[{"bbox": [96, 152, 1136, 497], "category": "Text", "text": "Environmental protection and climate change are at the core of the action, with a clear focus on improved forest governance, management and conservation. Biodiversity conservation is an explicit and significant objective of the sustainable forest management and conservation component. With regard to climate change, by increasing the forest cover and protecting the remaining forests, the action will contribute to increasing Lao PDR's carbon sequestration capacity and hence to mitigating global climate change. Climate change mitigation is therefore also considered to be a significant objective of the forest action, while the agricultural component targets climate resilience as a Specific Objectives; climate change adaptation can also be considered as significant objective of the action. The action will also make available to local CSOs small grants to work on issues such as natural resource management, climate change and the green and circular economy. When possible, activities will have specific focus on environmental protection (including adaptation to climate change and protection of natural resources) to showcase the implementation of CSO-state interaction and the application of the rule of law with the use of specific sectoral examples. The action will also support thematic hearings and independent expertise for NA members on environment matters."}, {"bbox": [96, 522, 1136, 629], "category": "Text", "text": "**Outcomes of the SEA screening:** The Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) screening suggests that there is no need for an SEA. The action is likely to have an impact on the environment. Yet, it aims to restore the environment, in particular degraded land and forests, and to practice agriculture in a deforestation-free and sustainable manner."}, {"bbox": [96, 655, 1136, 710], "category": "Text", "text": "**Outcomes of the EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) screening:** (relevant for projects and/or specific interventions within a project)"}, {"bbox": [96, 710, 1136, 895], "category": "Text", "text": "C (EIA is not required). The action focuses on improved governance in the agriculture and forest sector, along with institutional support, training, and capacity development. The agriculture component aims at promoting climate-resilient and sustainable agriculture, including agro-ecological and organic farming and agroforestry. The forest component will promote biodiversity-friendly, deforestation-free forest production, as well as partnerships (PPP) for restoration of forests and biodiversity conservation. The action will contribute significantly to the EU commitments to address biodiversity loss (Rio marker 1 for conservation of biological diversity and combating desertification)."}, {"bbox": [96, 920, 1136, 976], "category": "Text", "text": "**Outcome of the CRA (Climate Risk Assessment) screening** (relevant for projects and/or specific interventions within a project)"}, {"bbox": [96, 975, 1136, 1189], "category": "Text", "text": "The Climate Risk Assessment (CRA) screening concluded that a CRA is not required. The problem analysis acknowledges and addresses the climate risks and impacts through dedicated activities. While the action, notably the development of the deforestation-free agricultural value chains, is affected by natural hazards associated to climate change (see below section on Risks), the agriculture component aims to reduce climate vulnerability and to promote climate-resilient and sustainable agriculture, including organic farming and agroforestry. The action is expected to contribute to both climate resilience of farmers and climate change mitigation, and have a positive impact on ecosystems, land resources and biodiversity. The action will contribute significantly to the EU commitment to address climate change (Rio markers 1 for climate change mitigation and adaptation)."}, {"bbox": [96, 1212, 638, 1240], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## Gender equality and empowerment of women and girls"}, {"bbox": [96, 1240, 1136, 1505], "category": "Text", "text": "As per OECD Gender DAC codes identified in section 1.1, this action is labelled as G1. This implies that the action recognizes gender equality is an important and deliberate objective, but not the principal reason for undertaking the project/ programme. Therefore, gender equality and empowerment of women and girls will be both mainstreamed throughout and targeted during the implementation of the action. At the level of both implementing partners and rights-holders, due attention will be given to ensuring gender equality in terms of opportunities (training, employment), decision-making and benefit-sharing. For example, gender balances will be pursued in the envisaged formal trainings and in other capacity building activities. Women will be directly targeted in the activities related to village forest management. Finally, the development of value chains for wood and for Non Timber Forest Products (NTFP) provide ideal opportunities for promoting gender equality in relation to decision-making and benefit-sharing."}, {"bbox": [96, 1504, 1136, 1560], "category": "Text", "text": "The Action is in line with the Gender Action Plan III 2021-2025 (GAP III), in particular to the thematic areas of engagement \"Promoting economic and social rights and empowering girls and women\"."}, {"bbox": [1027, 1681, 1145, 1707], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 13 of 30"}]