The World Bank has approved a $4 million grant to Costa Rica aimed at increasing Indigenous Peoples' participation in forest conservation and improving their access to benefits from the Emission Reductions Program for Deforestation and Forest Degradation. The project, titled the “National Project to Support Social Inclusion in the Emission Reductions Program,” will be implemented by the Environmental Bank Foundation (FUNBAM).
Funding comes from the World Bank’s EnABLE trust fund, which focuses on enhancing social inclusion and benefit access in emission reduction efforts. The Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) leads emission reduction programs, while EnABLE supports expanded community involvement.
This initiative marks Costa Rica’s first project with a governance structure where Indigenous Peoples take a leading role in determining financing priorities, approving activities, and coordinating overall efforts. According to Nogui Acosta Jaén, Minister of Finance of Costa Rica: “This project marks a milestone in our environmental policy: For the first time, Indigenous Peoples will directly lead the definition and execution of conservation investments. From the Government of Costa Rica, we celebrate this partnership, which recognizes their ancestral knowledge, strengthens their autonomy, and contributes to more inclusive and sustainable development.”
The program is set to benefit several Indigenous groups including Cabécar, Bribri, Ngabe, Térraba, Boruca, Huetar, Maleku, and Chorotega peoples. Special focus will be given to women and youth within these communities due to their significant roles in managing natural resources.
The investment aims not only at reducing carbon emissions but also at building capacity among Indigenous organizations so they can better access benefits from emission reduction initiatives. Carine Clert, World Bank Country Manager for Costa Rica and El Salvador said: “The worldview and traditional knowledge of Indigenous Peoples regarding land and natural resources are essential for a livable planet. At the World Bank, we are honored to be part of this project, whose design not only offers innovations of interest for learning in other countries, but whose process was unique because it was entirely based on the vision, voice, and priorities of Indigenous Peoples.”
Project activities include training on sustainable agricultural techniques and technologies as well as funding for equipment purchases that support climate resilience measures such as rainwater harvesting facilities or small-scale irrigation systems. Investments are also planned for environmental education infrastructure like interpretive trails or visitor centers that promote both conservation awareness and economic opportunities linked to sustainability.