The Green Climate Fund (GCF) has approved a $31 million results-based grant for Uganda in recognition of its significant progress in reducing deforestation and cutting greenhouse gas emissions. This marks the first results-based payment project approved by the GCF for both Uganda and Africa, making it a historic milestone for a Least Developed Country (LDC). The project, titled Uganda REDD+ Results-Based Payment for Emission Reductions (2016–2017), was presented by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on behalf of the Ugandan government during the 43rd GCF Board meeting in Songdo, Republic of Korea.
The GCF’s approval recognizes Uganda’s achievement in cutting over 8 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions between 2016 and 2017 through sustainable forest management. FAO Director-General QU Dongyu described the funding as proof that results-based finance can reward effective climate action, benefiting both people and nature. He emphasized that Uganda’s achievement demonstrates how early investments in readiness and capacity-building can lead to long-term climate and community gains.
Uganda’s forests, which span around 2.36 million hectares, play a crucial role in regulating climate, supporting biodiversity, and sustaining livelihoods. However, about 90 percent of forest loss is attributed to agricultural expansion for crops like cassava and cattle grazing. The REDD+ framework—Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation—provides a voluntary platform for countries to reduce emissions while conserving forest resources. Uganda’s Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Water and Environment, Alfred Okot Okidi, praised the GCF decision as a testament to Uganda’s persistent efforts in climate finance mobilization.
FAO, which has supported similar projects in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Papua New Guinea, will work with Uganda to ensure the $31 million is reinvested into forest protection, food security, and sustainable livelihoods. Planned initiatives include establishing community-managed plantations to reduce deforestation pressure, improving governance and land rights, and implementing an equitable Benefit Sharing System to support Indigenous Peoples, women, and other vulnerable groups.
FAO’s long-term involvement in Uganda’s REDD+ strategy has helped the country build a strong national framework for forest conservation and emission reduction. The initiative aligns with Uganda’s National REDD+ Strategy, Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, and broader goals for climate resilience and sustainable development. Currently, FAO’s partnership with the GCF spans 114 readiness grants and 29 investment projects worth $1.8 billion globally, reaching over 60 million people—38 of these grants are in Africa, reflecting the growing commitment to climate action across the continent.
