The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) signed an agreement to provide technical support to the National SDG Secretariat in Lao PDR.     --Photo FAO\Bounmee Maokhamphiou

FAO provided US$229.000 boost SDG progress in Laos

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) signed an agreement to provide 299.231 US technical support to the National Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Secretariat in Lao PDR
The signing ceremony was held in the FAO Office in Vientiane last week, witnessed by representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry of Planning and Investment, and FAO colleagues.
The support leverages the expertise of FAO as the UN agency responsible for 21 SDG indicators and a key partner for SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), 5 (Gender Equality), 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), 14 (Life below Water) and 15 (Life on Land).
The key objective is to further enhance multi-stakeholder engagement at national and provincial levels for SDG localization, monitoring and reporting in Lao PDR. Accelerated progress towards the achievement of the SDGs by 2030 through greater participation of all stakeholders at national, sectoral and local levels.
Speaking at the ceremony, Director General of the Department of International Organization/Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Daovy Vongxay said The support that FAO provides, together with the wider UN system, to the National SDG Secretariat is strategic. It helps bringing together not only stakeholders at the national and sectoral levels but also provincial authorities and local communities to accelerate progress towards the SDGs”
There is a need for greater participation and engagement from all stakeholders.  To achieve this, it is crucial to clearly define the roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder, while strengthening their capacities and providing them with appropriate information and tools, Mr. Vongxay further emphasised.
For this project FAO will build capacities of the MOFA and SDG secretariat at national, sectoral and provincial levels to coordinate and work with UN agencies, Development Partners, civil society, private sector, academic, and other stakeholders in order to track and report on  the progress of SDG localisation.
FAO Representative ad interim to Lao PDR, Ms. Hang Thi Thanh Pham highlighted the need for more cooperation and stronger partnerships among all actors to equip all sectors with the knowledge and skills for the SDGs.
“FAO’s Strategic Framework 2022-31 aligns with the five basic principles that underpin all SDGs: people, planet, prosperity, peace, and partnership” she said.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity.
This project  focus on training as a workshops and seminars to  increase more dynamic multi-stakeholder engagement, Increased statistical capacity and analytical and reporting skills of SDG focal points (SDGi and SDGs), Strengthened awareness of society across various segments of population and Improvement of coordination mechanism including national, sectoral and provincial levels.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update October 10, 2023)