Uganda earns US$31 million in landmark Green Climate Fund payment for cutting deforestation

October 31, 2025 in Land & Agriculture by Editor

Uganda has received US$31 million from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) in recognition of its measurable progress in reducing deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions — a landmark achievement that marks the first results-based payment of its kind on the African continent.

The disbursement follows Uganda’s verified performance under the “Uganda REDD-plus Results-Based Payment for Emission Reductions (2016–2017)” programme, through which the country reduced net emissions by more than eight million tonnes of carbon dioxide. This accomplishment, equivalent to nurturing the growth of roughly 133 million tree seedlings for a decade, highlights Uganda’s growing leadership in climate-smart forestry and sustainable land management.

The achievement was made possible through a multi-stakeholder effort involving the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Ministry of Water and Environment, and a broad coalition of development partners and local communities. Together, they strengthened Uganda’s forest monitoring systems, enhanced community participation in conservation, and promoted sustainable livelihoods that reduce pressure on forests.

According to the Ministry of Water and Environment, the US$31 million will be reinvested in expanding sustainable land management and agroforestry initiatives, restoring degraded forest reserves, and supporting the establishment of community and smallholder woodlots. Additional investments will go into scaling up climate-smart fuelwood production and strengthening Uganda’s monitoring, reporting, and verification systems to ensure continued transparency and accountability in tracking emissions reductions.

Officials say the payment underscores Uganda’s progress toward achieving its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, reaffirming forests as a cornerstone of the country’s climate resilience and sustainable development strategy.

Commentators say the milestone reinforces the notion that forests are not just ecological assets but can be economic and social foundations for climate resilience and inclusive growth.

Uganda’s success sets a precedent for the continent, demonstrating that results-based climate finance can drive both environmental protection and community development when national policy, international partnership, and local action converge.