67 4. THE PROCESS OF ADAPTING THE GENERIC STRATEGIES TO THE LOCAL CONTEXT
4. The process of adapting the generic strategies to the local context
There is no ‘one size its all’ approach. The strategies proposed in the previous chapter are generic guidelines of global relevance. Consequently, they need to be translated
and adapted to diferent local conditions in diferent countries – and even within one and the same country – as required by § 13.5 of the Guidelines. The big challenge,
therefore, is to strike a balance between strict orientation towards the fundamental principles of the Guidelines and generic strategies on the one hand, and a high degree
of context-speciic lexibility and space for local creativity and innovation on the other hand. Context-speciic solutions will come about as a result of a matching process
between generic strategies and speciic local conditions, needs and knowledge. At the end of this process, every speciic solution should be consistent with the
principles of the Guidelines and not contrary to them. This requires a local process of analysis, deliberation, participation, piloting, and demonstrating, disseminating and
re-adjusting successful practices.
This section deals with the process of translating the generic strategies of this technical guide into context-speciic strategies and outlines and explains the methodological
steps for this process. It aims to provide guidance for the state oicials who are responsible for the implementation process at national and local level, and for those
who support it. States are the principle duty bearer to secure legitimate tenure rights to commons for indigenous peoples and local communities, including farmers,
isherfolk, pastoralists and others, as well as landless people and the most marginalized and vulnerable. The recommended methodological approaches are as follows.
1. Providing space for community creativity and for continuous adaptation. The
identiication of context-speciic strategies, tools and practices is important to support and guide communities in an appropriate way, based on learning from
local experience. Such context-speciic strategies – such as any guidelines and tools produced – should never be deterministic or prevent communities from doing
better on their own and in their own manner, as long as they are in line with the principles of the Guidelines. Consequently, even local context-speciic strategies
should be wide enough to encompass individual local dynamics and learning processes.
68 GOVERNING TENURE RIGHTS TO COMMONS
2. Analysing the local context before starting. A sound local analysis is a prerequisite
