ revenue streams - results-based payments, forest carbon credit sales to offset markets, future Article 6 transactions under the Paris Agreement or private sector investments in forest landscape conservation and restoration.

As of August 2020, seventeen countries have presented a summary of information, and three of these have presented a second and one a third report. The scope, structure and content of the summaries submitted to the UNFCCC vary from country to country.

This information brief explores the country experiences and lessons learned in developing summaries of information, based on the review of an increased range of summaries and the experience of the UN-REDD Programme in supporting safeguards activities in a number of countries. The document presents the UNFCCC requirements on summaries of information, together with recommendations and lessons learned on different aspects of preparing a summary of information, namely planning, structure, content and format of the summaries of information.

About the UN-REDD Programme

The UN-REDD Programme is the United Nations Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+) in developing countries. It was launched in 2008 and builds on the convening role and technical expertise of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The Programme supports nationally led REDD+ processes and promotes the informed and meaningful involvement of all stakeholders, including indigenous peoples and other forest-dependent communities, in national and international REDD+ implementation. It has supported 65 partner countries, spanning Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin America. One key technical area of support is safeguards and multiple benefits.