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SwedBio Guiding principles for knowledge collaborations -living document

Background and Need: The aim of SwedBio role, as a ”knowledge interface” is to facilitate connections across knowledge systems and cultures, such as local, indigenous, policy makers and scientific knowledge - to contribute to improved understanding, knowledge generation, management and good governance of social-ecological systems. Starting point, International agreements and guidelines, such as: - the international human rights framework, including the UN Declaration of

the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; - the CBD Tkarihwaié:ri Code of Ethical Conduct; - the Akwé: Kon guidelines for impact assessment as well as relevant guidance

from the Nagoya protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing. - IPBES are developing rules and procedures for synergies across knowledge

systems, and how to use Indigenous and Local Knowledge in assessments.

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Primary principles:

• respect, trust, reciprocity and equal sharing

Transparent open communication and mutual sharing and learning

The collaborators should consider how they might wish to manage:

- Expectations –ensure are realistic and attainable

- Timeframes

- Information – including safeguarding sensitive or restricted information

- Mutual learning and mutual sharing

Participation & Representation

• Meaningful and culturally appropriate participation of representatives

• Transparent process

• Natural Justice Biocultural Community Protocols: A toolkit for community facilitators. www.community-protocols.org.

Women & Gender

• Women and men have different roles in many aspects of life. Integrating a gender ‘lens’ or ‘dimension’

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Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities’ Rights, including the Right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent

• At any stage a community has a right to seek more information, say “no”. Customary means of consensus-building

• By definition, FPIC processes must respect the community’s timelines and self - determined processes

Indigenous & Community Ownership

• Knowledge collaborations - preferably be driven and created by Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs), or in collaboration with IPLCs

• Power relations

• Participatory, and representative of local realities.

• Recognises that indigenous peoples’ and local communities’ relationships with their territories and areas are an integral source of their identities, cultures and well - being.

• Emphasis on Indigenous methodologies and approaches

• Should be made clear at the beginning of any collaboration who owns and how to deal with any information or data generated from the collaboration

The Multiple Evidence Base approach (MEB)

Multiple Evidence Base (MEB) approach – A point of departure

• Indigenous, local and scientific knowledge systems are different manifestations of valid and useful knowledge systems…

…which generate complementary evidence for interpreting conditions, change and causal relationships

Knowledge for the 21st Century Indigenous knowledge, traditional knowledge, science and connecting diverse knowledge systems Usdub, Guna Yala, Panama 10 – 13 April 2012

Topics: • Validation • Documentation • Sharing of

knowledge • Co-production of

knowledge

”The Guna Yala dialogue”

Guna Yala dialogue – key factors for successful exchange

Essential actitudes:

• Trust

• Respect

• Resiprocity

• Equity

• Transparency

Three general approaches to exchange between knowledge systems

“Integration”:

Components of one knowledge system is incorporated into another through a validation process

Parallel approaches:

Placing knowledge systems next to each other, using separate validation mechanisms and assessing insights

Co-production of knowledge:

Engaging in mutual processes of knowledge generation

Multiple Evidence Base

approach emphasize:

• Complementarity

of knowledge systems

• Letting each knowledge system speak for itself

• Respecting mechanisms within each system to evaluate knowledge

http://www.stockholmresilience.org/21/policy--practice/swedbio/dialogues/guna-yala-dialogue/multiple-evidence-base.html

Spheres of knowledge about the reindeer and its landscape

Academics and Universities

The Saami communities

and knowledge

holders

Government Practitioners

The Multiple Evidence Base in an assessment process connecting indigenous, local and scientific knowledge systems

Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3

http://www.stockholmresilience.org/21/policy--practice/swedbio/dialogues/guna-yala-dialogue/multiple-evidence-base.html

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References SwedBio Guiding principles for knowledge collaborations • http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/documents/DRIPS_en.pdf • http://www.cbd.int/traditional/code.shtml • http://www.cbd.int/doc/publications/akwe-brochure-en.pdf • http://www.cbd.int/abs/ • http://www.ipbes.net/images/documents/plenary/third/information/INF_2/IPBES_3_INF_2.pdf • Tengo, M., and P. Malmer (eds). 2012. Dialogue workshop on knowledge for the 21st century: Indigenous

knowledge, traditional knowledge, science and connecting diverse knowledge systems. Usdub, Guna Yala, Panama, April 10–13, 2012. Workshop Report. http://www.stockholmresilience.org/21/policy--practice/swedbio/dialogues/guna-yala-dialogue.html

• Natural Justice Biocultural Community Protocols: A toolkit for community facilitators. www.community-protocols.org.

• http://www.cbd.int/gender/; http://www.cbd.int/doc/pa/tools/In%20Search%20of%20the%20Lost%20Gender.pdf;

• http://www.sida.se/contentassets/bd6dd050fca742ab8c5689fea5b5adc8/analysing-gender_939.pdf • http://www.stockholmresilience.org/21/policy--practice/swedbio/dialogues/guna-yala-

dialogue/multiple-evidence-base.html • Tengö et al. Connecting Diverse Knowledge Systems for Enhanced Ecosystem Governance: The Multiple

Evidence Base Approach, AMBIO 2014, 43:579–591 • Developed, Adapted from The Community Conservation Resilience Initiative Methodology, May, 2014,

http://globalforestcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/New-Last-CCR-Initiative-methodology_May-2014.pdf