AIM4Forests receives positive evaluation, confirming contribution to global climate action

For the second year in a row, the AIM4Forests programme — a collaboration between the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) — has received an A+ rating in the Government's annual programme review. Building on the first year's positive feedback, this positive score reflects AIM4Forests’ strong performance in 2024 and demonstrates its excellent value for money and high potential for long-term transformational impact.  

“We have scored this Annual Review an ‘A+’. Progress in financial year 2024, the second year of the programme’s operation, has been generally successful and builds on the good progress already established in the programme’s first year of operation," notes the UK Government's Annual Review (UK, 2025, p. 6).  

Launched in April 2023, AIM4Forests supports forest monitoring through technological innovation such as space data and remote sensing. To date, the programme supports 16 countries — Bolivia, Brazil, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Guatemala, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, Peru, Papua New Guinea, Uganda, Viet Nam, and Zambia — to strengthen capacities and skills for forest monitoring. 

Independent review confirms programme's high relevance and progress  

In late 2024 and early 2025, AIM4Forests also underwent a Mid-Term Review (MTR), requested by the programme steering committee and carried out by independent senior evaluator. Based on more than 100 documents, and nearly 50 interviews with beneficiaries and stakeholders, the review confirmed the programme's high relevance, good progress, effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainable approaches. 

“The key factors driving AIM4Forests’ good performance are building on past and ongoing global FAO forest monitoring work and platforms, and its adaptive management approach. The programme planning happens throughout the year, allowing the team to respond to demands, make use of emerging opportunities and apply lessons learned from early implementation. When done ambitiously and transparently, this type of adaptive management not only maintains but enhances programme relevance and effectiveness,” said independent senior evaluator Marko Katila.  

To ensure that AIM4Forests continues to provide tailored solutions in support of national priorities, the review also presents in-depth assessments of activities implemented in three countries: Ghana, Guatemala and Peru. 

Highlighting the impact at country level, Thomas Y. Gyambrah, Ghana measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) Manager, and member of the MTR council, added: "Over the last years, Ghana has made strong progress in developing its forest monitoring system, which has been critical for accessing climate finance and supporting the cocoa sector to meet deforestation-related trade requirements. Through AIM4Forests, we are addressing remaining capacity gaps to ensure Ghana’s national forest monitoring system delivers robust data for both national priorities and international commitments."  

Looking ahead 

"We are very proud of these positive evaluations, and we will take the recommendations forward. AIM4Forests continues developing and improving as we implement it", stated Till Neeff, AIM4Forests Chief Technical Advisor.  

Going forward, the programme will strengthen South-South cross-country learning and global exchanges, continue delivering in-country technical assistance, and support key beneficiaries such as youth, women, Indigenous Peoples and smallholders.