Joint Programming of Development Cooperation Delivers Results in the Lao PDR
Vientiane, 26 September 2018 -- European Partners and representatives of the Government of the Lao PDR met in the capital Vientiane today to reaffirm their commitment to the Joint Programming of development cooperation, which has positively contributed to development effectiveness and strengthened Europe-Lao PDR relations.
Attendees agreed that efforts towards meeting the Sustainable Development Goals should continue, also with the aim of securing Least Developed Country graduation by 2024. They reviewed the ever-evolving opportunities and challenges of the Lao PDR's development process, including those related to economic growth, the rule of law, human rights and civil society participation, private sector development, regional integration and the environment, among others.
His Excellency Dr. Kikeo Chanthaboury, Vice-Minister of Planning and Investment of the Government of the Lao PDR, and His Excellency Mr. Leo Faber, Ambassador of the European Union to the Lao PDR, co-chaired the meeting to review the European Joint Programming Mid-term Report, in the presence of resident European Ambassadors and Heads of Mission.
“The Government of the Lao PDR welcomes this opportunity to discuss with our valued European Partners,” said Vice-Minister Kikeo Chanthaboury. “Through Joint Programming, European ODA has aligned and strengthened the National Socio-Economic Development Plan to deliver better results and a better future for all Lao citizens.”
“Joint Programming has ensured that the Lao PDR achieves the commitments and support of European Partners are highly coherent and maximizes results,” said Ambassador Faber on behalf of European Partners, at the meeting to discuss the Mid-term Report of the 2016-2020 Joint Planning period. “European Partners want to continue to support the Lao PDR in their efforts to deliver on the SDGs and secure LDC graduation by 2024.”
Joint Programming is a tool that ensures donors come together with the partner country to analyze socio-economic needs and together respond with a joint development programming strategy. Crucially, Joint Programming puts a great deal of emphasis on synchronizing activities with the partner country national plan. Joint Programming can deliver more coherent and less fragmented support with reduced chance of funding gaps and is more advanced in the Lao PDR than almost any other country.
European and Lao partners recognized that European Joint Programming has significantly contributed to development effectiveness in the country through two streams. One the one hand, Joint Programming has delivered higher impact and better value for money in ODA spending. On the other, Joint Programming has strengthened European Partners’ relationship with the Government of the Lao PDR and facilitated the aligning of European Partner’s support with the Government’s National Socio-Economic Development Plan (NSEDP 2016-2020). As a result, European and Lao partners recommended that Joint Programming continue to be further developed and embraced.
European Partners (EU, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg, Switzerland and United Kingdom) have committed Euro 643 million in support of the 8th NSDEP 2016-2020. As of the end of 2017, they had already implemented Euro 255 million in support of reforms in the following key areas: Agriculture & Rural Development, Education, Environment & natural resources, Governance, Health, Nutrition, Private sector development, and Technical Vocational and Educational Training.
The Partners identified eight emerging themes deserving particular attention, amongst which i) Gender, ii) Culture and Heritage iii) Green Growth and Climate Action iv) Renewable Energy, v) Land, vi) Sustainable Forest Resources Management – FLEGT, vii) Communication for Development and, viii) UXO.
Of these, gender is of particular importance in the Lao's context as positive gender planning has the potential to significantly contribute to outcomes in the Governance, Education and Nutrition sector. European Partners complement national development objectives to promote gender equality.
Similarly, Culture and Heritage is noteworthy as it is an area which has high potential for contributing to the development of the Lao PDR.