Governance of protected areas
This MOOC covers the fundamentals of governance in protected areas, offering a clear and practical understanding of how decisions are made, implemented, and monitored. Across five modules, you will learn what governance is, why it matters, and how it takes diverse forms. The course guides you through assessing governance quality, applying IUCN’s principles, and using tools for monitoring and reporting. By the end, you’ll be equipped to analyze and support effective, equitable, and vital governance in real-world protected area contexts.
MOOC syllabus
Module 1 - What is governance?
1.0 Introduction of module 1
1.1 How can we define governance?
1.2 What are we governing?
1.3 What are the different types of governance?
1.4 Why does governance matter?
1.5 Governance instruments and powers
1.6 Levels of governance
Module 2 - The multiple faces of governance
2.0 Introduction of module 2
2.1 What are governance diversity and governance type?
2.2 How to use the IUCN PA matrix?
2.3 Why is it sometimes difficult to determine the governance types?
2.4 Recognizing, respecting, and supporting governance diversity
Module 3 - What does governance quality mean?
3.0 Introduction of module 3
3.1 Equitable and effective governance
3.2 IUCN's 5 principles of good governance
3.3 Governance vitality
Module 4 - How to assess governance?
4.0 Introduction of module 4
4.1 Assessing and improving governance
4.2 How to carry out governance a assessment?
4.3 Governance analysis framework: site-level and system-level
4.4 Considerations for good practice
Module 5 - Monitoring and reporting
5.0 Introduction of module 5
5.1 What is the value of monitoring and reporting for protected areas’ governance?
5.2 Real-world platforms for monitoring and reporting governance
5.3 Global monitoring and reporting of governance
5.4 Why is it so important to improve governance reporting?
Course developers
Geoffroy Mauvais (IUCN-Papaco), Hélène Magdelain (IUCN-Papaco and Madeleine Vosloo (IUCN-Papaco).
Practical information
Follow this course online, on this platform, at your own pace.
Duration: 30 hours of work online and offline (this is an estimate, the reality depends on each student).
Price: free (including the attestation).