The primary aims of the planning grant are to promote the participation of key stakeholders of the proposed project, including local authorities and relevant agencies and communities, and provide scientific assistance for the project development. Major activities of the project include conducting surveys on socio-economic conditions of the proposed project site, identifying proposed project objectives and activities and assessing their feasibility, and providing needed technical assistance in project design and writing project proposal which will be submitted to GEF/SGP for review and appraisal; and identifying possibilities for project synergies and resource mobilization.

In order to strengthen the effectiveness of forest protection and management in the boundary areas in the three communes of Chau Thai, Chau Cuong and Chau Thanh of Quy Hop District, the project aims to build and enhance the local capacity for implementation of a co-management mechanism in forest protection and management, contributing to preventing and controlling illegal forest logging and destruction by forest thefts and to conserving the biodiversity of Pu Huong Nature Reserve. Key activities of the project include establishment and enforcement of a co-management mechanism in forest management and protection in the boundary area. The project promotes the role and participation of the local governments and people and to strengthen cooperation between communal governments and forest owners in forest protection and management. The project gives priority to providing technical and financial support for the local people in livelihoods activities and help them diversify their sources of incomes to reduce illegal exploitation of forest resources.