Laos, UN agree to boost sustainable development cooperation

The government and the United Nations on Tuesday signed the 2022-2026 Lao PDR-UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), highlighting the importance of Laos-UN cooperation to achieve Laos’ development priorities.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Saleumxay Kommasith represented the government to sign the UNSDCF with UN Resident Coordinator to Laos Ms Sara Sekkenes in Vientiane.
The signing ceremony took place a day ahead of the 13th High-Level Round Table Meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with limited physical participation from both sides, acknowledging the ongoing rise of Covid-19 infections in Vientiane.

The 2022-2026 UNSDCF is the first since the reform of the UN development system, ushered in by the adoption by UN General Assembly Resolution 72/279 in 2018, transforming the way the United Nations works, building a platform for greater coordination, coherence, effectiveness, and development impact.
The implementation of UN reform through the UNSDCF is characterised by strengthened alignment to national development priorities, comprehensive and interconnected strategic priorities, a structure underpinned by results-based management principles, streamlined coordination mechanisms, and a practical and targeted monitoring and evaluation framework.
Replacing the current Laos-United Nations Partnership Framework 2017-2021, the 2022-2026 UNSDCF emphasises the importance of cooperation between Laos and the United Nations to address the development needs and challenges in Laos in line with the overarching directions and six pillars of the 9th Five-Year National Socio-Economic Development Plan for 2021-2025.
The formulation process was highly consultative, with numerous exchanges held between UN entities, with the Lao government, development partners, and civil society, to reflect all views and aspirations, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Cooperation Framework compromises four strategic priorities: 1) People’s wellbeing; 2) Inclusive prosperity; 3) Governance and rule of law; and 4) Environment, Climate Change, and Resilience.
The new generation of Cooperation Frameworks will be an important document for planning and implementing national development projects.
It is part of the global United Nations reform, which strives to make the UN development system more coherent, efficient and effective, as well as enhance cooperation and support from UN agencies in Laos for the period 2022-2026, with the aim of fulfilling Laos’ development priorities.
On this important occasion, Mr Saleumxay said he highly valued and appreciated the continuing cooperation and support by the United Nations to Laos over past years, which has significantly contributed to socio-economic development.
He looked forward to stronger support and cooperation from the UN country team on the ground in the future, especially in Covid-19 response and recovery efforts, climate change, sustainable development, Laos’ graduation from the LDC status, and relevant development fields.
To realise these ambitions, the UN country team will work collaboratively across four strategic priorities, bringing together Agencies, Funds, and Programmes with specific expertise to help national counterparts advance development progress and tackle Laos’ development challenges.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update November 17, 2021)