a person in a garden

Project Summary 

 The Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme in Lao PDR was officially launched in late 2009. The country programme has gone through OP4, OP5, and OP6 operational phases onwards. The 7th Operational Phase of the GEF-SGP aims “to promote and support innovative, inclusive, and scalable initiatives, and foster multi-stakeholder partnerships at the local level to tackle global environmental issues in priority landscapes and seascapes”.  

The focal areas of the programme are:  

  • Biodiversity (BD),  
  • Chemicals (CH),  
  • Climate Change Mitigation (CCM),  
  • Community-Based Adaptation (CBA),  
  • International Waters (IWs),  
  • Land Degradation (LD), and  
  • Multifocal areas integrated approach. 

Background   

The GEF-SGP in Lao PDR has contributed through grant-making and technical support to the grantee partners' solving environmental problems in conjunction with livelihood development toward food security and capacity building of local communities and stakeholders, including local government units and other development partners, throughout the lifecycle of project implementation. 

The global strategic initiatives are further adjusted to the country context through social consultation, key informant discussions vis-a-vis the focal area framework, and alignment with international conventions.  

Programme Expected Outcomes  

 The SGP of Lao PDR focuses on the impact approach to tackle environmental issues surrounding the mentioned focal areas from the community to the national and global levels. Hence, the initiatives are adopted and aim to achieve as follow:  

  • Conserve community-based of the threatened ecosystem and species 
  • Ensure sustainable agriculture, fisheries, and food security. 
  • Enhance low-carbon energy access co-benefits. 
  • Lead local to global coalitions for chemical and waste management.  
  • Develop sustainable urban solutions. 
  • Support community-based climate change adaptation 

Results and Achievement  

Below are a few examples of results as of 2023 of country programme (Lao PDR) based on the focal areas:  

  • Biodiversity: supported 32 biodiversity projects, positively influencing 5 Protected Areas (PA), accounting for 111,150 hectares, and conserved 2 significant species – Irrawaddy Dolphin & Native Crocodile.  
  • Climate Change: supported 23 climate change-related projects and provided energy access to 688 households.  
  • Land Degradation: Supported 4 land degradation projects, supported 3 farmers organisations/groups to disseminate climate-smart agroecological practices, and trained 255 community members on sustainable land and forest management practices.  
  • Sustainable Forest Management: 495 hectares of forest are restored through forest management practices.   
  • Chemical and waste: Supported 17 chemical and waste projects, disposed of 240 kg of pesticides and avoided open burn of 8,280 kg of solid waste and the release of 40kg of harmful chemicals.  

 

Materials 

  • SGP Lao PDR Country Programme Strategy Framework 
  • Small Grants Programme Result Report (2017-2023)  

SMALL GRANTS PROGRAMME RESULTS REPORT (FY 2017-2023) (undp.org)  

For more information, visit: https://sgp.undp.org/ 

 

Contacts  

 

Bounmy Phommakone 

National Coordinator, SGP, Laos 

bounmy.phommakone@undp.og 

+856 20 59 461 556 

+856 21 267777