Summary

The project interventions seek to transform urban flood management in Laos, shifting from a restricted, hard infrastructure approach to an integrated strategy that bolsters climate resilience. This transformation involves incorporating integrated flood management strategies into planning frameworks and deploying urban Ecosystem-based Solutions (EbS) to mitigate climate-induced flooding. EbS represents the intersection between Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA), leveraging the strengths of both approaches to provide sustainable, ecologically driven responses to climate challenges. The initiative is executed in four cities identified as the most susceptible to climate change based on risk modelling and consultations with relevant planning institutions in Laos. Directly impacting 74,600 individuals, the project also contributes to the restoration of 1,500 hectares of urban wetland and stream ecosystems.

Components

Component 1

Build the capacity of national and local representatives to use
urban Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA)
to manage climate change-induced flooding.

Component 2

Strengthening of institutional capacity
for integrated flood risk
management and implementation of
urban ecosystems-based adaptation

Background

Climate change-induced flooding is a significant threat to urban development in Laos. Enhancing flood resilience through EbS in Laos requires a comprehensive, integrated approach to flood management that includes effective urban planning and inter-sectorial coordination. However, cities are not currently adopting an integrated approach which enhances climate resilience due to capacity barriers, such as the limited knowledge and awareness of urban EbS among the government, private sector, and communities.

Project Details

  • Project Title:Building resilience of urban populations with ecosystem-based solutions in Lao PDR 
  • Status: Project Completed
  • Geographic Coverage: Four provincial capitals: Vientiane Capital, Paksan, Savannakhet, and Pakse
  • Duration: Mar 2022 – Jun 2024
  • Budget for UN-Habitat component: $223,800
  • Partnership: UNEP and MONRE
  • Donor: Green Climate Fund
  • Shortened Project Title: Ecosystem-based Solutions