Lao PDR
Note: The information below refers mainly to activities from the previous phase of the programme (2005 - 2009).
Programme Activities
Supporting the Government in Developing a National Nutrition Policy (NNP) for 2008-20
FAO, through the EC- FAO Programme, is coordinating several UN agencies (UNICEF, WHO, WFP) who have been supporting the national government in drafting both a
National Nutrition Policy (NNP) and a
National Nutrition Strategy (NNS). The NNP is the Government's first official policy for improving nutrition and tackling the high rates of malnutrition, especially among ethnic groups and children.
The NNP was endorsed by the Prime Minister in December 2008.
The two year process leading up to this included consultations, awareness-raising events, a round table to build consensus, presenting the NNP to the National Assembly and training national experts.
Additional resources have also been received to develop the National Nutrition Strategy and Action Plan for implementing the NNP.
Key lessons for future policy assistance include:
- providing continuous support to key government staff memebers and ensuring local ownership throughout the process;
- having a strong local advocate to coordinate information sharing among key stakeholders, especially national ones;
- setting up a system for coordinating all stakeholders, including less “traditional” ones from the private sector.
More Information:
> Summary Report: Food Insecurity Assessment in the Lao PDR
> Putting Nutrition at the Centre of Development (27 December 2008, Vientiane Times)
> Nutrition Policy to Address Child Malnutrition (Vientiane Times, June 13, 2008)
> Round Table Meeting on the National Nutrition Policy 2008-2020 (January 2008)
> Laos Tackles Malnutrition - Round Table Meeting on National Nutrition Policy Held (Khaosan Pathet Lao News Agency, Lao PDR, 14 January 2008)
> Press Release: Report on Food Insecurity in the Lao PDR Released (October 2007)
Intensive Training Leading Up to the First Lao Crop Yield Forecasts
Two national experts from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (now part of the Prime Minister's office) attended a
3 month crop yield forecasting course at FAO Headquarters. In particular, they customized a crop yield forecasting system for the Lao PDR and learned how to produce rice yield forecasts.
The first forecasts were produced for the 2007 wet season in collaboration with the Asia FIVIMS regional project. The forecasts are disseminated in Lao language through the
newsletter of the National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI).
Analyzing the Food Security Situation and Deriving Relevant Indicators From The 2002/2003 Lao Expenditure and Consumption Survey (LECS III )
Staff from the main food security related institutions were trained in processing and analyzing food consumption data related to food insecurity and poverty, using data from the 2002/2003 Lao Expenditure and Consumption Survey (LECS III). A preliminary food security assessment report was presented at a national seminar in April 2007 to key stakeholders for their feedback.
The final report was published by the National Statistics Centre in September 2007.
> Summary Report: Food Insecurity Assessment in the Lao PDR
> Press Release : Report on Food Insecurity in the Lao PDR Released (October 2007)
Furthermore, a paper on “Sub-national estimates of Food Security Statistics in the Laotian 2003 LECS” was presented at the Fourth International Conference on Agriculture Statistics (ICAS-4).
> Lao PDR - Sub-national estimates of Food Security Statistics in the 2002/03 LECS
Samaychanh BOUPHA
Training and Events
> Crop Forecasting National Workshop (April 2008)
> 6 Day Intensive Crop Forecasting Training (March 2007)
> 3 Month Crop Forecasting Training in Rome ( November 2006 to March 2007)
> Training in Analyzing Food Consumption Data Related to Food Insecurity and Poverty (September 2006)
>
EC-FAO Food Security Programme supports National Nutrition Advocacy Meeting in Vientiane, Lao PDR (4 May 2006)
