From Bylaws to Leadership

Growing Stronger Together in Nalea District!

From 04–07 September 2025, the Village Forest and Agriculture Grants (VFAG) under the GIZ – Climate Protection through Avoided Deforestation Project (CliPAD) facilitated a series of village-level meetings in Tindoy and Hua Nambak villages, Long District, Luang Namtha Province. For the two-village as mentioned is Akha ethic group in the project’s activity implementation. The purpose was to formally establish VFAG Committees and endorse village bylaws that will guide the management of the grants.

The meetings were co-chaired by Mr. Phoutsongkan Siriphong, Vice Head of the District Agriculture and Forestry Office (DAFO) in Long District, and Ms. Khankeo Chanthakoman, Vice President of the Lao Women’s Union (LWU). Their joint leadership highlighted the collaboration between technical and community organizations, ensuring that the process addressed both technical standards and local inclusion.

As an outcome, both villages successfully elected three committee members to serve key functions:

• Head of VFAG Committee – responsible for overall leadership and decision-making.
• Accountant – responsible for transparent record-keeping and budgeting.
• Cashier – responsible for day-to-day fund handling and accountability.

To strengthen the committees’ ability to fulfill these roles, the activity also included a financial management training session. This training equipped committee members with knowledge and practical tools to ensure transparent, accountable, and effective use of VFAG resources. By introducing basic accounting principles, financial reporting, and monitoring practices, the training directly supports good governance at the village level.

A total of 123 participants, including 40 women, actively engaged in the meetings. This diverse participation reflects both strong local interest in VFAG and the commitment to inclusive decision-making. The involvement of women in both the discussions and committee roles is particularly significant, as it reinforces gender equity in community forest and land management.

Why this matters

The establishment of VFAG Committees and bylaws is not only an administrative step but also a cornerstone for sustainable forest and land management in Long District. Through this process:

• Communities gain ownership and responsibility over local resources.
• Transparent financial systems increase community trust and participation.
• Gender inclusion strengthens social equity and balanced decision-making.

By empowering communities to self-manage funds for forest protection and sustainable agriculture, this initiative contributes to CliPAD’s broader goals: reducing deforestation, promoting climate resilience, and improving the livelihoods of rural households.

With strong community structures now in place, Tindoy and Hua Nambak villages are better prepared to manage their forest and agricultural resources in ways that support both people and the environment.

Community Patrols in Action

Strengthening Community Capacity in Nalea District through Training on Implementation of Village Annual Operational Plans

From 18–19 September 2025, the Climate Protection through Avoided Deforestation (CliPAD) Project, implemented by GIZ, together with the Forestry Unit of the District Agriculture and Environment Office (DAEO) in Nalea District, Luangnamtha Province, organized a two-day Community Training on the Implementation of Village Annual Operational Plans (AOPs) in Thongthone Village.

This training brought together members of the Village Land Use Management Committees (VLUMCs) and the Village Forest and Agriculture Grant Committees (VFAGCs) from five participating villages: Thongthone, Saken, Konelang, Phoutien, and Saluey. The activity followed an earlier training for district technical staff (15–17 September 2025), conducted by the CliPAD Forestry Advisory Team, which prepared district officers to provide technical guidance and backstopping to communities.

Purpose of the Training

The overall objective was to strengthen the capacity of village-level committees in carrying out their Village Annual Operational Plans. With this knowledge, the committees are expected to:

• Guide their communities in applying sustainable forest and land management practices.
• Implement village-level activities in line with their Village Forest Management Plans (VFMPs).
• Collaborate with district technical staff to ensure effective support and oversight.

Training Approach

The training combined both theoretical sessions and field-based practice. Topics covered included:

• Understanding and applying the Village Rights Book
• Reviewing the Village Forest Management Planning (VFMP) process
• Conducting forest boundary demarcation
• Organizing village patrolling activities
• Implementing forest fire prevention measures
• Promoting natural forest regeneration
• Practical Learning in the Field

Beyond classroom sessions, participants engaged in hands-on exercises inside the Village Protection Forest. These field activities demonstrated how to apply theoretical knowledge in real-life contexts from marking forest boundaries to practicing patrolling methods and fire prevention techniques. This practical component ensured that participants gained not only technical knowledge but also confidence in applying it within their villages.

Why This Matters

This training is a key step in empowering local communities to take ownership of their natural resources. By building the knowledge and skills of village committees, CliPAD and its government partners are supporting communities to implement their own plans, protect forests, prevent land degradation, and promote sustainable livelihoods.

The activity also highlights the importance of collaboration between district-level technical teams and village committees, ensuring that knowledge flows both ways and that communities receive the guidance and support they need to succeed.

This training is part of CliPAD’s broader commitment to promoting community-based forest protection and sustainable land use management in northern Lao PDR.

#CliPAD #GIZLaos #ForestManagement #CommunityEmpowerment #SustainableDevelopment

National Plantation Day

🌱 Happy National Planting Day! | June 1, 2025 🌱

To celebrate this meaningful occasion, the GIZ CLiPAD team joined local authorities including the Luang Prabang Provincial Government, Department of Forestry and Agriculture alongside community members and representatives from DSK Company, for a collaborative tree planting event in the Phueng mountainous area, Donekarng Village, Luang Prabang Province.

Over 250 participants from across sectors including students, villagers, government officials, and private stakeholders came together to plant 1,000 native trees on the day. This effort is part of a broader plan to restore and protect a 13.5-hectare water resource area, which will ultimately host 8,500 trees as planting continues in the coming weeks.

This initiative supports and complements the Lao Government’s REDD+ efforts, which are already a key part of the national strategy for forest protection and climate action. Our work under GIZ CLiPAD is designed to align with these national priorities and advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those focused on environmental protection and climate resilience.

We’re also excited to explore a new collaboration with DSK Company as a potential private sector partner in the area of sustainable forest management recognizing that long-term success depends on joint action between communities, government, and business.

“Today is more than just a planting activity. It’s a symbol of our shared responsibility to protect the environment for future generations,” – Sommaiy Khonesavanh – Head of Luangprabang Forest Sector.

This is just the beginning — stay tuned for more updates as we move forward with the planting and long-term conservation activities. #NationalPlantingDay #GIZLaos #CLiPAD #REDDplus #ClimateAction #SustainableForestry #LuangPrabang #CommunityEngagement #SDGs #TreePlanting