Laos, UN strengthen development cooperation

The United Nations (UN) has confirmed that it will continue to support the Lao government under the Cooperation Framework, to enable the government to design a clear strategy for the development of Laos.
The Cooperation Framework builds on inputs from all key stakeholders, including the UN development system and other development partners, to ensure that it responds to national strategic priorities that speak to development needs and priorities and leaves no one behind.
UN Resident Coordinator to the Lao PDR, Ms Sara Sekkenes, told a Technical Meeting of the Lao Government and United Nations Joint Steering Committeethat the co-creation of the next Government of the Lao PDR - UN Cooperation Framework is crucial in ensuring co-ownership.

The meeting was attended by the Director General of the International Organisations Department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Maythong Thammavongsa, and senior officials from the ministry and UN agencies.
“Planned broader consultations will help us move towards that goal and work will continue over the weeks ahead, but today’s meeting is the starting point and critical to ensuring that we set off on the right foot,”Ms Sekkenes said.
Mr Maythong said the important partnership between the government and the UN system recognised the UN’s significant contribution in terms of policy support, technical expertise and resources in the pursuit of national development priorities.
The meeting agreed on the publication of the UNPF 2019 Progress Report, tentative priority areas of the new cooperation framework under the five dimensions of the 2030 Agenda of People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnerships, and the overall imperatives of sustainable and inclusive development, social development, and effective institutions.
Participants also reviewed the progress achieved under the Lao PDR-UN Partnership Framework 2017-2021 and drew lessons from the challenges and opportunities encountered.
The meeting considered a recent independent evaluation of the Partnership Framework and the findings from UN analysis of development trends, challenges, and opportunities.
Participants also discussed the design of the Lao PDR-UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2022-2026, guided by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and aligned with the ambitions outlined in the 9th National Socio-economic Development Plan which will soon be adopted.
Mr Maythong emphasised the need to enhance government ownership in designing a clear strategic cooperation framework that responds to national priorities and lays the foundation for smooth graduation from Least Developed Country status.
The outcome of the meeting will serve as a key step for both parties to develop the new Cooperation Framework and prepare a series of joint stakeholder consultations with development partners, the private sector, and civil society, to ensure an inclusive process that can build the broader partnership needed towards the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
A High-Level Meeting of the Government of the Lao PDR and UN Joint Steering Committee is planned for mid-2021 to formally endorse the new Cooperation Framework.

By Phetphoxay Sengpaseuth
(Latest Update March 4, 2021)