Kampala, Uganda — Uganda has received a $31 million grant from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) in recognition of its measurable success in reducing deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions. This marks the first results-based payment approved by the GCF for Uganda, for Africa, and for any Least Developed Country (LDC), representing a significant milestone in the continent’s climate finance landscape.

The project, titled “Uganda REDD+ Results-Based Payment for Emission Reductions (2016–2017),” was presented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on behalf of the Government of Uganda at the 43rd GCF Board meeting held in Songdo, Republic of Korea. Uganda’s efforts in sustainable forest management led to a net reduction of over eight million tonnes of CO₂ emissions between 2016 and 2017—an achievement comparable to growing 133 million tree seedlings over a ten-year period.

FAO Director-General QU Dongyu stated that the GCF’s approval demonstrates how results-based finance can reward effective climate action and deliver tangible benefits for both people and nature. He emphasized that Uganda’s success reflects the impact of early investments in readiness and capacity building, which have produced transformative outcomes for forests, food security, and communities across Africa.

Uganda’s forest cover spans approximately 2.36 million hectares and plays a vital role in climate regulation, ecosystem services, and rural livelihoods. However, agricultural expansion—particularly for cassava cultivation and cattle grazing—accounts for 90 percent of the country’s forest loss. The REDD+ framework, developed under the UNFCCC, aims to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation while enhancing forest carbon stocks. Globally, these activities contribute around 11 percent of greenhouse gas emissions.

Alfred Okot Okidi, Permanent Secretary of Uganda’s Ministry of Water and Environment, welcomed the GCF decision, noting that the revenue from REDD+ reflects Uganda’s strategic commitment to mobilizing climate finance and the value of patience in this critical space.

The Uganda-FAO initiative is part of a broader results-based payment scheme that has proven to be a cost-effective tool for achieving mitigation outcomes. FAO has supported similar projects in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Papua New Guinea, helping these countries secure a combined $237 million in GCF funding.

The $31 million disbursement will be directed toward expanding REDD+ benefits, reducing pressure on ecosystems, and strengthening local food security. Planned interventions include community-based pole and timber plantations to ease the burden of firewood collection for rural women, collective forest management and land rights agreements to reduce conflict and foster ownership, and a robust Benefit Sharing System to ensure equitable access to forest resources for Indigenous Peoples, women, and other marginalized groups.

FAO has been involved in Uganda’s REDD+ journey from the outset, supporting the country through a comprehensive readiness phase and helping to develop a socially and environmentally viable national strategy. The current project aligns with Uganda’s National REDD+ Strategy and Action Plan, supports its Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement, and reinforces efforts to build a scalable, nationally coordinated model for climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development.

The FAO-GCF global portfolio now totals $1.8 billion, comprising 114 readiness grants—including 38 in Africa—and 29 investment projects that collectively serve more than 60 million people.

AgriFocus Africa will continue to monitor and report on strategic climate finance developments that intersect with agricultural transformation, environmental governance, and sustainable development across the continent.