Rural Lao communities get support on enhancing access to benefits while lowering carbon emissions

Villages in rural areas of northern Lao PDR are to receive support in using and increasing benefits from carbon credit payments made to the government following the launch of a new project.

On 26 August 2025, RECOFTC and the Lao PDR Department of Forestry launched the two-year ‘Enhancing Access to Benefits while Lowering Emissions’ (EnABLE) project in the capital, Vientiane. The project will help villagers use funds paid under the Northern Lao Governance, Forest Landscapes and Livelihood programme to engage in sustainable livelihood activities and measures to strengthen their ecosystems.

The USD 3 million project, funded by the World Bank and the German Development Ministry (BMZ), will enable rural communities in Oudomxay, Xayabury and Luang Prabang provinces to meet the conditions of agreements that bring them payments through the USD 42 million Lao PDR Emission Reductions Payment Agreement, which is also supported by Germany, the Green Climate Fund and the World Bank’s Forest Carbon Partnership Facility. Under this programme, communities will develop action plans to reduce long-term carbon emissions, for example through conservation, reforestation and forest fire prevention.

Through the EnABLE project, RECOFTC will work with villages to build their capacity for developing and implementing these community action plans and land-use plans. With a focus on women and ethnic group, RECOFTC will build stakeholder capacity, and empower communities to implement activities in seven districts, Houn, La, Pakbeng, Boten, Kenthao, Xaisathan, Nambak, Pakseng and Phoukhoun. This will allow communities to effectively benefit from carbon credit and greenhouse gas reduction initiatives in the long term.

RECOFTC will also strengthen the capacity of government agencies and civil society organizations to support and implement carbon credit plans. Partners include the Department of Forestry at the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Provincial and District Agriculture and Forestry Offices in the target areas, the Lao Women’s Union; the National Commission for the Advancement of Women; the Lao Front for National Development; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and civil society organizations.

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Chinda Milayvong is communication officer and gender focal person at RECOFTC Lao PDR.

The EnABLE project focuses on strengthening land tenure, village forest management, climate-smart livelihoods and gender equality and social inclusion. Implemented by RECOFTC with support from the World Bank, EnABLE works to ensure that women, ethnic groups and local communities can access carbon and non-carbon benefits under the Lao PDR Emission Reduction Programme.