Decision-makers from developing countries can now access capacity development for REDD+ readiness and implementation through the UN-REDD Programme's REDD+ Academy. A new video just released by the Programme explains what the REDD+ Academy is all about - from an idea just one year ago, to a very successful first session for the Asia-Pacific region held in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, from 28 October to 6 November.

This short video illustrates how knowledge received by REDD+ Academy participants strengthens their capacity to push the REDD+ agenda in their countries and become "champions of change," and features testimonials from H.E. Mr. Heru Prasetyo, Head of Indonesia's REDD+ Agency; Mr. Pavan Sukhdev, UNEP Goodwill Ambassador; as well as those of some of the 91 participants from 14 countries across the Asia-Pacific region.

The content of the REDD+ Academy is based on verified knowledge aligned with the UNFCCC Warsaw Framework for REDD+ and distils the knowledge and experience gained by the UN-REDD Programme and its partner countries over the last six years. It aims to provide REDD+ practitioners with comprehensive, systematic and targeted capacity development to enable developing countries to design and implement their national REDD+ programmes. The REDD+ Academy session in Yogyakarta also involved parallel training sessions for Indonesian parliamentarians and media representatives. The next REDD+ Academy sessions are planned for Africa and for Latin America and the Caribbean in 2015, to be hosted by Nigeria and Argentina respectively.

Watch here:  REDD+ Academy launched -- new video explains programme and includes interviews with REDD+ practitioners participating in first session

Image credit: CARPE-WPC