Ministry, UN Habitat to continue project for climate resilient water infrastructure

The government and UN Habitat will begin work on the second phase of the Adaptation Fund project in Laos, with the aim of providing climate resilient water infrastructure and integrating climate change into urban planning.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the second phase of Adaptation Fund was exchanged by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport and UN Habitat during a ceremony held at the United Nations House in Vientiane on Monday.
The signed MOU was exchanged by Director General of the Department of Planning and Cooperation of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Mr Sengdarith Kittignasack, and Regional Advisor of UN Habitat in Laos, Dr Avi Sarkar.
The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Public Works and Transport, Mrs Vilaykham Phosalath, and other participants included Directors General of the Departments of Planning and Cooperation, Water Supply and Climate Change under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and representatives from UN Habitat.
The current phase of the project, budgeted at US$5.5 million, aims to provide climate resilient water infrastructure and mainstream climate change into urban planning by developing a master plan to integrate climate change adaptation into urban planning, constructing socially inclusive infrastructure to protect people from climate change, and enhancing knowledge and awareness among policy-makers to inform policy change.
In her opening remarks, Mrs Vilaykham expressed her gratitude for the support provided by UN Habitat through the first phase of Adaptation Fund in Attapeu, Saravan and Xekong provinces, and the shelter projects in Attapeu and Oudomxay provinces.
She stressed the importance of water for the well-being of people, and how she hopes to reach out to more vulnerable people with the second phase of the Adaptation Fund project.
Dr Sarkar began his opening remarks by expressing his appreciation for the Ministries of Public Works and Transport and Natural Resources and Environment, and the Government of Laos for their continued cooperation and support over the years. He highlighted how Laos has been increasingly affected by extreme weather events and that he hopes to build more climate and disaster resilience capacities in the country while further building the relationship with the Government.
The opening remarks were followed by a presentation with an overview of the Adaptation Fund project. The presentation showed how the project is building climate resilience in small towns along the east-west economic corridor in the central region of Laos, particularly among two highly vulnerable communities in two towns of Savannakhet province.

By Phomphong Laoin
(Latest Update August 26, 2020)