Knowledge Repository

Mikoko Pamoja, meaning “Mangroves Together” in Swahili, is the world’s first community led blue carbon project, established in 2012 in the villages of Gazi and Makongeni on Kenya’s south coast. This case study analyses it as a micro level eco-social contract in which a coastal fishing community collectively commits to mangrove conservation in exchange for carbon revenues funding social protection, green livelihoods, and climate resilience.

Nepal’s Community Forest User Groups (CFUGs) constitute the world’s largest experiment in community based natural resource governance. Established through the 1993 Forest Act, these legally autonomous bodies empower local communities to manage, protect, and profit from designated national forests.

This study examines the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) through the lens of the eco-social contract framework. MGNREGA is a pivotal initiative launched in 2005 by the Government of India, aimed at providing 100 days of guaranteed wage employment to rural households.

The Working for Water Programme in South Africa was established in 1995 with the key objective of addressing invasive alien plant species to conserve water resources while creating jobs for marginalized communities. Rooted in South Africa's post-apartheid transition, the programme has leveraged ecological priorities to address social inequities.

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region faces growing pressures from demographic change, economic inequality, and climate impacts such as water scarcity and environmental degradation. Historically, social contracts in the region prioritized protection and state provision of services while limiting political participation. However, rising youth populations, economic disparities, and the aftermath of the Arab Spring have intensified demands for more inclusive governance