Despite the enormous significance of Commons, why are they neglected or abandoned? Why have the efforts to restore Commons so far been unsuccessful, or only partially successful? The reasons are complex, and there is no single answer. We’ve identified four barriers at the systems level.

1. People working on Commons don’t work together.

While multiple actors, programmes and initiatives work on the problems of rural livelihoods, water security, and farmer distress, they are, unfortunately, siloed and disjointed. This is because governments at all levels, NGOs, Panchayati Raj Institutions and other actors do not plan and implement in tandem, ultimately failing to deliver concrete and lasting impact.

For instance, the lack of inter-departmental coordination has stifled progress of the Forest Rights Act, with only 3% of the minimum potential area brought under Community Forest Rights (CFR).

2. Acts and programmes are not implemented properly

The people who have established legal mandates to implement programmes, especially ground level functionaries (‘first mile’ actors), often lack the necessary capacity to support gender inclusive, community-led Commons restoration. Further, the available technologies, learning platforms and communication tools seldom account for the gender divide, excluding women in most cases.

For instance, local officials from departments like Panchayati Raj and MGNREGA have mandate for Commons restoration, but often lack the capacity, data, information and technology to support their action in a structured, inclusive or sustained way.

3. Public and policy support for Commons restoration is weak.

Commons are widely and wrongly perceived as “wastelands” that should be put to other, “more productive” uses. The fact that Commons play important ecological, social and economic roles, is not well known, which is why social and political interest in Commons restoration remains low. Subsequently, funding, promotion, and support for technological innovations around Commons is limited, as are digital and data ecosystems. For women, these problems are exacerbated by conventionally defined gender roles and the lack of recognition of their efforts in Commons management.

For instance, 77% of India’s livestock is kept in extensive systems largely dependent on Commons. However, the connection between healthy Commons and farm and livestock productivity still remains invisible, leading to a disregard for the economic value of the Commons.

4. Those responsible for implementing laws, policies, and programmes are not held accountable.

Despite legal provisions that recognise the collective rights of rural communities and mandate decentralised governance of forests and pastures, the mechanisms to ensure that those responsible for implementing them are held accountable are weak. Communities, often, do not have the capacity or information to hold different actors accountable.Women’s rights to representation in decision-making are also routinely ignored.

For instance, while 73.2% of farm workers are women, only 12.8% own land.

How do we address the underlying barriers and shift the system to a new equilibrium? How do we challenge deep systemic inequalities and power imbalances? How do we shift the narrative from the Tragedy of Commons to the Promise of Commons?

There are several possibilities. We have identified four system shifts that are interconnected and mutually reinforcing, and can help ensure that the changes will be institutionalised and endure.

1. Convergence in planning and action

When people work together and draw on each other’s strengths, it can catalyse more community-centric, democratic, and gender inclusive planning and implementation.

Building shared and inclusive spaces to deliberate and coordinate action, both inside and outside of government, and improving access to knowledge, data and other assets can enable improved coordination and convergence among actors at different scales.

2. Enhanced implementation capacity

When the capacities of actors at multiple levels are enhanced, it can enable effective policy and programme implementation, and address the complex problems of environmental degradation, and widespread poverty and inequality.

Building shared infrastructure that improves access and use of trusted data, integrated tools, technologies and learning assets can enable community, government and civil society actors to make informed decisions, improve service delivery and better target investments to secure and restore Commons.

3. Public and policy support for Commons

When policy and programmatic investments on Commons are strengthened, it enables communities to unlock the true potential of Commons.

Building evidences and narratives that strengthen the linkages between Commons and existing priorities of key actors in domains such as income generation, women’s entrepreneurship, water security, Sustainable Development Goals, and climate resilience can increase public and policy support for Commons.

4. Accountability and compliance

When compliance with existing laws and rights governing Commons increases, it reinforces community voices, especially of women and the disadvantaged in the governance of Commons. Improving legal awareness, and access to data and information systems at multiple levels increases transparency and makes s actors more responsible and accountable to communities.