6.0 The Way Forward Driving results during various phases of a PES with Eco­DRR programme involves a combination of strategic actions, community 14 engagement, incentives, and adaptive management. Here's how results can be achieved in each phase of such a programme. 1. Participatory Assessment and Planning: Action: Conduct a thorough participatory 15 assessment of ecosystem vulnerabilities, risks, and potential of regenerating ecosystem services to reduce disaster risk and other outcomes. Drivers: Ecological assets and associated socio-cultural values (including faith) are mapped and their significance recognised and linked to identity, wellbeing, livelihoods and for reducing hazard exposure of social, economic, and environmental assets. Recognising the role of women as key actors in disaster resilience, particularly through NbS[engaging SHGs as last mile(paid for) extension agents for agriculture, allied activities, including natural resource management] achieving DRR and water/food/nutrition/ livelihood security goals. Develop a risk-resilience perspective 16 and outcome orientation amongst the at-risk communities, frontline workers, and decision makers before proposed assessment. - Comprehensive/holistic plan that clearly outlines specific ecosystem-based interventions tailored to the local context and aspirations. - Constituency of community leaders, frontline workers and decision makers committed to bivalent results * that are deeper and broad-based. ¹⁴Including at-risk communi es and communi es of prac ce. ¹⁵Since this an interdisciplinary and mul-sectoral development agenda, aim for broad-based par cipa on(domains/sectors/trade-groups/ ins tu ons/popula on-groups). ¹⁶A more holis c, rather than transac on-based rela onship with the planet. Payments for Ecosystem Services 2. Stakeholder Engagement: Action: Foster, continued collaboration among communities, government agencies, NGOs, and other stakeholders. Drivers: · Establish a network/platform of committed partners, ensuring diverse perspectives and resources are brought to the programme to practice certain principled behaviours(agreed locally). · The increased agency of locals who rely on natural assets for survival and livelihood. - Openness to negotiation between the needs of the community and environmental concerns is one of the preconditions for the success of the PES programme. 3. Ecosystem Restoration and Conservation, and beyond: Action: Implement measures to restore and conserve ecosystems. Drivers: Document and communicate tangible improvements in ecosystem health and resilience, such as increased biodiversity, improved water retention, etc. to unlock incentives. Ecosystem health defined as standards, benchmarks and practices within the local context. Market access created for sustainably harvested outputs from various elements of the ecosystem. *Bivalent results emerge from human-nature centred design and planning. The characteris cs of the human element include: accountable, responsive(gender, age,….), and transparent systems; inclusive economic development, reduc on of inequality and poverty, accommoda on of social diversity and dignity and freedom of women, men, children, disabled, elderly, etc. Eco-DRR restores biodiversity; improves ecosystem services, habitat connec vity, soil and water quality and; increases carbon sequestra on and adapta on of indigenous species, restores floodplains, wetlands, vegeta on resilience; controls erosion control. Outcomes of these interac ons reveal the success of an Eco-DRR programme. 18