Vientiane Capital, Lao People’s Democratic Republic – 24 May 2024 – Representatives from the Government of Lao People’s Democratic Republic and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and World Vision International Laos (WVIL), convened for the second meeting of the Project Steering Committee (PSC) for the “Climate-Smart Agriculture Alternatives for Upland Production Systems in Lao People’s Democratic Republic” project.

This USD 3.5 million project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented by the Lao government with FAO as the executing agency, aims to empower vulnerable communities in the northern uplands to adapt to climate change and build resilience in their agricultural practices.

The project targets 32 villages across four districts in Luang Prabang and Houaphan provinces, specifically chosen for their high exposure to climate hazards, limited capacity to cope with shocks, and low existing adaptive measures for climate-smart agriculture.

The second PSC meeting served as a platform to:

• Review progress: Participants reviewed the project's achievements since its launch in March 2023, including the inception workshop, provincial workshops, and initial activities in target villages.

• Discuss challenges: The committee openly discussed any challenges encountered during implementation and strategized solutions for ensuring smooth project execution.

• Plan for the future: The meeting focused on outlining the project's work plan for the coming months, ensuring alignment with project objectives and effective resource allocation.

Mr. Kikeo Singnavong, vice minister of Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry expressed that this initiative would mark a significant milestone in advancing the fields of agriculture, forestry, and rural development, with the goal of continually strengthening these areas. He said, “We are confident that the project will be carried out through active participation from government agencies, entrepreneurs, development partners, production groups, and cooperatives, in a manner that is both effective and sustainable, ultimately meeting the established objectives”.

Ms. Kyung-Mee Kim, FAO representative in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, mentioned that “I would like to emphasize the importance of this project in building the resilience of Lao PDR's agriculture sector to climate change. By working together, we can help these vulnerable communities adapt to the changing climate and secure their livelihoods for generations to come. I look forward to a productive discussion and to charting the course for the project's future success.”.

The project promotes climate-smart agriculture practices to enhance food security and livelihoods in these communities. This includes introducing drought-resistant crop varieties, promoting water management techniques, and fostering knowledge exchange among farmers.