Panel 31: GOVERNANCE – Community consultation and free prior informed consent

“Free, prior and informed consent” is an international standard against which community consultation processes regarding land-based investment can be based. This panel explores questions about these notions, with reference to experiences in several countries including (nearly independent) Southern Sudan.

The presenters consider: what constitutes FPIC? What methods and approaches have been taken to consulting communities? And who constitutes a community? Attention is paid to what people directly affected by deals consider to be adequate consultation in order to arrive at FPIC. Implications for national and international regulation will be considered.

Chair: Wendy Wolford, Cornell