Forests play an important role for Lao's economy and not only in rural areas. However, the continue degradation of forestry resources threaten the progress made in rural poverty reduction and food security. This situation translates into three key challenges for the Lao government:• To stop the degradation of forest resource• To make forest management schemes environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive• To conserve and restore forests while at the same time improving livelihoods and food securityThe government of Laos HEIs to be fundamental to become adequately prepared to respond to these challenges and to achieve a sustainable socio-economic development. Improving the quality of forestry higher education remains one of the highest priorities in Laos however, several issues hindering progress: • Lao’s forestry higher education system is still at an early stage, and inadequately prepared to effectively handle the enormous challenges• There is a strong regional disparity in forestry higher education. Particularly, post-grad courses are only available in the capital city Vientiane• The limited and centralized options for post graduate studies make it difficult for the universities to build their own human capital in the forestry sectorThe aim of the project is to strengthen the forest-related higher education system in Laos to improve domestic capacity to sustainably manage forests for the benefit of the people and the environment, while at the same time enabling Laos to effectively respond to the demands and opportunities of international processes such as the Agenda 2030 (SDGs) and Paris Agreement on CCKey outcomes are:- Upgrade and further internationalization of the MSc program at NUoL - Accredited new MSc program at SKU - Roadmap for developing a new MSc program at SU - Upgrade of teaching and academic tools in Lao HEIs- Institutionalisation of traineeship programs in at least 2 Lao HEIs- Enhanced S-S & N-S-S cooperation among HEIs