USAID signs memorandum of understanding with GCF Task Force

USAID signs memorandum of understanding with GCF Task Force
Photo: Bruno Zanardo / Secom
The team also participated in lectures throughout the event in Manaus

March, 2022 - USAID and GCF signed a Memorandum of Understanding in March to promote Amazon’s sustainable development and biodiversity conservation. USAID cooperated with GCF for over a year, and now the partnership is officially sealed. 

The signing took place at GCF's 12th Annual Meeting, in Manaus; with USAID/Brazil director Ted Gehr and Amanonas Governor Wilson Lima. The goal was to identify and support opportunities for sustainable development of local governments as well as civil society, the private sector, and traditional communities in the Amazon. The deal will enable collaboration between institutions to share experiences, and innovative strategies for preserving the Amazon.

“We are thrilled to officiate our partnership and show our commitment to local initiatives that protect the forest. We are effectively enabling opportunities for the local population to bring new income while preserving biodiversity”, says USAID/Brazil’s Director Ted Gehr. 

“USAID brings an important perspective for our ever growing purpose, and helps us preserve nature and more importantly fight poverty. A highlight of our partnership is that it’s done with the local people. USAID is doing just that. I am honored as CGF’s president to bring another partner for our process of defending the Amazon”, adds Wilson Lima, Amazonas’ governor and the current president at CGF. 

The organizations will initiate a task force in the following months to define the activities presented in the memorandum, which includes seminars and training. All participants are invited to share perspectives and search for answers to the complex issues concerning the Amazon. 

USAID/Brazil’s director Ted Gehr and USAID’s private sector engagement and partnership specialist Alexandre Alves also engaged in themed panels. Gehr spoke about new financing opportunities for tropical forests and Alexandre Alves touched on the bio-economy opportunities and the role companies play when it comes to conservation. 

About the task force - GCF is a subnational task force that works to protect tropical forests, reducing deforestation emissions and degradation and promoting realistic paths for forest maintenance.

Read more here.