The GCF Task Force will host its second Technical Exchange, together with the Governments of Santa Cruz, Pando, and Tarija, Bolivia, from April 23-26, 2024 in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.

This Technical Exchange builds on our call-to-action that was launched during the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, by Governors, Indigenous Peoples, and other partners of the GCF Task Force. The call-to-action seeks to finance what we are calling the “New Forest Economy” by garnering an initial $1 billion in investments and support to develop new forest economies that prioritize environmental sustainability and robust and equitable economic growth across GCF Task Force tropical forest states and provinces.

The call-to-action established a co-design phase over 2024 to attract partners and establish flexible funding mechanisms that allow for locally-driven innovation and action on the ground. This co-design phase is crucial to ensure the needs, realities, and expertise of governmental leaders and their partners, from the private sector to Indigenous Peoples and local communities, are considered and incorporated. 

The Technical Exchange in Santa Cruz will focus on “Low-Emissions Development and Climate Finance to Reduce Deforestation of Tropical Forests and Achieve a Just Transition,” and will serve as a critical moment for the co-design phase.

The full program agenda is available in English here. Key elements are:

• High-level insights with Governors and the GCF Task Force Global Secretariat on charting and implementing new forest economies
• Donor and private sector input on the bold ideas they need from jurisdictions to implement funding mechanisms that meet the needs of the jurisdictions and communities
• Substantive presentations from within Bolivia and across the GCF Task Force network on jurisdictional and community efforts to reduce deforestation and improve livelihoods
• Targeted, intensive co-design charettes that develop innovative ideas, processes, and strategies for building and financing forest economies within and across similarly-situated groups of states and provinces. 
• Feedback and input from donors and the private sector to advance large-scale funding commitments by the next GCF Task Force Annual Meeting (Ucayali, Peru in Oct. 2024)
• Potential to replicate this effort in other GCF Task Force regions (Mexico, Indonesia, Africa)

The day will start with an Opening Ceremony with welcome remarks by meeting host Mario Aguilera, Governor of Santa Cruz and framing remarks around the New Forest Economy by the GCF Task Force Project Lead William Boyd.