Technical Assistance for the Development of the 2026 Biennial Transparency Report (BTR) for Viet Nam and Lao PDR

1. Project Overview

This project is implemented under the Technical Assistance Facility of the Green Team Europe Initiative (TAF-GTEI), supported by the European Union and implemented through NIRAS A/S, in collaboration with the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC). The initiative was approved by the ASEAN Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR) in February 2025, and its first-year work plan was endorsed during the Project Steering Committee (PSC) meeting in March 2025.

Within this framework, Activity 2.1 focuses on providing technical assistance to ASEAN Member States (AMS) in developing their 2026 Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs). Viet Nam and Lao PDR were identified as pilot countries requiring targeted support due to specific capacity constraints related to climate transparency reporting.

2. Background

Under the Paris Agreement’s Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF), Parties are required to submit Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs) to track progress towards climate goals and the implementation of their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). However, several ASEAN Member States have faced challenges in preparing and submitting their BTRs, particularly related to institutional capacity, data collection systems, and reporting processes.

Based on consultations with ASEAN Member States and lessons learned from the 2024 BTR cycle, Viet Nam and Lao PDR were identified as priority countries for targeted technical assistance. The project therefore aims to strengthen national capacity and institutional coordination to support the preparation of the 2026 BTRs.

3. Objectives

The project aims to:

• Assess the current status of the 2024 BTR preparation and identify institutional and capacity gaps in Viet Nam and Lao PDR
• Develop tailored Technical Assistance (TA) and Capacity Building (CB) plans for each country
• Provide technical support for the preparation of the 2026 BTRs
• Promote regional knowledge-sharing and exchange of best practices among ASEAN Member States

4. Key Activities

The project supports Viet Nam and Lao PDR in preparing their 2026 BTRs and strengthening the implementation of their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), including:

• Conducting baseline analysis of the 2024 BTR submissions and the status of NDC implementation
• Assessing institutional, technical, and data-related capacity gaps
• Developing tailored Technical Assistance (TA) and Capacity Building (CB) plans for both countries
• Providing technical inputs and support for the drafting of the 2026 BTR and NDC 3.0
• Strengthening capacity on Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) / Monitoring, Reporting and Evaluation (MRE) frameworks
• Facilitating national and regional knowledge-sharing activities and stakeholder engagement

At the initial stage of the project, inception workshops are organized to introduce the overall work plan and stakeholder engagement approach, and to gather feedback from national stakeholders. These consultations provide initial inputs on the status of BTR preparation, key challenges, and priority capacity needs, which form the basis for the baseline assessment and needs analysis.

5. Project Contribution

Through technical assistance and capacity-building activities, the project contributes to strengthening institutional and technical capacities in Viet Nam and Lao PDR to meet their climate transparency obligations under the Paris Agreement. It also supports enhanced ASEAN–EU cooperation on climate transparency and promotes regional knowledge-sharing to inform future BTR cycles across ASEAN Member States.