Since 2017, GGGI has worked alongside the Government of Lao PDR to build an economy that is cleaner, more resilient, inclusive and is better positioned for long-term growth. This partnership translates national ambition into practical results, protecting communities from climate risk, expanding sustainable livelihoods, and creating the conditions for investment that delivers both economic and environmental returns.

The work is grounded in Lao PDR’s own strategic commitments: the National Green Growth Strategy (NGGS), the National Socio-Economic Development Plan (NSEDP), the National Adaptation Plan (NAP), the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), the National Strategy on Climate Change (NSCC), and the country’s target of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. These are not external frameworks imposed from outside, they are national priorities that GGGI helps government institutions act on.

GGGI works from within. Technical experts are embedded in central, provincial, and local government institutions, providing hands-on support calibrated to national priorities and local conditions. This model produces results that last: solutions designed by the people who will implement them, within the systems that will sustain them.

GGGI operates across six sectors: circular economy and sustainable waste management; climate action and carbon markets; green investment; flood resilience and nature-based solutions; energy and transport; and climate-smart agriculture and sustainable landscapes, with a presence in Vientiane Capital, Vientiane Province, Savannakhet, Champasak, and Xiengkhuang Province, and field offices in secondary cities.

Circular Economy and Sustainable Waste and Wastewater Management

GGGI supports the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT) and local provincial authorities to strengthen urban environmental management. This work focuses on transitioning from traditional disposal to circular systems by establishing solid waste and wastewater infrastructure in cities, such as Vientiane Capital, Vang Vieng, Kaysone Phomvihane, and Pakse. By developing comprehensive policy and regulatory instruments, GGGI helps these urban centers improve environmental quality, manage resources more efficiently, and reduce pollution.

Flood Resilience and Nature-Based Solutions

Collaborating with MPWT and the Vientiane Capital Administration, GGGI focuses on integrating nature-based solutions into urban planning. These efforts emphasize the restoration of urban ecosystems in areas like Vientiane to serve as natural protection against climate risks. By prioritizing ecosystem services, this work mitigates flooding, preserves biodiversity, and supports the development of sustainable, nature-based enterprises for local communities.

Energy and Transport

GGGI collaborates with the MPWT and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce to promote cleaner industrial and transportation practices across the country. This work focuses on enhancing the regulatory environment for electric vehicles (EVs) and improving industrial energy efficiency. Through the development of green industry policies and guidelines, GGGI supports the transition toward sustainable mobility and low-carbon industrial growth.

Climate-Smart Agriculture and Sustainable Landscapes

GGGI collaborates with Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MoAE) addresses the long-term resilience of the agricultural sector by conducting climate risk assessments and promoting sustainable land management. This work focuses on cross-sectoral adaptation strategies and supporting regional haze-free initiatives. These efforts are designed to protect natural landscapes while ensuring sustainable livelihoods and food security in the face of a changing climate.

Climate Action and Carbon Markets

Working closely with the MoAE and the Ministry of Finance (MoF), GGGI facilitates the integration of green growth into national development frameworks (including NDCs and NAP). This area focuses on supporting the country’s participation in international carbon trading to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance climate resilience by unlocking international carbon finance to support national sustainability goals.

Green Investment

GGGI partners with the MoF, the Bank of Lao PDR, and the Lao Securities Commission Office to build a robust sustainable financial ecosystem. This area focuses on unlocking capital for climate-friendly projects through technical assistance for thematic bonds and strengthening the capacity of domestic financial institutions. The goal is to ensure institutional readiness to manage and deploy large-scale climate finance from international funds.

Our impact in Lao PDR includes:

– 3.2 Mt CO2 equivalent of greenhouse gas emissions reduced
– 3 Policies Adopted in Carbon, Wastewater, and EV Sectors (in 2025) 
– 99,282 People with access to sustainable sanitation services, of which about 50% are women
– ~7000 People with access to separated waste collection service, of which 40% are women

(2017-2025 achievement)

Click here to read and download the Lao PDR country brochure.