Funded by a €60 million (P3.67 billion) grant from the European Union in the Philippines, the Green Economy Programme of the Philippines (GEPP) will run from 2023-2028 in collaboration with the national government, local government units (LGUs), and the private sector. The Programme links European and Filipino partners to foster a circular economy and the reduction of plastic waste. It also aims to improve energy efficiency, promote renewable energy use and climate change mitigation and adaptation. Using a whole-of-nation approach, the programme is focused on sustainable and inclusive growth through investments, technology transfer, and job creation. GEPP is implemented by UNDP Philippines, Germany’s development agency GIZ, Expertise France with Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank Group. GEPP is spearheaded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The EU-PH Partnership for Green Economy: Green LGUs Project is one of GEPP’s four strategic objectives and aims to enhance circular economy practices by the local government units (LGUs) in collaboration with the private sector and civil society organizations (CSOs), with focus on youth and gender equality. Co-led by UNDP with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Green LGUs project will deliver a portfolio of interventions, among others focusing on enabling policies, facilitating financing, advocacy, and behavioral change and enhancing knowledge and capacity among LGUs and stakeholders. Central to the approach is innovation, promoting gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI), and just transition towards the shift to a circular economy.