Making money from governing the commons: private sector investment in local resource management in Ghana, India and Bolivia

How do communities best resolve their tragedy of the commons? Can communities make a profit from their sustainably-governed commons, thus accessing urgently needed economic resources? And can this be acheived at scale, delivering lasting positive impacts for both local livelihoods and regional conservation goals? During this session, practioners from Ghana, India and Bolivia, will discuss their experiences helping communities and private sector investors monetize the value of locally owned common pool resources. We will then hold a moderated discussion with audience members and the private sector to explore how these experiences could be scaled to make significant returns on capital, while at the same time ensuring that biodiversity is protected, local cultural norms and institutional structures are respected, and that local community members lead the process. Examples comprise processing of shea nuts in Ghana coffee production in India, and Coca Cola’s water replenishment in Bolivia