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.

The project aims to develop a strategy and an action plan in conservation and development of values of traditional knowledge in sustainable management of agro-biodiversity resources in different localities in western Nghe An. The action plan serves as a basis for the planning and implementation of projects and activities in conservation and development of values of traditional knowledge in sustainable management of agro-biodiversity resources, contributing to socio-economic development and conservation of national and cultural identity. The action plan helps to identify the prioritized issues, in which concentration is given to the collection and documentation of the traditional knowledge and capacity building for the localities on efficient exploitation of the traditional knowledge in the sustainable management of agro-biodiversity and socio-economic development on the basis of sharing the benefits for the community who possess, conserve and develop the traditional knowledge. The action plan helps to identify the resources, solutions and plans in implementation, monitoring and assessment for the effective implementation of the planned activities in order of priority. One of the key project activities is to develop a demonstration model to implement the action plan at a commune, contributing to the conservation of agro-biodiversity and its traditional knowledge, and to the local economic development and poverty alleviation.