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 Home Overseas Projects Laos Region Strategy
Lao PDR Strategic Plan 2005-2008
29 March 2006
Lao PDR remains one of the poorest countries in South East Asia. The effects of many decades of colonialism, conflict and isolation and its slow integration into the global economy are still widely apparent.
Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR) - Program Context
The Lao PDR was formed in 1975 at the conclusion of the 'Indochina War'. A legacy of that conflict is that large land areas remain contaminated with unexploded ordnances (UXO). Life expectancy in Lao is just 56 years, literacy 77% and almost one third of the population live under the poverty line of US$1.5/day. The population of 5.7 million is made up of 47 ethnic groups. The political system is a single party system. Recent years have seen steady economic growth, expansion of the private sector, a strong focus on poverty reduction by the government and increased trade as well as economic and social engagement with the region.
Key issues & concerns
- Rural & urban poverty, particularly in regard to women and ethnic minorities
- Access to skills & training opportunities by poor & marginalised people
- Low working conditions for workers in many industries
- Containing HIV infection as Lao PDR integrates more fully with high HIV-prevalent neighbouring countries
- Ongoing impact from previous conflict and war, particularly impact of remaining UXOs.
- Encouraging growth of civil society
Key strategies of Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA in Lao PDR for poverty alleviation & community development 2005-2008
- Enhancing women's participation & recognition in development & leadership.
- Partnership & capacity building with provincial & district government structures & mass organisations (trade & women's unions, Agriculture Dept).
- Income generation, employment & micro-enterprise development for vulnerable women through non-formal vocational training.
- HIV prevention - combining specific education programs for target communities (eg mobile workers, youth) & integration of HIV training in general programming.
- Improve working conditions through training of staff and members of the Lao Federation of Trade Unions (LFTU) and combating trafficking and child labour.
- Enabling poor to access micro-credit.
- Assist promotion of sustainable aquaculture and other small livestock and integrated production.
- Support for education, training, rehabilitation and livelihood development for communities affected by UXOs.
- Encouragement for continuing information sharing and liaison between international NGOs (INGOs), with emerging local Not For Profit associations (NPAs) and with donors.
- Consider how new projects can support or contribute to the National Growth and Poverty Eradication Strategy (NGPES) in Lao PDR.
Recent projects
Training for Employment and Capacity Building
2001-2005: Capacity building for Lao Women's Unionn (LWU) and training for 1600 young women & men in tailoring, hairdressing, hospitality and food processing, handicrafts and small livestock.
HIV/AIDS training for workers
2005: Support for training of provincial training teams for LFTU, 100 workplace volunteers and 680 workers in 3 provinces Luang Namtha, Sayyabouri and Oudomxai.
Occupational Health & Safety
2005: Capacity building in OHS for LFTU National team and 3 Provincial teams. Basic training and workplace surveys in 21 workplaces in Vientiane Capital, Khammouan and Savannakhet.
Information and Liaison among INGOs and Donors.
2003-06: In collaboration with four other INGOs, support to improved information sharing and liaison through regular meetings, sectoral working groups, liaison with donors etc.
New Areas For Further Research & Possible Development
- Building on experience of vocational training, capacity building and community development.
- Assisting Lao trade unions in adapting to market economy.
- Promoting improve disability access to vocational training (workplace accident and UXO disability issues).
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