The preliminary results from the Validation and Verification process are encouraging for the Lao Emission reductions Program.

In May 2023, Lao PDR submitted an updated version of the Emissions Reductions Monitoring Report to the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) Carbon Fund (*1). Following the submission, the Validation and Verification (V&V) Process by a third-party auditor started right away to assess the correctness of the Report. This is a rigorous review process that takes a minimum of 22 weeks, and more than 40 weeks in average.

F-REDD 2 supported the Department of Forestry (DOF) throughout the various steps of this V&V process. For instance, in June 2023, F-REDD 2 organized a four-days technical training that went through the entire steps for the carbon accounting. In addition to the REDD+ Division and Forest Inventory and Planning Division from the DOF, the Faculty of Forest Science of the National University of Laos, and the GFLL project (Governance, Forest Landscapes and Livelihoods in Northern Lao PDR) also participated in the training. The aim of their inclusion was to broaden the technical resources for Laos so that F-REDD 2’s support will become more sustainable.

The training helped the DOF to efficiently respond to the V&V process and the country visit by the auditor in July 2023. After the thorough assessment by the auditor, the DOF received the first round of findings in which nothing critical was raised. Together with the F-REDD 2, the DOF successfully addressed all the findings and once again updated the Report. Now the most important of the audit has completed. This is a remarkable outcome as it opens the way for Laos to receive the payments equivalent to USD 16 million as a result of the emissions reductions of the period of 2019 - 2021 period. The V.V. Report is published here.

*1: The FCPF is a trust fund for REDD+ administered by the World Bank. The Carbon Fund intends to provide results-based payment to 18 countries. For more information on Laos, click here.