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Close-up view of a small stream flowing through a forested area in Lao PDR, with sunlight filtering through the trees.

Photo:

Luke McPake/UNDP

Northern Laos faces growing climate risks, including extreme rainfall, floods, landslides and droughts. The region’s steep terrain, reliance on rainfed agriculture, and environmental degradation make communities highly vulnerable. Climate hazards threaten livelihoods, food security, and public health, particularly for Indigenous Peoples and marginalized groups.

Building upon existing climate adaptation efforts in Laos, the objective of this 5-year proposed project is to enhance resilience and sustainable livelihoods in the watershed areas of the Northern Lao PDR (Nam Phark river basin, Nam Ou river basin, Nam Kor Catchment and Ngeum River) through acceleration of the integration of ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) solutions at the national and subnational levels.

Ecosystem-based adaptation focuses on using natural systems and processes to manage and reduce vulnerability to climate change. By improving forest and landscape management, EbA enhances the land’s capacity to retain water, reduces runoff and stabilizes slopes, thereby mitigating erosion and landslides. Integrated watershed management and natural resource management approaches under EbA help manage water resources sustainably, improve soil health, and enhance ecosystem resilience. These strategies are crucial for reducing the adverse effects of deforestation and climate change, and for ensuring long-term environmental stability.

Led by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE), the project is structured around three key components:

  • Strengthened national and provincial governance mechanisms, leading to improved coordination, planning and implementation capacities to integrate ecosystem-based climate adaptation;
  • More effective, coordinated and integrated implementation and financing of ecosystem-based solutions for adaptation (EbA) in the northern Laos watershed landscapes, strengthening community resilience and livelihoods; and
  • Increased public understanding and knowledge of EbA solutions, financing and implementation through effective lessons documentation and sharing at both national and sub-national levels.

By fostering inclusive participation—particularly among Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and marginalized groups—the project will drive long-term resilience, mitigate environmental degradation, and enhance adaptive capacity. It aims to directly benefit 12,500 individuals and indirectly impact 800,000 people, with at least 50% of beneficiaries being women.

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Expected outcomes

Component 1. Enhancing climate adaptation governance to integrate ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) solutions

Component 2. Advancing EbA application and financing at the local level

Component 3. Knowledge management, gender and social inclusion

Project details

Levels of intervention

  • Community
  • District
  • National

Source of funds

  • Global Environment Facility - Least Developed Countries Fund

Key implementers

  • Country Office
  • Local Governments
  • National Governments
  • Non-Governmental Organizations
  • Private Sector Partners
  • United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Funding amounts

GEF-LDCF grant: US$6,192,694
Co-financing of $26.3 million to be provided by MoNRE; Provincial Governments of Oudomxay, Xiengkhuang, and Phongsaly; UNDP; Save the Children Australia (GCF funded); GIZ (GCF funded); UNEP (GCF funded); IFAD; private sector TBD

Project partners

  • Global Environment Facility (GEF)
  • Lao PDR Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources
  • United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Introduction

Northern Laos faces growing climate risks, including extreme rainfall, floods, landslides and droughts. The region’s steep terrain, reliance on rainfed agriculture, and environmental degradation make communities highly vulnerable. Climate hazards threaten livelihoods, food security, and public health, particularly for Indigenous Peoples and marginalized groups.

Building upon existing climate adaptation efforts in Laos, the objective of this 5-year proposed project is to enhance resilience and sustainable livelihoods in the watershed areas of the Northern Lao PDR (Nam Phark river basin, Nam Ou river basin, Nam Kor Catchment and Ngeum River) through acceleration of the integration of ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) solutions at the national and subnational levels.

Ecosystem-based adaptation focuses on using natural systems and processes to manage and reduce vulnerability to climate change. By improving forest and landscape management, EbA enhances the land’s capacity to retain water, reduces runoff and stabilizes slopes, thereby mitigating erosion and landslides. Integrated watershed management and natural resource management approaches under EbA help manage water resources sustainably, improve soil health, and enhance ecosystem resilience. These strategies are crucial for reducing the adverse effects of deforestation and climate change, and for ensuring long-term environmental stability.

Led by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE), the project is structured around three key components:

  • Strengthened national and provincial governance mechanisms, leading to improved coordination, planning and implementation capacities to integrate ecosystem-based climate adaptation;
  • More effective, coordinated and integrated implementation and financing of ecosystem-based solutions for adaptation (EbA) in the northern Laos watershed landscapes, strengthening community resilience and livelihoods; and
  • Increased public understanding and knowledge of EbA solutions, financing and implementation through effective lessons documentation and sharing at both national and sub-national levels.

By fostering inclusive participation—particularly among Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and marginalized groups—the project will drive long-term resilience, mitigate environmental degradation, and enhance adaptive capacity. It aims to directly benefit 12,500 individuals and indirectly impact 800,000 people, with at least 50% of beneficiaries being women.

Project details

Dec-2024

The project and its interventions are designed to support the Government of Laos in addressing challenges and barriers to effective climate change adaptation, while enhancing the integration and application of EbA solutions. The project aims to achieve transformative outcomes at both national and sub-national levels, aligning with the Government's global and national climate adaptation commitments and priorities.

The key contributions of the project include:

First, the project will tackle the issue of insufficient implementation of sustainable adaptation solutions especially at the sub-national level, which is largely due to limited institutional and technical capacity to apply and finance sustainable climate adaptation solutions. To address this, the project will strengthen national and provincial governance mechanisms to improve coordination, planning, and implementation capacities for integrating ecosystem-based climate adaptation strategies across all levels of government. This approach is particularly suited to Laos, where integrated and sustainable adaptation solutions are urgently needed. Effective governance will facilitate the collaboration of various sectors and stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society organizations, communities, and the private sector, ensuring that adaptation efforts are comprehensive, synergistic, and capable of addressing the complex challenges posed by climate change.

Second, the project will address the lack of EbA adoption at the local level by facilitating pilot implementations and financing for ecosystem-based adaptation solutions in northern Laos’s watershed landscapes. The goal is to enhance community resilience and livelihoods. The project will support selected “conservation communities” in implementing GESI-responsive, integrated EbA solutions, such as agroforest-oriented watershed restoration and rehabilitation. This intervention will involve leveraging various financing schemes (including private CSR funds, blended finance, REDD+, etc.), and facilitating market linkages and community enterprises based on value chain analysis for sustainable agroforest and/or Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP) production. Through these actions, the project will increase agricultural resilience, strengthen community livelihoods, and enhance ecosystem management to improve ecosystem services, all of which contribute to the overall resilience of the project’s sites and their inhabitants.

Last, to foster replication and systemic change, the project will emphasize knowledge management and sharing. By documenting lessons learned and best practices, the project will provide valuable insights and evidence for effective adaptation solutions, informing future policies, strategies, and investments in Laos and beyond. The exchange of best practices and scientific information will also encourage innovation and ongoing improvement in climate adaptation strategies within the country.

Overall, these interventions are expected to deliver multiple benefits in climate adaptation, environmental sustainability, economic development, and social equity, contributing to the GEF’s Least Developed Countries Fund (GEF’s LDCF) objectives and strategies. To achieve these outcomes, the project will build on existing political commitments and leverage support and investments from both government and non-government entities.

Area
Rural Development, Disaster Risk Reduction, Infrastructure/Climate Change Risk Management, Natural Resource Management, Agriculture/Food Security
Level of intervention:
  • Community
  • District
  • National
Key collaborators:
  • Country Office
  • Local Governments
  • National Governments
  • Non-Governmental Organizations
  • Private Sector Partners
  • United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Primary beneficiaries:

12,500 direct beneficiaries (50% women) with 800,000 indirect beneficiaries across target provinces (50% women)

Implementing agencies and partnering organizations:
  • Global Environment Facility (GEF)
  • Lao PDR Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources
  • United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Project status:
Source of Funds Pipeline
Funding source:
Global Environment Facility - Least Developed Countries Fund
Financing amount:
GEF-LDCF grant: US$6,192,694
Co-financing total:
Co-financing of $26.3 million to be provided by MoNRE; Provincial Governments of Oudomxay, Xiengkhuang, and Phongsaly; UNDP; Save the Children Australia (GCF funded); GIZ (GCF funded); UNEP (GCF funded); IFAD; private sector TBD

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Key results & output

Component 1. Enhancing climate adaptation governance to integrate ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) solutions

Outcome 1. Strengthened national and provincial governance mechanisms, leading to improved coordination, planning and implementation capacities to integrate ecosystem-based climate adaptation.

Component 2. Advancing EbA application and financing at the local level

Outcome 2. More effective, coordinated and integrated implementation and financing of ecosystem-based solutions for adaptation (EbA) in the northern Laos watershed landscapes, strengthening community resilience and livelihoods.

Component 3. Knowledge management, gender and social inclusion

Outcome 3. Increased public understanding and knowledge of EbA solutions, financing and implementation through effective lessons documentation and sharing at both national and sub-national levels.

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Contacts

Samar Taha, Regional Technical Specialist – Climate Change Adaptation, UNDP samar.taha@undp.org