[{"bbox": [129, 153, 1133, 260], "category": "Text", "text": "product testing laboratory at National University of Laos considering support from other parties, dissemination of research results in wood technologies and of best practices for intercropping and biodiversity conservation; research on and propagation of native tree species for forest landscape restoration; development of services and technical capacities for monitoring of resources management and testing of wood quality."}, {"bbox": [129, 270, 1136, 538], "category": "Text", "text": "**AO 2.3 - Sustainable and competitive forest-based value chains are strengthened:** Activities may include economic analysis of the various value chain options; creation of incentives for smallholder to plant trees in plantations or agroforestry systems, trainings and support for improved use of natural resources and Non Timber Forest Products (NTFP) for income diversification, support partnerships among villages, private sector and government for inclusive, biodiversity-friendly, and deforestation-free value chains; strengthening of forest smallholders' and forest product SMEs organization; capacity building of SMEs; development of bankable projects and facilitate access to finance; e-commerce and training for advisory services at district level for set up of (smallholder) plantation registry and monitoring of deforestation to comply with EU and other international standards (traceability, deforestation-free products, FLEGT); support the use of GIS system for plantation registration."}, {"bbox": [129, 548, 1135, 762], "category": "Text", "text": "**AO 2.4: Governance for an inclusive, biodiversity-friendly, deforestation-free forest production sector is improved:** Activities may include facilitation of political dialogue between EU and Lao PDR in the framework of a potential forest partnership applying a holistic approach - landscape approach - to cover value chain development, traceability and geolocation, due diligence related to deforestation-free production and decent work, ecosystem protection and conservation; policy advice for relevant topics; improved inter-sectoral cooperation and exchange of information for forest investments, and strengthening of multi-stakeholder roundtables to identify and address bottlenecks for competitive and sustainable value chains; development of national or product-specific standards."}, {"bbox": [96, 788, 1104, 841], "category": "Text", "text": "For reference only, the following indicative activities are expected to be supported under Outputs 3 & 4 of the TICAF (n.b: these activities are not part of this Action Document and financing decision):"}, {"bbox": [96, 867, 839, 895], "category": "Section-header", "text": "**Output 3: Increased responsible private investment in agriculture and forestry:**"}, {"bbox": [129, 895, 1133, 1027], "category": "Text", "text": "Providing global macro-economic situation allows, it is planned that one or more EFSD+ guarantee operation(s) might contribute to this output. EFSD+ Projects Investment Proposals (PIPs) that include support to private investment in agriculture and forestry in Lao PDR in their indicative pipeline are currently under review. A share of the Multiannual Indicative Programme 2021-24 for Lao PDR has been reserved for this type of guarantee operations."}, {"bbox": [96, 1053, 924, 1079], "category": "Section-header", "text": "**Output 4: Increased connectivity and market access for agriculture and timber products**"}, {"bbox": [129, 1080, 1135, 1425], "category": "Text", "text": "If confirmed by the on-going feasibility study (and environmental and social impact assessment) and if the global macro-economic situation allows, the EU plans to take part in a blending operation (EIB loan and EU grant, amount to be confirmed) to contribute to the rehabilitation of a segment of the national road 2 (NR2), in the north of Lao PDR, linking Vietnam to Thailand, as part of the EIB-Lao PDR Resilient Roads Framework Loan. NR2 is identified in the ASEAN connectivity master plan. The envisaged support would take place in the wider context of the Southeast Asia Regional Economic Corridor and Connectivity (SEARECC) programme led by the World Bank (co-financed by Australia), which includes support to road rehabilitation, logistic services and cross-border trade facilitation in particular for agro-products, and capacity building. This regional connectivity project is closely linked with EU and Team Europe Partners' support under Outputs 1 & 2, as it would facilitate the market access for coffee, tea, and timber products to the ASEAN region and beyond. The rehabilitation of NR2 is complemented by the on-going EIB rural roads rehabilitation project, in Northern Laos, and by BMZ parallel co-financing through two programmes rehabilitating rural roads in 2 provinces in the North, including roads directly linked to the NR2."}, {"bbox": [129, 1450, 1133, 1557], "category": "Text", "text": "The commitment of the EU's contribution to the Team Europe Initiatives foreseen under this action plan will be complemented by other contributions from Team Europe partners. It is subject to the formal confirmation of each respective partners' meaningful contribution as early as possible. In the event that the TEIs and/or these contributions do not materialise the EU action may continue outside a TEI framework."}, {"bbox": [85, 1571, 311, 1602], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 3.3 Mainstreaming"}, {"bbox": [96, 1617, 541, 1644], "category": "Section-header", "text": "**Environmental Protection & Climate Change**"}, {"bbox": [1028, 1681, 1143, 1706], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 12 of 30"}]