Promoting climate-resilience through ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) solutions in Northern Lao PDR

Project details

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.

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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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