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USD 47.5-m agreement signed for development in Nongchanh

(KPL 11 06 2014 ) In 20 years, French Development Agency (AFD) has provided over 1.2 trillion kip (over USD 150 million) in grant with about half spent in agriculture and rural development, while other half funding infrastructure and urban development projects.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment, the French Embassy in Laos and the French Development Agency (AFD) met on Tuesday, 10 June for a review of the French-Lao bilateral cooperation.

Representatives of the two countries were able to review the state of progress of major ongoing or planned projects in the agriculture and rural development, infrastructure, governance, heritage and higher education sectors.

AFD is the key operator of the French development policy under the supervision of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development and Ministry of Finance.

In Laos, under the coordination of the Ambassador of France, AFD implements the guidelines of cooperation in its mandated areas of activity.

France is a major contributor to Laos with a bilateral annual aid of more than USD 15 million. This constant effort comes in addition to the numerous regional and multilateral aid projects widely mobilized in Laos through funds such as the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, of which France is the second largest contributor with approximately USD 400 million each year, and through the European Union�s activities.

Referring to the meeting between the presidents Francois Hollande and Choummaly Sayasone in October 2013 in Paris, the Lao and French authorities committed themselves to continue their dialogue.

Their partnership for development is marked by a strong will to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and to graduate Laos from the list of least developed countries, as provided by the 7 th Socio-Economic Development Plan.

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Capital Strengthening of National Statistics System reviewed

(KPL 11 06 2014) Asian Development Bank (ADB) has provided assistance worth US$500,000 to support the Capital Strengthening of National Statistics System in 2010-2020, a report has said.

The closing workshop: Capital Strengthening of National Statistics System in Vientiane yesterday.

The project started in November 2011 and finished in June 2014. This project aims to provide assistance on technical to the Lao National Statistics, to established a mechanism of the monitoring and evaluation which can be used for monitoring and evaluation the Data Services Department's Team for their future project, to improve the capacity of the staff, especially on monitoring and evaluation of the project performance and to carry out M$E visits of the Department of Data Services team to know the situation and success of this project at the provinces and district.

The workshop was attended by Vice Minister and Head of the Lao Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Planning and Investment, Dr. Samaychan Boupha, Country Director Lao PDR Resident Mission, Asian Development Bank, Mrs. Sandra Nicoil, and Head of Statistics Division, GOPA Worldwide Consultant to Germany.

ADB has a longstanding partnership with the Government of Lao PDR in supporting the Ministry of Planning and Investment. ADB recognizes the importance of the Lao Statistics Bureau (LSB) because it has the mandate to produce reliable and accurate data, which forms the basic for developing, monitoring and evaluating the directions of social and economic development, Mrs. Sandra Nicoil.

In 2011, ADB provided technical assistance to Lao Statistics Bureau to strengthening of the National Statistics System Project.

"While the detail of the outputs will be discussed in the next session, I would like to highlight a few notable achievements: capacity strengthening of LSB and the staff of line ministries, Ministry of Education and Sport, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Home Affairs) through a training-of-trainers program," said Mrs. Nicoil.

The creation of TOT pools allowing staff from line ministries to participate in the TOT training programme and then conduct training with their own organizations, and training in monitoring and evaluation and producing monitoring and evaluation reports in collaboration with the provincial statistics divisions.
These approaches are considered important to maintain the capacity strengthening momentum within LSB and the province statistics division after the TA project ends.
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Over 1,500 celebrate World�s Blood Donation Day

By Phouangphayom

(KPL 11 06 2014) Over 1,500 people representing 14 schools, the National University of Laos, business community, line ministries and international organizations took part in a blood drive held yesterday, June 11 at Lao-ITECC in celebrating the World's Blood Donation Day (14 June 2004).

This year's celebration of World�s Blood Donation Day falls under a theme "Give Blood for those who give life, safe blood for saving mothers".

Last yea's World Blood Donation Day witnessed over 935 blood units donated by public members but the organizer of this year edition, National Transfusion Centre of the Lao Red Cross Society, expects to have up to 1,000 blood units donated at the event.

As much as 100-150 blood units are needed on a daily basis for medical treatment at hospitals in Vientiane Capital, according to Deputy Director of the National Blood Transfusion Centre, Dr Douangchanh Kongphaly.
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1000-day child nutrition improvement project launched

(KPL 11 06 2014) Ministry of Health, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Lane Xang Minerals on 10 June launched a 1000-day child nutrition improvement project targeted at Savannakhet, Saravane and Attapeu.

The 1000-day project with a budget of over 10 billion kip is supported by the MMG Lane Xang Minerals.

The malnutrition causes over one third of child deaths globally. Chronic malnutrition affects more than 40 per cent of Lao children under five years old.

"The food shortage needs prompt resolution as it can cause long term impacts on the development in children, such as risk of dying, and poor mental health," said Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Inlavanh Keobounphanh.

"The project is very crucial to helping the Lao PDR meet Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on child survival and nutrition. It will bring better health and other opportunities to Lao children and future generations," the deputy minister said.

The project includes the provision of millions of micro-nutrient sachets to mothers in beneficiary provinces.
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EU-funded climate change projects launched

(KPL 11 06 2014) The European Union in cooperation with civil society partners launched on 11 June three climate change projects in Laos with a combined budget of over 65 billion kip.

The funding is provided under the EU Global Climate Change Alliance Programme (GCCA) which was launched in 2007-2016 to strengthen national and international dialogue and cooperation on climate change between the European Union and developing countries most vulnerable to climate change.

The programme aims at supporting work at policy level with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and other government agencies, and concrete support at community level to pilot sustainable and climate change resilient land use approaches and adapted farming systems.

The three new projects will be implemented by CARE Denmark, CIRAD and IUCN in the three northern provinces of Phongsaly, Huaphanh and Luang Prabang.

They aim to increase the adaptive capacity of remote ethnic communities with the support of local authorities and the application of sustainable adaptation models; to support eco-friendly and climate-resilient agriculture intensification though participatory development and extension of conservation agriculture farming systems; and to strengthen the institutional, policy and regulatory framework to deal with climate change in the Lao PDR.

These innovative resilient farming practices provide alternatives to shifting cultivation , which is still widespread in the upland area. Activities include the introduction of different rice varieties, the promotion of selected cash crops, the safe use of pesticides and reduced land tillage. Also, a communication platform on the eco-friendly intensification of agriculture will be established.

"These new projects reflect the EU�s strong commandment and leading role in fighting climate change. The negative impact of climate change on local communities does not know any borders between countries. It is a global challenge that has to be addressed locally-through concrete measures and initiatives like the ones implemented by our civil society partners under these new EU-funded GCCA action,"said Charge d'Affaires of the European Union Delegation, Mr Michel Goffin.

"Lao PDR is becoming increasingly active in the process of the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC) and will enhance its capacity to mainstream Climate Change into other policies through its participation in the GCCA programme," added Mr Goffin.

The launching event for the new projects was chaired by Charge d' Affaires of the European Union Delegation, Mr Michel Goffin, in the presence of Deputy Director of Planning Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Mr Somephan Chanpengsay, representatives from EU Member State Ambassadors, development partners and civil society.
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Over 1,000 receive free surgery for heart diseases

(KPL 11 06 2014) Over 1,000 people have received free heart disease surgery funded with a grant support from the Luxembourg government, according to a member of the Lao- Luxembourg Heart Centre committee, Assoc. Prof. Dr Pany Khesone.

On an annual basis, over 200 people across the country reportedly suffer from heart diseases.

"The Ministry of Health, the Mahosot Hospital and Development Assistance for Health of Luxembourg established the Lao- Luxembourg Heart Cent re in 2003 to help the Lao people who have heart diseases," President of the Development Assistance for Health, Dr Richard Schneider.

The Development Assistance for Health has provided the centre with operation rooms, medical equipment, medicines and heart disease treatment, totally amounted to over EUR 5.4 million, as well as capacity building for its technical staff.

"The project has held Lao people of all ethnic groups access healthcare assistance as the operation is free. In normal case, an operation for heart disease is usually charged at US$ 4,000," added Dr Pany.

The heart disease operation project is designed to last until 2020.