Preparatory Grant to Enhance the "PREFOREST Congo" Project Proposal to the Green Climate Fund (Closed) - Republic of Congo

Results and impact

The CAFI grant concluded successfully in 2019 and the PREFOREST Congo proposal was submitted to the GCF in January 2020.The CAFI grant played a catalytic role in improving the likelihood of approval by the Green Climate Fund, that may in turn leverage substantial climate funding and contribute to the implementation of Congo’s REDD+ national investment plan and the fulfillment of its Nationally Determine Contribution. In addition, the grant helped establish synergies and coordination among climate-related funding sources, initiatives and actors. 

• Analysis of climate-friendly production and transformation models in agriculture, forestry and agroforestry, including their cost-benefit analysis, which can support the implementation of a national strategy for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation, plus the sustainable management of forests, and the conservation and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries (REDD+).
• Assessment of different models of sustainable use and management of wood resources for efficient charcoal production with reduced environmental impacts (including through forestry, agroforestry and/or assisted natural regeneration). The analysis of costs and the social, economic and environmental benefits of the different models was also undertaken.
• Study conducted on wood energy consumption at household level, and an assessment of feasibility, costs and models of cook stoves, aiming to identify the best alternatives for deployment in the framework of the project.
• An assessment of environmental and social risks in project areas, and development of the Environmental and Social Risk Monitoring Framework (ESMF).
• A consultative process with women in targeted project areas (five departments), a gender assessment in the context of the project and a Gender Action Plan for the GCF project.
• Identification of groups of indigenous people that could be affected by project activities, a consultative process with indigenous people to inform about the project, obtain their suggestions and confirm their initial interest and the development of an indigenous peoples’ action plan.
• Strengthening of stakeholder consultations on the GCF project proposal and development of a stakeholder consultation report.
• An economic and financial analysis of the project in order to assess the economic soundness of the project and its likely impact of project interventions.