Green Climate Fund approves $300 million for FAO projects in Papua New Guinea, Saint Lucia, and the Sahel

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) has approved over $300 million to support three major climate projects led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

These projects will protect forests in Papua New Guinea, help fisheries adapt in Saint Lucia, and restore damaged land across the Sahel region in Africa.

The funding was confirmed during the 42nd GCF Board meeting held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, from June 30 to July 3. This is the largest amount ever approved for FAO projects at once.

 “The FAO-GCF partnership continues to be critical for the climate investments in agrifood systems required to deliver science-based concrete solutions to countries and communities where they are needed most, leaving no one behind,” said FAO Director-General QU Dongyu.

All three projects build on previous work by FAO that helped countries prepare to access large-scale climate funding.

Papua New Guinea: Forest Protection and Carbon Storage

In Papua New Guinea, $63.4 million will be invested in sustainable forest management through GCF’s results-based payment programme.

This project rewards Papua New Guinea for cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent between 2014 and 2016 — equal to taking more than 3 million cars off the road for one year.

 “FAO appreciates the unwavering trust that the GCF and Member Countries place in FAO’s professional capacity to provide the required technical expertise to strengthen resilience and safeguard the livelihoods of the most vulnerable,” QU Dongyu added.

Papua New Guinea has been a global leader in REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation) since 2008, with continuous support from FAO and the UN-REDD Programme.

The project will support agroforestry, sustainable charcoal and firewood production, timber and pole plantations, and natural forest restoration.

Local communities will benefit from social safeguards, fair sharing of benefits, inclusive participation, and training.

With 78% of its land covered by rainforest—mostly primary forest—Papua New Guinea is a global biodiversity hotspot.

 Its forests hold vast amounts of carbon and shelter 191 mammals and 750 bird species.

Saint Lucia: Helping Fisheries Adapt to Climate Change

In Saint Lucia, the $16.7 million FISH-ADAPT project will support the fishing and aquaculture sectors to face growing climate risks.

Located in the eastern Caribbean Sea, Saint Lucia depends heavily on fisheries and is vulnerable to climate change effects like fewer fish stocks, warmer waters, and changing rainfall patterns that also impact inland fish farming.

The project will:

Upgrade fish landing sites and provide better weather information

About 75,000 people—41% of the country’s population—will benefit. This includes fishers, sea-moss farmers, vendors, processors, and inland aquaculture farmers.

 “Through sustainable forestry management, fisheries transformation and land restoration, these FAO-designed projects will make a significant difference to the lives and livelihood of these vulnerable communities, especially in the current global context of overlapping and complex crises due to climate extremes and other shocks,” QU Dongyu said.

The Sahel: Restoring Land and Livelihoods at Scale

The largest share of the funding — $222 million — will go to the Sahel through the new Scaling-Up Resilience in Africa’s Great Green Wall (SURAGGWA) programme.

This is FAO’s first multi-country GCF project and its biggest funding request so far.

SURAGGWA covers eight countries: Burkina Faso, Chad, Djibouti, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, and Senegal.

 It builds on FAO’s long-term work with the African Union’s Great Green Wall initiative and the Action Against Desertification Programme.

“These FAO-designed projects are not only ambitious but also timely, given the urgent need to help vulnerable communities cope with overlapping crises brought on by climate change,” QU Dongyu said.

The programme will scale up proven methods of restoring degraded land with native plants that store carbon and improve food security and incomes.

It will also;

SURAGGWA supports the African Union’s goal to restore 100 million hectares of degraded land and create 10 million green jobs.

In the Sahel, 25 million people (about 25% of the population) depend on pastoralism.

The region faces challenges like poverty, social tensions, and growing competition for shrinking land and water resources.

Over 70% of rural people rely on rainfed farming and livestock, making them very vulnerable to land degradation and climate shocks.

The project aims to reduce food insecurity, boost incomes, and create lasting opportunities for youth and women by strengthening resilience among small farmers and herders.

FAO–GCF Climate Investment Portfolio

These approvals increase FAO’s total GCF-backed climate investment portfolio to more than $1.8 billion.

 This shows rising support for climate-smart solutions in food and agriculture.

 “The FAO-GCF partnership continues to grow in impact, delivering climate action that strengthens food systems, restores ecosystems and empowers vulnerable communities,” QU Dongyu said.

About the Green Climate Fund (GCF)

Created in 2010 under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Green Climate Fund is the world’s largest fund dedicated to fighting climate change.

 It helps developing countries reduce emissions and adapt to climate impacts by offering grants, loans, equity investments, and guarantees.

Based in Songdo, South Korea, GCF focuses on transparency, inclusivity, and empowering communities most affected by climate change.

 It works with accredited partners like FAO to ensure climate finance aligns with country priorities.