ICVCM Opens Nominations for IPs and LCs VCM Engagement Forum Governing Board

The Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market has opened a public nomination process for the Governing Board of the Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities VCM Engagement Forum, with applications closing on 31 January 2024. The nine-seat board will include representatives from Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Northern Region, Oceania, and the UN Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform.

The Forum was conceived at a multi-stakeholder event at COP27 led by the ICVCM and The Nature Conservancy, which identified the need for closer coordination and targeted capacity building for IPs and LCs in the voluntary carbon market. The Governing Board will hold virtual meetings of three hours each month. Board members will not be remunerated for their role, though expenses for Forum activities will be reimbursed and financial barriers to participation will be considered. The nominations process will close on 31 January 2024, with initial outcomes communicated by 1 March 2024 and final decisions by 31 March 2024.

Candidates for regional seats must be indigenous persons or members of local communities, able to represent all IPs and LCs from their region impartially, and possess knowledge of regional legislative contexts. All candidates should have experience in decision-making bodies and be endorsed by their community or organisations. The Chair position requires a proven track record in chairing technical working groups, knowledge of carbon markets, expertise in managing disagreements between groups, and experience navigating complex political systems. The ICVCM strongly encourages applications from women and individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Once the Governing Board is constituted, the Forum will serve as a shared workspace where IPs and LCs, public and private agencies, and market participants collaborate to empower communities, growing their participation in the VCM and amplifying the benefits they derive. The Forum will be jointly established by the ICVCM and VCMI and will progressively become self-governing. The ICVCM is also calling for expressions of interest from partner organisations to co-host the Forum and provide operational and financial support.

Key figure — 31 January 2024 — closing date for nominations to the IPs and LCs VCM Engagement Forum Governing Board