On March 26, FAO and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) joined hands in a virtual signing ceremony for two Funded Activity Agreements, following the approval by the GCF board of two grants worth USD 80 million for FAO-led projects in the Republic of Congo and Jordan. Both are the first GCF-funded projects in those countries, underscoring FAO's focus on expanding the use of global tools to advance climate action in food and agriculture.

The PREFOREST project in the Republic of Congo aims to mitigate 16.7 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions over 20 years by sustainably shifting local farmers away from slash-and-burn practices in agriculture and fuelwood procurement towards agroforestry approaches that combine management of trees with that of crops and livestock, resulting in better and more sustainable livelihoods.

In addition to a co-financing of USD 9 million from the Government of the Republic of Congo, and USD 1.6 million from IFAD, the project will also benefit from resources amounting to USD 7 million from the Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI), in its first ever partnership under a GCF project.

In Jordan, the project will target about 210 000 people – around half of whom are women - in areas of the Dead Sea basin that are particularly vulnerable to climate-induced water stress. The initiative will contribute to the country’s capacity to adapt to the impacts of climate change while also supporting the long-term sustainable development targets of the agricultural sector. The project is complemented by a co-financing of USD 6.1 million from the Government of the Kingdom of Jordan, as well as by USD 1 million each from FAO and UNDP.

“Approval of GCF projects in the current context of the global COVID-19 pandemic is especially encouraging. Green recovery is a central element of FAO’s post-pandemic response. I am particularly pleased to see that these two new projects are largely designed to have a positive socio-economic impact for rural families, mostly rural women, who are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change”, said FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol.

About the FAO and GCF partnership

The GCF is the world’s largest dedicated fund helping developing countries reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and enhance their ability to respond to climate change. It was set up by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2010. FAO is accredited with the GCF as a grant-implementing entity for medium-sized projects (USD 50-250 million) with a medium level of environmental and social risk. FAO stands ready to support its Member States to develop and implement country-led projects on adaptation, climate-smart agriculture, combatting land and forest degradation, sustainable forest management and disaster risk reduction, among other areas in which FAO possesses considerable expertise.