Project News

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) was established in 2010 as a UNFCCC fund to support developing countries in their efforts to combat climate change. One of the programs supported by the GCF is the REDD+ Results-based Payment Program^[1]. Following the completion of the first phase of the Program, the UNFCCC is currently preparing to launch its second phase in 2022.

Lao PDR has been listed as a "pipeline country" having submitted the Concept Note in September 2020. Drafts of the funding proposals as well as annexes on safeguards and gender, which are necessary for future application, are also under preparation. The Government of Laos and JICA have agreed that JICA will be the GCF Accredited Entity (i.e. applicant of the funding proposal) for the Lao PDR in applying for the Program.

With high expectations for the launch of the second phase of the Program, a JICA mission visited Vientiane in June to discuss with Lao PDR. This was the first visit to Vientiane in two and a half years, since January 2020, after COVID-19 struck the world.

Since there have been a period of interruption in the preparation of the Funding Proposal and some personnel changes as well at the Lao Department of Forestry (DOF), F-REDD 2 organized a refresher meeting to take stock of the process taken through the present and the content of the application prior to the JICA mission. During the subsequent two-day mission on June 16 and 17, both the DOF and JICA confirmed their strong desire to apply for GCF REDD+ results-based payment and the envisaged process.

GCF REDD+ results-based payment is an important opportunity for Lao PDR to advance forest conservation. F-REDD 2 will support Lao PDR to seize this opportunity.

JICA mission and DOF meeting for GCF REDD+ results-based payment