Planning department boosts women’s leadership potential

The Department of Planning under the Ministry of Planning and Investment hosted a one-day training seminar on “Smart Leadership for Women” aiming to enhance the capacity of its female staff.
The department’s Director General, Ms Phonevanh Outhavong, and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Ms Thamma Phetvixay, chaired the training which was designed to bolster women’s role in socio-economic development.
The Luxembourg Development Agency supported the training in cooperation with Enjoy Learning People Ltd, with 50 participants representing the ministry’s Women’s Union and various departments.
In her opening remarks, Ms Phonevanh said “Human resource development and gender equality are of the greatest importance and among the government’s priorities in the 8th National Socio-Economic Development Plan (NSEDP) 2016-2020.”
The results of the 8th NSEDP mid-term review suggest significant achievements by female parliamentarians, which reached 28 percent of the planned target of 30 percent by 2020.
This was remarkable progress compared with many countries, and evidence of continuing progressive momentum to further enhance women’s roles in national development and construction, alongside their male counterparts.
The ministry organised training to teach women the basic principles of management/governance, self-improvement and a positive mindset in response to the rapidly changing environment. This will help leverage their effectiveness and leadership qualities.
According to the Lao Women’s Union, the government is encouraging more women to take on leadership roles and has promised to increase the number of women in prominent positions in state departments.
Laos has set a target to increase the proportion of women holding leadership positions in central-level state organisations to 30 percent by 2020. The government will also strive to increase the proportion of women holding leadership positions in provincial and district departments to 20 percent by 2020.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update August 23, 2019)