The South-South Exchange (SSE) event is a key opportunity for tropical forest countries to share experiences and learn from each other on how to successfully implement REDD+. As countries move through different stages of REDD+, from preparation to implementation and receiving results-based payments (RBPs), this event allows them to exchange ideas and strategies to reduce emissions in the Forest and Other Land Use (FOLU) sector.

Hosted by Indonesia, which has been a leader in REDD+ efforts, the event showcased how the country has accessed RBPs from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and developed plans to meet its climate goals. The SSE also helped countries discuss how they can reinvest RBPs to strengthen their forest management efforts.

Based on South-South cooperation, this exchange encouraged countries to work together, shared best practices, and built partnerships that support global climate action and sustainable forest management. Participants gained valuable insights to improve REDD+ implementation in their own countries by coming together.

This event provided an opportunity to bring together key stakeholders for open discussions about the opportunities and challenges of securing and reinvesting REDD+ Results-Based Payments (RBP). The funds, which come from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), are important for supporting Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), particularly in the Forestry and Other Land Use (FOLU) sector.

The event is also an important platform to promote South-South cooperation, where countries in the Global South can share knowledge and experiences on how best to access and use REDD+ funding for climate action broadly and NDCs, specifically. Additionally, countries will also explore other climate finance opportunities to complement REDD+ RBP. 

By discussing both the potential and the difficulties in accessing and managing these funds, the aim is to find practical solutions that support the goals of REDD+, including better forest management, reducing deforestation, and improving the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities.

The event also allowed GCF REDD+ RBP countries, specifically Costa Rica, Ecuador and Indonesia, which have used a Performance-Based Payment (PBP) modality, to share their lessons. The PBP is a specific UNDP modality to disburse funds received from a donor, such as GCF, to a recipient, for the duration of the project, based on the achievement of pre-agreed measurable results between the project implementers and UNDP. The PBP does not provide advances as payments are made only upon the verified achievement of the pre-agreed results or in other words, performance-based. 

The use of the PBP is motivated by a greater assurance of country leadership to provide more flexibility in the way it provides the desired results. It also ensures cost-efficiency by making optimal use of existing government structures, avoiding or keeping the duplications of structures and functions to the minimum, while ensuring that UNDP can fulfill its role of Accredited Entity adequately, in line with GCF and UNDP standards, including safeguards and gender. Finally, it enables faster disbursements from UNDP to a country than a conventional upfront payment modality would allow, depending on the government’s capacity to provide the agreed results, verified through an Independent Assessor, without compromising the quality of implementation, including safeguards and the intended use of proceeds.

This meeting helped ensure that everyone is working together effectively to make the most of REDD+ and other climate funding opportunities, so it can be used to meet climate targets, including those prescribed in NDCs, and make a positive impact on the environment and local communities.

Event Overview

The South-South Exchange brought together tropical forest countries that are implementing national REDD+ programs, particularly those working with the GCF REDD+ RBPs pilot program. The purpose of the event is to facilitate knowledge sharing, foster collaboration, and learn from each other’s experiences in reducing emissions in the FOLU sector.

As countries face similar challenges in implementing REDD+ and accessing RBPs, this exchange allows participants to discuss successful strategies, innovative solutions, and lessons learned. It also provided a platform for countries to build partnerships that strengthen their national REDD+ efforts and contribute to meeting climate goals outlined in their NDCs. Ultimately, the exchange supported global climate action through cooperation and shared expertise.

Expected Outcomes from the Event

By the end of this SSE event, it is expected that the participants will gain important insights from the exchange, including: 

1. Obtain a deeper understanding of how different countries with different contexts respond strategically to opportunities and challenges with REDD+ RBPs and their use in the FOLU sector of the NDCs;

2. Gain functional knowledge of the opportunities UNDP’s PBP modality present in supporting countries to achieve sustainable impacts through their NDC implementation for the FOLU sector; 

3. Establish a list of key countries contact persons for future exchanges.