Government officials from six countries around the region, including Lao PDR, received a four-day training event as part of the Asia-Pacific Leadership Program on Gender, Climate Change and REDD+’s Training Workshop Series, which began on Tuesday, Sept 23rd, at the Green Park Boutique Hotel in Vientiane.
Instructors from USAID’s Low Emissions Asian Development (LEAD) and Lowering Emissions in Asia’s Forests (LEAF) programs conducted the training, which provided participants with tools to support women’s leadership role in sustainable forest management and improved livelihoods.
In providing remarks at the opening ceremony, Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy to Laos, Paul Mayer, noted that strong collaboration and expanded partnerships will help bring about positive change in gender equity in climate change throughout the region.
“As women significantly contribute to improved forest management, it is critical to engage them to sustain improved forest management and thus to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By doing so, women can play active leadership roles in forestry institutions and address discrimination and thus, promote gender equality,” he said.
The training workshop was co-hosted by the Department of Forestry (DOF), Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Lao PDR.
