Lao PDR

Respresentatives from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Lao PDR, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Thailand, Timor Leste, Vietnam and international organizations attending the workshop. Photo: UNEP

On the 23 and 24 of June, the UNDP and UNEP is jointly organizing a Poverty-Environment Initiative regional workshop on lessons learnt on Changing Public and Private investments for pro-poor environment and climate outcome in Vientiane, Lao PDR. The workshop is intended to be a forum that will gather policymakers and senior public officials of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Lao PDR, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Thailand, Timor Leste, Vietnam and international organizations to discuss at length the challenges of poverty reduction and natural resources management.

The Poverty Environment Initiative for Asia and the Pacific seeks to address the challenge of mainstreaming environment into policy planning by providing technical and financial support to countries. The initiative develops country specific economic and environment assessments of the links between the environment, climate, poverty and economic development with the aim of producing clear policy recommendations and options for optimizing public and private investments.

During the workshop, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and the Philippines will share their experiences in planning responsible public investments at national and local levels. Thailand and Lao People’s Democratic Republic will contribute their knowledge in regards to managing private investment whilst ensuring coherence with an environmentally sustainable economic growth. Further, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Timor-Leste and Bhutan will present the knowledge on working across UN and/or with other donors.

The workshop will encourage discussion about key entry points and economic incentives to mainstream environment into policy planning. The role of local governments, ecosystems, climate and ways to manage private investment will be key topics for discussion. Programme design and implementation, communication, advocacy and financial management will be part of the agenda and will provide participants with clear strategic guidance and tools to better equip them to deal with the challenge of mainstreaming environment into policy planning.

Notes for editors:

For more information please contact

Ms Inka Leisma at the UNDP Public Information Unit

Tel: (021) 267 777 ext: 751, Email: inka.leisma@undp.org

UNDP is the UN's global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 166 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and our wide range of partners.