ID: 2050
Presenting Author: Daniel Gilbert
Session: 566 - Engaging Stakeholders in Adversity: Practices, Pitfalls, and Pathways
Status: pending
The novel “FPIC-like approach” to validating project plans with Indigenous Peoples: ensuring broad consent in a post-impact context.
This paper shares lessons from managing severance-related impacts for Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in the Lot 1/2 Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) Tanzania. IFC Performance Standard (PS) 7 requires Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), meaning IPs must be able to freely decide about projects affecting their lands, resources, or rights, based on full information and before any activities begin. Construction had already started prior to application of IFC PS7. Following identification of IPs, the formal FPIC process was considered unsuitable due to limited impacts and marginal customary land use. Therefore, a novel “FPIC-like approach” was adopted, validating design plans and mitigation strategies with local IP communities, and ensuring broad consent through an enhanced Informed Consultation and Participation (ICP) strategy. This approach aimed to capture the essence of FPIC by securing shared agreement from communities that mitigation and benefit plans met their needs, without requiring consensus. The FPIC-like process set out steps and engagement procedures, enabling IPs to authorise or withhold consent or suggest ways to address adverse impacts, while participating in decision-making. Decisions were shared iteratively to ensure broad, documented support. The Severance Management Plan (SMP) included all affected groups, such as women, vulnerable people, and different age groups, in the validation process, including retroactive mitigation strategies. This FPIC-like approach is the first of its kind in Tanzania and offers valuable lessons for similar projects elsewhere.
Daniel Gilbert is a Social Specialist within the Environmental and Social Team for Tanzania Railways Corporation.
Coauthor 1: Magdalena Kitilia