Institutional Strengthening Program in Support of Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy

BACKGROUND

The Institutional Strengthening Program in Support of Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), initiated in May 2012 through collaboration between the Government of Guyana and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), aimed to fortify both technical and administrative capabilities within key institutions overseeing LCDS implementation. The total program cost was US$7.0 million, with US$5.94 million (85%) financed by the GRIF and executed with the IDB as partner entity, while US$1.06 million (15%) was financed through the Government funds of Norway and channeled through Conservation International.

The project overall objective is to enhance national institutional capacity in Guyana to address the impacts of Climate Change, ensure the effective implementation of the LCDS, and help Guyana meet its commitments under interim REDD+ partnerships. These commitments include reducing deforestation, which translates into the avoidance of CO2 emissions. The specific objectives of the program are: (1) to strengthen the technical and administrative capacity of the principal institutions responsible for implementing Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy; and (2) to develop and implement MRVS on a national level. 

With a grant totaling $7 million, sourced mainly from the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund and the Government of Norway, the project focused on two primary components: designing and implementing a Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) system, and enhancing the institutional capacities of relevant entities. While Component I achieved its objectives within the initial two-year period, Component II encountered setbacks due to administrative transitions and staff attrition, resulting in delays in program execution. Nevertheless, despite challenges, the program significantly bolstered stakeholder outreach capabilities and contributed to indigenous community involvement in GRIF-funded projects.

RESULTS

• Design and implementation of a MRV system

Through a comprehensive assessment of forest area changes, development of carbon stock measurement capacities, and sustained MRV coordination, the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) achieved significant milestones. With a hands-on approach to knowledge exchange, the GFC successfully developed and implemented an MRV system, culminating in independently verified MRV reports. This achievement enabled Guyana to meet performance targets, with deforestation and degradation rates recorded at 0.065% for the final year of the agreement. The GFC’s adeptness in undertaking MRV activities independently, validated by a third-party audit, paved the way for continued funding and sustainability of MRV endeavors beyond the program’s conclusion. This success underscores the program’s pivotal contribution to Guyana’s environmental stewardship and positions the country favorably in its commitment to forest conservation and climate action. As a result of the improved capacity of the GFC to produce an IPCC-compliant MRVS, Guyana has been able to verify that it has met performance targets with regard to deforestation and degradation rates. Reporting figures for years one to five were 0.056%, 0.054%, 0.079%, 0.068%, and 0.065%, respectively.

• Enhancing the institutional capacities of relevant entities

Component 2 further strengthened institutional capacities within Guyana’s LCDS institutions. Despite fluctuations in staff numbers, both the Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC), formerly the Office of Climate Change (OCC), and the Project Management Office (PMO) retained the capacity to undertake LCDS functions. Stakeholder awareness and comprehension of the LCDS increased, with over 100 outreach activities conducted by the OCC and PMO to boost LCDS awareness, including consultations with indigenous communities. 

A national baseline survey was undertaken to determine stakeholder awareness, comprehension and support of the LCDS in 2014. The survey was conducted with a sample size of 476 respondents, 238 urban and 238 rural, and measured and evaluated the extent of Stakeholders’ awareness, comprehension, and support for Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). Support for the LCDS in the baseline survey was 67% and this percentage agreed that the LCDS was good for all Guyana.