Lao People's Democratic Republic : LAO: Greater Mekong Subregion Biodiversity Conservation Corridors Project — Additional Financing
The Additional Financing resources will be used to scale up sustainable forest management activities of the Greater Mekong Subregion Biodiversity Conservation Corridors Project, with a view to strengthening REDD+ readiness and implementation capacity in selected districts and amongst targeted project beneficiaries.
Project Details
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Project Officer
Louangraj, Phantouleth
Southeast Asia Department
Request for information -
Country/Economy
Lao People's Democratic Republic
| Project Name | LAO: Greater Mekong Subregion Biodiversity Conservation Corridors Project — Additional Financing | ||||
| Project Number | 40253-036 | ||||
| Country / Economy | Lao People's Democratic Republic |
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| Project Status | Active | ||||
| Project Type / Modality of Assistance | Grant |
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| Source of Funding / Amount |
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| Strategic Agendas | Environmentally sustainable growth Inclusive economic growth Regional integration |
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| Drivers of Change | Gender Equity and Mainstreaming Governance and capacity development Knowledge solutions Partnerships |
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| Sector / Subsector | Agriculture and Natural Resources / Agriculture, natural resources and rural development |
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| Gender | Effective gender mainstreaming | ||||
| Description | The Additional Financing resources will be used to scale up sustainable forest management activities of the Greater Mekong Subregion Biodiversity Conservation Corridors Project, with a view to strengthening REDD+ readiness and implementation capacity in selected districts and amongst targeted project beneficiaries. | ||||
| Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy | In 2011, the Lao PDR was selected as a pilot country to participate in the Forest Investment Program (FIP), a targeted subprogram within the framework of the Strategic Climate Fund (SCF) under Climate Investment Funds. The FIP Investment Plan for the Lao PDR was approved in 2012 and lists ADB as one of the implementing agencies. The expected outcomes of the FIP Investment Plan are to improve sustainable forest management practices and support readiness activities to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation plus conservation of forest carbon stocks, sustainable management of forests, and enhancement of forest carbon stocks (REDD+). Since this is consistent with the objectives, scope, and implementing arrangements of the project, the SCF funds are used to scale up the project. The use of SCF funds meet the eligibility criteria to be considered as additional financing to the project. Specifically, it supports a project that remains technically feasible, economically viable, and financially sound; and is consistent with government priorities and the country partnership strategy. | ||||
| Impact | Climate-resilient sustainable forest ecosystems benefitting local livelihoods | ||||
| Project Outcome | |
|---|---|
| Description of Outcome | Biodiversity corridors in the Lao PDR with communities ready to scale up REDD+ activities sustainably managed |
| Progress Toward Outcome | As of March 2020, overall physical progress is estimated at 57% against elapsed time of 62%. Cumulative contract awards and disbursements based on ADB Grant Financial Information System are $10.77 million (84%) and $7.14 million (56%) against net grant amount. Grant extension (2 years) memo was approved on 4 April and reflected in the system on 15 April. Baseline projections has been revised and reflected in system on 26 April. |
| Implementation Progress | |
| Description of Project Outputs | Biodiversity corridor management and REDD+ implementation capacity of institutions and communities strengthened Biodiversity corridors restored, ecosystem services protected, maintained, and REDD+ ready Livelihoods improved and small-scale infrastructure support provided in target villages Project management and support services are operational |
| Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues) | Progress under different outputs was as follows:Output 1: REDD+ training service provider conducted 34 training events to strengthen capacity of provincial and district staff on REDD+. Provincial agriculture and forestry office completed land use plans for 17 villages and issued 221 land use certificates for community-managed land, and 106 land use certificates for state-managed land. Output 2: The project completed afforestation in 1,171 ha and assisted natural regeneration (ANR) in 1000 ha during the reporting period. Regular patrolling of forest areas in 17 villages continued. Study on propsects for support for patrolling and ANR activities in the communities through "payment for ecosystem services" in two watersheds (Xekaman and Namkong) was completed. Output 3: Project signed contract agroforestry service provider on 8 July 2019 and commenced agroforestry preparation activities on 1 September 2019. Output 4: The project refurnished provincial and district offices by procuring necessary equipment, signed a contract for assessment of carbon and the potential for carbon finance' for forest conservation in target villages, and trained staff on the use of the Planet/GIS system and other tools to support REDD+ activities. |
| Geographical Location | Attapu, Sekong |
| Safeguard Categories | |
|---|---|
| Environment | B |
| Involuntary Resettlement | B |
| Indigenous Peoples | B |
| Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects | |
|---|---|
| Environmental Aspects | The original safeguard category of B for environment of the Biodiversity Conservation Corridors Project remains unchanged. The EARF of the ongoing Project has been updated to include scope of work of the Additional Financing. The new activities are not expected to result in significant negative environmental impacts. |
| Involuntary Resettlement | The original safeguard category of B for involuntary resettlement of the Biodiversity Conservation Corridors Project remains unchanged. The LARF of the ongoing BCC Project has been updated to include the new project areas and activities of the additional financing. The new activities are not expected to result in significant negative involuntary resettlement of people. |
| Indigenous Peoples | The original safeguard category of B for indigenous people of the Biodiversity Conservation Corridors Project remains unchanged. The Ethnic Groups Development Framework of the ongoing BCC Project has been updated to include the new project areas and activities as well as additional mitigating measures. Villages identified for the new activities comprise mostly of people belonging to Brao, Sadang, Tarieng and Yae ethnic groups. Consultations conducted during the design phase of the Additional Financing confirmed that villagers support the new activities. |
| Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation | |
| During Project Design | During project preparation, village leaders and members from targeted villages in Phouvong and Dak Cheung districts were engaged in developing the proposed Additional Financing (AF) interventions. The AF will be implemented in Phouvong district of Attapeu Province and Dak Cheung district of Sekong province which are among the country's poorest districts. Project preparation also involved engagement with central, provincial and district level agencies of the Government of Lao PDR, including Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry of Planning and Investment, and Ministry of Finance at the central level as well as Provincial Departments of Natural Resources and Environment and District Offices of Natural Resources and Environment in the targeted provinces and districts. The project preparatory consultants and ADB consulted with non-government organizations engaged in conservation and development programs and with special interest groups such as the Lao Women's Union and the Lao National Front which has responsibility for ethnic minority affairs. The project preparation consultants also met on several occasions with private entities involved in commercial agriculture, forestry and hydropower to determine their interest in engaging with the project. |
| During Project Implementation | During project implementation, the NPMO and PPMOs will implement a stakeholder Consultation and Participation Plan as specified in the Ethnic Group Development Framework. The Consultation and Participation Plan presents the definitive points for stakeholder participation under the project, specific to subproject preparation and implementation. |
| Responsible ADB Officer | Louangraj, Phantouleth |
| Responsible ADB Department | Southeast Asia Department |
| Responsible ADB Division | Lao Resident Mission |
| Executing Agencies |
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Nahai Diew Road, Chanthabury District, Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR |
| Timetable | |
|---|---|
| Concept Clearance | 21 Oct 2014 |
| Fact Finding | 01 Apr 2014 to 11 Apr 2014 |
| MRM | 22 Jan 2016 |
| Approval | 09 Aug 2016 |
| Last Review Mission | - |
| Last PDS Update | 09 Jun 2020 |
Grant 0488-LAO
| Milestones | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Approval | Signing Date | Effectivity Date | Closing | ||
| Original | Revised | Actual | |||
| 09 Aug 2016 | 18 Oct 2016 | 06 Jan 2017 | 30 Jun 2020 | 30 Jun 2022 | - |
| Financing Plan | Grant Utilization | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total (Amount in US$ million) | Date | ADB | Others | Net Percentage | |
| Project Cost | 12.90 | Cumulative Contract Awards | |||
| ADB | 0.00 | 09 Aug 2016 | 0.00 | 11.86 | 92% |
| Counterpart | 0.06 | Cumulative Disbursements | |||
| Cofinancing | 12.84 | 09 Aug 2016 | 0.00 | 9.42 | 73% |
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Safeguard Documents See also: Safeguards
Safeguard documents provided at the time of project/facility approval may also be found in the list of linked documents provided with the Report and Recommendation of the President.
Evaluation Documents See also: Independent Evaluation
None currently available.
Related Publications
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ADB Grant Assistance to Support Sustainable Biodiversity Management
ADB has approved $12.8 million in additional financing for the ongoing Biodiversity Conservation Corridors Project in the Lao PDR.
Tenders
| Tender Title | Type | Status | Posting Date | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Procurement Specialist | Individual - Consulting | Closed | ||
| National Accounting Assistant | Individual - Consulting | Closed | ||
| Auditor Services | Firm - Consulting | Closed | ||
| Provincial Project Manager Attapeu Province | Individual - Consulting | Closed | ||
| Service Provider for Provincial, District and Village Training | Firm - Consulting | Closed | ||
| Livelihoods - Agroforestry Service Provider | Firm - Consulting | Closed | ||
| Carbon Assessment in the context of Emission Reductions | Firm - Consulting | Closed | ||
| National Forest Patrolling Specialist | Individual - Consulting | Closed | ||
| National Communication Specialist | Individual - Consulting | Closed | ||
| Accounting System Specialist | Individual - Consulting | Closed |
Contracts Awarded
| Contract Title | Approval Number | Contract Date | Contractor | Address | Executing Agency | Total Contract Amount (US$) | Contract Amount Financed by ADB (US$) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSF-TRNG SERVICE PROVIDER FOR PROVINCIAL DISTRICT AND VILLAGE TRAINING | Grant 0488 | 07 Jan 2019 | INOVA CONSULTANT SOLE CO. LTD. | SIBOUNHEUANG VILLAGE CHANTHABOULY DISTRICT VIENTIANE CAPITAL LAO PEOPLE'S DEM REP | Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment | 566,887.39 | — |
| CSF-CBMS: CARBON MEASUREMENT CONSULTANTS | Grant 0488 | 13 Nov 2018 | INDUFOR OY | ESTERINPORTTI 2 HELSINKI FIN-00240 HELSINKI FINLAND | Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment | 1,410,953.00 | — |
Procurement Plan
| Title | Document Type | Document Date |
|---|---|---|
| Greater Mekong Subregion Biodiversity Conservation Corridors Project - Additional Financing: Procurement Plan | Procurement Plans | Jun 2021 |