Project Summary 

Lao PDR is a country with abundant natural resources. It is home to some of the most endangered species and ecologically diverse regions. However, rapid economic development, primarily driven by large private investments in commercial agriculture, mining, infrastructure development, and hydropower dam construction, is damaging biodiversity and ecosystems. The objective of this global project is to fast-track readiness and early actions to implement the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) by providing financial and technical support to GEF-eligible Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in their work to align their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) including national biodiversity targets, monitoring, policy, and finance frameworks with the Global Biodiversity Framework of the CBD. Financial and technical support is provided through two pathways: first, grants made to Parties to undertake early actions at the national level, and second, a global technical support grant that will make it possible to provide technical guidance to Parties to ensure these early actions are effective, efficient, inclusive, and of the highest technical standards.  

Background 

The Secretariat of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has released the first draft of a new Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) to guide actions worldwide through 2030 to preserve and protect nature and its essential services to people. The GBF builds on the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and sets out an ambitious plan to implement broad-based action to transform society’s relationship with biodiversity, ensuring that by 2050, the shared vision of ‘living in harmony with nature is fulfilled.  

The framework’s theory of change assumes that transformative actions are taken to deploy solutions to reduce threats to biodiversity. In anticipation of the approval of the GBF, The Global Environment Facility (GEF), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) are committing to fast-track support to governments to prepare for the rapid implementation of the GBF through the Global Biodiversity Framework Early Action Support project. A total of 70 countries are expected to work with UNDP and 70 with UNEP. In Lao PDR, this work will be led by UNDP, in close collaboration with UNEP and other partners.