Deputy Minister of Finance Mr Soulivath Souvannachoumkham (right) and UNFPA Representative to Laos Dr Bakhtiyor Kadyrov co-chair the annual programme review.

Govt, UNFPA review partnership, outline priorities for women and youth empowerment

The government and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) held their annual review meeting on Tuesday, unveiling significant progress in the final four years of implementation of the 7th Country Programme for 2022-2026, which is designed to empower women and young people.
The meeting was co-chaired by Deputy Minister of Finance Mr Soulivath Souvannachoumkham and UNFPA Representative to Laos Dr Bakhtiyor Kadyrov.
The programme review served as an opportunity to review key achievements and milestones in 2025, highlighting the critical role played by the strong partnership between UNFPA and the government in driving inclusive and sustainable development in Laos.
The meeting charted the strategic direction for 2026, the final year of the current programme, while the formal consultation with government stakeholders served to shape the roadmap and priorities of the 8th Lao PDR-UNFPA Joint Country Programme for 2027-2031.
The meeting brought together government stakeholders including the Ministries of Finance, Health, Education and Sports, Foreign Affairs, and Labour and Social Welfare, as well as the Lao Statistics Bureau, the Lao Women’s Union, and the Lao Youth Union.
Mr Soulivath welcomed the continued partnership and highlighted progress in improving access to sexual and reproductive health services, support for survivors of gender-based violence, addressing harmful practices, and the successful rollout of the 2025 Population and Housing Census.
“Today’s discussions help translate the evidence, experience and lessons learnt into forward-looking priorities that strengthen national systems and accelerate inclusive development,” he said.
UNFPA Representative Dr Bakhtiyor Kadyrov noted that, under the government’s leadership, the partnership has delivered key milestones, including the endorsement of the 9-25 Call for Action and the establishment of a national coordination mechanism to accelerate implementation of the National Population and Development Policy.
In the area of sexual and reproductive health and rights, UNFPA provided technical support to government partners to expand access to family planning, youth-friendly health services and sexuality education, enabling more women and young people to make informed choices about their health and their future.
Dr Kadyrov also said that UNFPA, together with government institutions and stakeholders, strengthened prevention and response to gender-based violence and harmful practices through advocacy, service delivery and community engagement, contributing to a safer and more supportive environment for women and girls in Laos.
Another major achievement was the successful implementation of the 2025 Population and Housing Census. The findings, expected to be released later this year, will provide high-quality data to support national planning and guide decision-making by the government, development partners, civil society and the private sector, strengthening evidence-based policies and ensuring that no one is left behind.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update February 18, 2026)