Costa Rica REDD+ Result-based Payment (RBP) for Results Period 2014-2015

From Participation to Influence: Rural and Indigenous Women Advancing Forest Governance in Costa Rica

Education & Knowledge

Leadership

Project Developer:

UNDP, Costa Rica

Percentage of Change for Women:

173%

Costa Rica

Measured

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The Story

Costa Rica’s REDD+ Results-Based Paymentsproject, financed by the Green Climate Fund and implemented by UNDP, supportssustainable forest management and climate action at the national andterritorial levels. Recognizing that forest governance outcomes are deeplyshaped by social inclusion, the project intentionally integrated women’sleadership and capacity development into its design.

Through differentiated strategiesfor rural and Indigenous women, the project created collective spaces,strengthened leadership capacities, and supported women’s meaningfulparticipation in decision-making processes related to forest governance,territorial planning, and climate action. The application of the W+ Standardmade visible and measurable the social outcomes of these efforts, capturingwomen’s empowerment as a distinct and valuable result alongside environmentalachievements.

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Quick facts

Goal

Strengthen rural and Indigenous women’s leadership and knowledge in forest governance and climate action, enabling meaningful participation indecision-making processes linked to sustainable forest management and REDD+implementation in Costa Rica.

Location:

‍‍Costa Rica (Nationwide, with a focus on rural territories and Indigenous territories linked to REDD+ Results-Based Payments and Territorial Forest Action Plans)

Metrics:

‍‍3,557 rural and Indigenous women engaged in leadership, governance, and collective action processes
National Forum of Rural Women established, representing rural women from 29 territories
Indigenous women engaged through territorially embedded leadership processes linked toTerritorial Forest Action Plans (PAFT)
108 women engaged in targeted capacity development on women's rights, forest governance, gender, and climate change
Total W+ Credits: 61,907 (61,536 W+ Credits generated under the Leadership domain and 367 W+ Credits generated under the Education & Knowledge domain)

Standards & Certification:

‍W+ Standard – Leadership and Education &Knowledge Domains‍
Implemented under Costa Rica’s REDD+ Results-Based Payments framework financed by the GreenClimate Fund (GCF) and implemented by UNDP

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What We Did

Supported the creation and consolidation of the National Forum of Rural Women, providing a collective platform for policy dialogue, advocacy, and peer support.
Strengthened women’s leadership within Territorial Forest Action Plans (PAFT),particularly through culturally appropriate and territorially embedded processes for Indigenous women.
Delivered targeted capacity development on leadership, rights, forest governance, gender, and climate change.
Fostered collective action, networking, and confidence-building, enabling women to engage with institutional actors and navigate resistance within their communities and organizations.

Results and Impact

Leadership increased by 173%, generating 61,536 W+ Leadership Credits, reflecting significant gains in women’s leadership practice, agency, and influence.
Education & Knowledge increased by 34%, generating 367 W+ Knowledge Credits, strengthening women’s understanding of rights, forest governance, and climate action.
Women reported greater confidence, stronger collective organization, and improved ability to navigate resistance and competing interests.
Leadership outcomes extended beyond individual capacity to include collective action, behavioral change, and increased social recognition, reinforcing women’s roles in territorial governance.

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