On Wednesday, January 28, 2026, the launch of the Sustainable and Inclusive Development of West Suriname (SID-WS) project took place, marking an important step towards sustainable development, forest conservation, and the empowerment of communities in West Suriname.

The Inception Workshop, taking place today and tomorrow brings together relevant stakeholders, representatives from various ministries, Indigenous organizations, and local communities from West Suriname to discuss the project strategy, coordinate efforts, and lay the foundation for effective implementation. During the workshop, participants will review the project outcomes, objectives, and scope of SID-WS. The UNDP Social & Environmental Screening Procedure (SESP) and GEF guidelines will be presented and discussed, project milestones, monitoring and evaluation, reporting requirements, will be addressed. The gender analysis, Gender Action Plans, and Stakeholder Engagement Plans will be presented and during the implementation of the project this needs to be updated. Attention was also given to Protected Areas (PAs) and OECMs, sustainable livelihoods for Indigenous and Tribal Peoples (ITPs), and interactive working sessions focused on project activities, stakeholder roles, and planning for the first year.

The project aligns with national policy frameworks such as the Green Development Strategy and NDC 3.0, through which Suriname commits to maintaining its carbon-negative status until 2035. ASL3 expands the approach to the western landscapes of Suriname, focusing on strengthening landscape and forest management, supporting sustainable and inclusive livelihoods for ITPs, improving governance and collaboration between government, local authorities, and traditional leaders, and enhancing knowledge, data, and regional cooperation within the Amazon region.

UNDP supports the government in project governance, social and environmental safeguards, technical advice, and capacity building of national and local institutions. Inclusion and participation are key principles, with the voices of Indigenous and Tribal communities central.

The workshop provides space to validate the project strategy, discuss initial actions, and lay the foundation for further collaboration between the government, communities, civil society, and international partners. The project is financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented by the Ministry of Oil, Gas, and Environment with the support of UNDP. The project is part forms part of the global Amazon Sustainable Landscapes Programme – Phase 3 (ASL3). This project is a five-year initiative.