UNDP is the UN's global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 166 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and our wide range of partners.
On the Ground in Lao PDR
UNDP Country Office in the Lao PDR offers support to the Lao PDR Government within the context of both the common UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and the Government's National Socio-economic Development Plan (NSEDP). UNDP is committed to support the Government of Lao PDR to achieve the overarching national goal of lifting the country from the ranks of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) by 2020. The country's performance as measured through UNDP's Global Human Development Index (HDI) has shown consistent improvement since 1993. Lao PDR is currently ranked 133th out of 182 countries, classified in the "Medium Human Development" category.
News
Updates on Typhoon Ketsana relief and recovery in Lao PDR here.
08 March 2010 - Asia-Pacific has one of the world's worst gender gaps
Gender equality is good economics, promoting democracy and long term stability
Despite Asia's impressive economic progress in the recent decades, gender equality is still a distant reality for many in the region. Across Asia and the Pacific women face severe deficits in power, voice and rights. Public action strengthening women's economic power, political voice and legal rights is the most effective intervention for enabling women's empowerment.
The 2010 Asia-Pacific Human Development Report Power, Voice and Rights: A Turning Point for Gender Equality in Asia and the Pacific, published on the International Women's Day, concludes that deep rooted gender inequality holds back the region's achievement of the 2015 Millennium Development Goals. Read more
18 February 2010 - Advancing the Global Disarmament Agenda - Ensuring Results for the Lao PDR
The Government of Lao PDR and UNDP organized a Special Event on Cluster Munitions on 18 February 2010 in Vientiane. Opening remarks were given by His Excellency Mr. Phongsavath Boupha, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Ms. Sonam Yangchen Rana, UN Resident Coordinator.
The Special Event was organized under historic circumstances, with 30 countries ratifying the Convention on Cluster Munitions. The convention will enter into force on 01 August 2010. Read more
16 February 2010 - UNDP working in partnership to reduce poverty
In a joint annual and final review meeting, held at the Lao Plaza hotel on 16 February in Vientiane, stakeholders and partners discussed the outcomes of two joint, UNDP-supported projects regarding civil society development in the Lao PDR: Enhancing Government and Civil Society Organisation Partnership for Poverty Reduction, and Khoun Community Radio for Development. The meeting was a forum to coalesce the many positive results and lessons learned from the two projects, which have been running for the past four years. Read more
15 January 2010 - Strengthening the country's capacity to address and prepare for Disasters:
UNDP and the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare inaugurate new project
On Thursday 14 January Mr. Laoly Faiphengyoa, Vice-Minister of Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, and Ms. Sonam Yangchen Rana, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative, signed and formally initiated a UNDP-supported project to assist the institutional strengthening and capacity development on disaster risk management in this country. The Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Development on Disaster Risk Management in Lao PDR' Project has a budget close to US$1 million, and is the first ever fully-fledged UNDP project in support of disaster risk management capacity development in the Lao PDR. As Ms. Sonam Yangchen Rana, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative, highlighted, Today marks the beginning of a very timely and comprehensive initiative to meet the needs of the Government and people of Laos in disaster risk mitigation and for more effective responses and coordination. [read more]
22 December 2009 - Voice of Lao Community Radio features at Mekong Media Forum
UNDP-supported Khoun Community Radio for Development participated in the recent Mekong Media Forum in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The current situation of community radio and its potential for being radio for the people, by the people' in Lao PDR was the highlight of a satellite session held on 10 December 2009 at Forum. The session, with the theme Empowering Local People Through Community Radio', was hosted by UNDP/ Khoun Community Radio together with the Ministry of Information and Culture and Xieng Khouang Province Department of Information and Culture. [Video on Youtube]
17 December 2009 - UN Staff in Lao PDR present donations for Ketsana affected communities
On 17 December 2009, representatives of staff working in United Nations agencies in the Lao PDR presented donations of 8.5 million Kip and 11 cartons of materials to the Lao Red Cross for distribution to Ketsana affected communities.
The donations were made by national and international staff working in the many organisations that make up the United Nations Country Team, and collected on the occasion of UN Staff Day in October 2009.
Many United Nations staff have close personal and professional connections within the areas that have been affected by the devastating storms and floods that Ketsana brought to the worst affected communities, and they are aware of the damage to families' livelihoods and development projects in the area.
We all wanted to express our concern for and solidarity with the victims in the most concrete way, by providing resources to help these communities rebuild their lives, explained Mrs Chanthavisouk Nirasay, Staff Association Committee representative.
The UN Staff Association Committees selected the Lao Red Cross as recipient of the donations, who will ensure that the staff members' contribution will go to the much needed victims in the southern provinces and will provide a report on the beneficiaries and the services provided to them.
08 December 2009 - Human Rights Day 2009: Embrace diversity, end discrimination
Human Rights Day 2009 on 10 December will focus on non-discrimination. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights . These first few famous words of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights established 60 years ago the basic premise of international human rights law. Yet today, the fight against discrimination remains a daily struggle for millions around the globe. [read more]
Lao PDR
UNDP and the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare inaugurate new project
On 17 December 2009, representatives of staff working in United Nations agencies in the Lao PDR presented donations of 8.5 million Kip and 11 cartons of materials to the Lao Red Cross for distribution to Ketsana affected communities. 
Human Rights Day 2009 on 10 December will focus on non-discrimination. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights . These first few famous words of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights established 60 years ago the basic premise of international human rights law. Yet today, the fight against discrimination remains a daily struggle for millions around the globe. 
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