💵 Over the last 2 months, our group produced 700 units of handkerchief, which generated a revenue of 7,000,000 Kip. 💵
Hi, my name is Somvang, and I'm from Haitai Village, Sangthong District, Vientiane Capital. As we know, rice farming requires hard labor but provides minimal income. So when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, the challenges it brought along made our situation much worse.
Fortunately, during that time, my village was chosen to implement a livelihoods recovery program. The program introduced us to a variety of income-generating activities, allowing us to choose based on our individual skills and interests. Personally, I went for handkerchief-making program, which was an intensive 3-day hands-on session. As participants, we were generously provided with all the essential equipment needed for the program, including cotton, shuttles, spinning wheels, looms, scissors, and other necessary tools.
After the training, we formed a team of 11 people, including myself, and we named our group the “Haitai Handkerchief Group”. Over the last 2 months, our efforts resulted in the production of around 700 handkerchiefs, which generated an impressive revenue of 7,000,000 Kip. Since then, handkerchief production become our new revenue stream in addition to our main occupation, and we are so proud of it.
I cannot express my gratitude enough to IWAA for their support. Thanks to them, I was able to learn a new skill and earn additional income. I am incredibly grateful to IWAA for their support and hope to participate in more projects like this in the future.
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The handkerchief making program, led by IWAA through the CISAC project, successfully promotes community livelihoods by helping them generate sustainable income. Through the CISAC project, 20 local associations like IWAA have helped families and communities recover from the negative health and economic impacts of COVID.
💥My daily income from selling long beans has increased to around 100,000 - 180,000 kip/day thanks to the newly taught techniques and provision of essential equipment.💥
Hi, my name is Thoun, and I'm a villager from Khaiy District in Luang Prabang province. I was fortunate enough to receive funds that allowed me to cultivate long beans and cucumbers on my farm. I've had some experience in farming before, but my methods were very basic and didn't produce good results. That's where the program under the CiSAC project came in to help.
The program taught me everything I needed to know about cultivation techniques, maintenance, and fertilization. They also provided me with seeds and the necessary equipment like fencing systems, watering cans, and seeds. I applied it to my farm and was amazed by the results. In a single day, I could harvest 5-9 kilos of beans, which I could sell for 20,000 kip per kilo.
I am deeply grateful to the program for providing assistance to underprivileged people (like myself) who have limited access to various funding and support, I have learned new techniques for growing vegetables and have seen an increase in my income.
🌱💰I now earn a minimum income of 180,000 kip per day from selling vegetables🌱💰
My name is Taengkham Jampathong, and I am a resident of Meuangsan Village, located in Khong District, Champasak Province. I primarily engage in rice farming, which unfortunately yields low and unstable income. Each harvest allows us to sustain our family's basic needs and sell a portion of the produce. Therefore, I have to grow vegetables to supplement my income. However, things took a turn for the worse after the Covid-19 disease spread. The economy changed, and the new normal brought about higher living expenses, while our income remained the same. This situation has made life incredibly difficult for us.
I was lucky that KCDA started a project in my village during that time to help people like me who were affected by COVID-19, to restore our livelihoods. This project gave us valuable support, including training in organic fertilizer production and techniques for growing vegetables in shade houses, along with funding to establish these shade houses.
The knowledge and new techniques provided by the program have proven incredibly beneficial. I successfully applied them to improve my vegetable garden, resulting in me growing more vegetables. As a result, I now earn a minimum income of 180,000 kip per day from selling vegetables. The higher, steadier income from the vegetable garden has improved my family's life.
I am grateful to the program for helping me improve my income. I will continue using what I have learned to improve my life and share lessons with others so that this program can have a lasting and sustainable impact on our community.
The shade house vegetable program, led by KCDA through the CiSAC project, successfully promotes community livelihoods by ensuring food security and generating sustainable income. Through the CISAC project, 20 local associations like KCDA have helped families and communities recover from the negative health and economic impacts of COVID.
“The project provided me with 500 young frogs, which I raised as food for my family and sold the surplus for 2,500,000 Kip.”
My name is Khamla Keopadid. I am 24 years old and live in Ban Phiengngam, Tonpherng district, Bokeo province. I do not have a job - I am a housewife and I rely mainly on my husband’s income as a soldier. Unfortunately, his salary is not sufficient to cover all our daily expenses. So, to be able to provide for ourselves, I raise some livestock at home and often go into the forest to forage for food. My situation took a turn for the worse when the pandemic hit. COVID-19 brought about additional challenges and an increase in the cost of living, leaving us in a dire financial position.
Fortunately, during this challenging period, I had the opportunity to participate in MHP’s livelihood recovery program, which helped those impacted by Covid-19 regain their livelihoods. Through this program, I was provided with 500 young frogs and received guidance on how to raise them. In addition, the project staff visited us from time to time to monitor our progress and gave us the guidance we needed.
A few months later, my frogs grew significantly and reached a size suitable for consumption. This greatly reduced our need to buy food from the market. Additionally, I could sell the frogs for additional income. I was able to make 2,500,000 kip from selling this lot of frogs. Witnessing firsthand the financial benefits of selling frogs has motivated us to expand in my frog farming activities.
Looking ahead to 2023, my plan is to purchase and raise more young frogs. As the demand for frog consumption grows, I aim to make frog farming my main occupation. Sometime in the future, I would love to learn about frog breeding to become self-sufficient and eliminate the need to buy frogs from others. This would also enable me to sell young frogs and further expand my business.
My name is Ms. Avonchit from Nasangvery village in Luang Prabang Province. I had no experience or income prior to deciding to study cooking, so I chose to pursue a culinary course in the hopes that it would lead to a decent profession.
During my studies, I learned both the theoretical and practical sides of cooking, with a particular focus on traditional Lao recipes such as sweets from cassava & soybeans, bean cake, steamed layer cake, larb (Lao meat salad), soup, curry soup, grilled dishes, rice noddle, pho, sausages, etc. I found the course to be exciting and rewarding. In addition to my studies, I also had the opportunity to apply my skills in real-world situations, such as at weddings, banquets, and the Hmong’s new year festival (Nor Pe Chao).
After I graduate, I plan to make a living by leveraging my experience as a chef's assistant in hotels and restaurants. I hope to be able to utilize my skills to create delicious dishes that will satisfy and delight customers. I'm excited to start this new chapter in my life and I'm confident my culinary knowledge will serve me well!
Ms. Avonchit participated in a European Union-funded livelihood-recovery activities run by the Association for Mutual Assistance. (AMA). AMA is conducting many capacity-building initiatives across Luang Prabang Province in Lao PDR as part of the CISAC project. The CISAC project is funded by the European Union in Laos, coordinated through the Lao CSO Coordination Office (LCCO), and implemented in partnership between Lao CSOs, SAEDA LAO, Chias Laos, Plan International Laos, and their Lao government partners, particularly the Ministry of Health.
Mrs. Toun Xayvong was a 40-year-old woman from Danthin Village in Huaysai District, Bokeo Province. She had lived a comfortable life before the outbreak of covid-19, but the pandemic had changed everything. With the village locked down, the prospects of finding a job and making a living had become increasingly slim. With no steady income, Ms. Xayvong found it difficult to provide for her family, leading to a sense of hopelessness.
In July 2022, I heard about the CiSAC Project. Since then, my life changed for the better. The program I joined taught me to cultivate vegetables throughout the dry and rainy seasons. I enjoyed learning new things, especially about soil preparation, routine maintenance, and bio-fertilizer applications. In addition to technical guidance, the program provided me with a variety of vegetable seeds, as well as basic equipment to get me started. I was really surprised by how my vegetables turned out to be because of the new growing technique I just learned. The yield was so much higher than before. I previously could produce only 1,000+ kg of vegetables and sold them for 8-9 million kip. But now I have produced more than 6,550 kg and have increased my income by more than 50 million kip. My family’s situation has improved thanks to the help from the project.
Mrs. Toun participated in a European Union funded livelihood-recovery activities run by the Community Association for Knowledge In Development (CAMKID). CAMKID is conducting many capacity building initiatives across Bokeo Province in Lao PDR as part of the CISAC project. The CISAC project is funded by the European Union, coordinated through the Lao Civil Society Coordination Office, and implemented in partnership between Lao CSOs, SAEDA, CHIAS, Plan International, and their Lao government partners, particularly the Ministry of Health.
“Without protection from the shade house, my vegetables will be exposed to heavy rain or direct sunlight, resulting in the loss of half of the crops cultivated”.
Sabaidee, my name is Chan Onsomeboun and I reside in Han village, located in Hongsa District of Xayaboury Province. My family and I were impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and received assistance from the CiSAC project. We are farmers who rely heavily on weather conditions to grow and sell vegetables. Unfortunately, in some seasons, we have experienced significant losses due to harsh weather conditions.
Thanks to the CiSAC project, we were provided with various vegetable varieties and equipment to establish shade houses or greenhouses. The shade house we received has made a significant difference in our lives. It enables us to grow vegetables throughout the year, regardless of the weather, and prevents produce from rotting or getting burnt.
In the past three months, I have sold my produce three times, generating an average of 500,000 kip per sale. This has enabled us to provide for our needs and slowly improved our living conditions.
Hi, my name is Khamkieng Singaenkham, and I come from Kokngiew village, in Luang Prabang Province. Before enrolling in the program, I was just another unemployed young man, struggling to make ends meet. This was a problem not just for myself, but for society as a whole.
Determined to turn things around, I decided to pursue further education and gain the skills necessary to build a career. Luckily, I discovered a program (under CiSAC Project) that not only covered my tuition fees but also provided study materials, accommodation, and even fuel for transportation.
I gained a lot of knowledge about electricity through the course I took. It covered a range of topics, such as electrical panel installation, electrical wiring, fan installation, and electrical inspections.
After finishing my studies, my goal is to secure a job in either the public or private sector in order to establish financial stability. Additionally, I plan on taking up side work to assist families who require assistance with, for instance, light installations and electrical inspections.
ອົງການຈັດຕັ້ງສັງຄົມລາວຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອຄອບຄົວທີ່ຖືກຜົນກະທົບຈາກພະຍາດໂຄວິດໃນ 10 ແຂວງ
ໃນວັນພະຫັດທີ 24 ສິງຫາ 2023 , 22 ອົງການຈັດຕັ້ງສັງຄົມ (CSO) ໄດ້ປິດໂຄງການຕອບໂຕ້ COVID-19
ທີ່ໄດ້ຮັບທຶນຈາກສະຫະພາບເອີຣົບເປັນເວລາ 3 ປີ. ໂຄງການ ‘ການປະກອບສ່ວນຂອງອົງການຈັດຕັ້ງສັງຄົມລາວ
ເພື່ອປ້ອງກັນ ແລະ ຫຼຸດຜ່ອນຄວາມສ່ຽງຈາກພະຍາດ ໂຄວິດ-19’ (CiSAC-19) ໄດ້ຕອບໂຕ້ກັບການລະບາດຂອງພະຍາດໂຄວິດ-19 ດ້ວຍກິດຈະກຳປ້ອງກັນ ແລະ ຟື້ນຟູຊີວິດການເປັນຢູ່ທັງໝົດເຖິງ 1,150 ກິດຈະກຳ.
ໂຄງການ CISAC ໄດ້ຊ່ວຍປະຊາຊົນຫຼາຍກວ່າ 164,000 ຄົນໂດຍການສະກັດກັ້ນການແຜ່ລະບາດຂອງພະຍາດ COVID 10 ແຂວງທົ່ວປະເທດໃນຊ່ວງໄລຍະມີການແຜ່ລະບາດ. ໂດຍການສົມທົບກັບລັດຖະບານທຸກຂັ້ນ, ອົງການຈັດຕັ້ງສັງຄົມໄດ້ເຜີຍແຜ່ຂໍ້ມູນການປ້ອງກັນພະຍາດໂຄວິດໄປທົ່ວ 218 ບ້ານໃນ 34 ເມືອງ. ໃນນັ້ນລວມທັງການເຄື່ອນໄຫວປູກຈິດສຳນຶກຢູ່ໂຮງຮຽນ 130 ແຫ່ງ, ສຸກສາລາ 40 ແຫ່ງ ແລະ ຕະຫຼາດ 8 ແຫ່ງ, ພ້ອມທັງສ້າງອ່າງລ້າງມືຫຼາຍກວ່າ 300 ແຫ່ງ ແລະ ເຂົ້າເຖິງປະຊາຊົນນັບພັນຄົນໃນການໃຫ້ຄວາມຮູ້ການສັກຢາວັກຊີນ.
ທ່ານ ນາງ ອີນ່າ, ເອກອັກຄະລັດຖະທູດສະຫະພາບເອີຣົບປະຈຳລາວ ໄດ້ຕີລາຄາບົດບາດສຳຄັນຂອງອົງການຈັດຕັ້ງສັງຄົມໃນການ ສະໜັບສະໜູນໂຄງການຕອບໂຕ້ແຫ່ງຊາດ: ໂຄງການ CiSAC ເປັນຫຼັກຖານທີ່ດີຂອງການຮ່ວມມືລະຫວ່າງສະຫະພາບເອີຣົບ, ລັດຖະບານ, ອົງການຈັດຕັ້ງສາກົນ ແລະ ອົງການຈັດຕັ້ງສັງຄົມລາວ, ສາມາດໃຫ້ຜົນໄດ້ຮັບທີ່ປະສົບຜົນສໍາເລັດແລະມີຄຸນນະພາບທີ່ມີຜົນໄດ້ຮັບບທີ່ເຫັນໄດ້ຊັດເຈນ. ໂຄງການດັ່ງກ່າວຊ່ວຍເພີ່ມທະວີການພົວພັນ ແລະ ສ້າງຄວາມໄວ້ເນື້ອເຊື່ອໃຈລະຫວ່າງອົງການປົກຄອງທ້ອງຖິ່ນ ແລະ ອົງການຈັດຕັ້ງສັງຄົມລາວ, ສະແດງໃຫ້ເຫັນວ່າ ອົງການຈັດຕັ້ງສັງຄົມລາວສາມາດປະກອບສ່ວນຢ່າງມີປະສິດທິຜົນເຂົ້າໃນວາລະເປົ້າໝາຍການພັດທະນາແບບຍື່ນຍົງ ແລະ ໃນໄລຍະເກີດວິກິດການສຸກເສີນ. ໂຄງການນີ້ບໍ່ພຽງແຕ່ຫຼຸດຜ່ອນອັດຕາການເສຍຊີວິດ ແລະ ປ້ອງກັນການເຈັບປ່ວຍເທົ່ານັ້ນແຕ່ຍັງໄດ້ສະໜັບສະໜູນການຟື້ນຟູເສດຖະກິດຂອງຫຼາຍພັນຄອບຄົວໃນທົ່ວ ສປປ ລາວ.
ດຣ ໄພວັນ ແກ້ວປະເສີດ, ຮອງລັດຖະມົນຕີກະຊວງສາທາລະນະສຸກ ໄດ້ກ່າວວ່າ : “ກະຊວງສາທາລະນະສຸກຊົມເຊີຍການຮ່ວມ ມືລະຫວ່າງລັດຖະບານ ແລະ ອົງການຈັດຕັ້ງສັງຄົມລາວ ໃນການຕອບໂຕ້ກັບການລະບາດຂອງພະຍາດໂຄວິດ.ການຮ່ວມມືນີ້ແມ່ນເປັນແບບຢ່າງຂອງການເຮັດວຽກຮ່ວມກັນທີ່ເຮັດໃຫ້ພວກເຮົາສາມາດຮັບມືກັບສິ່ງທ້າທາຍໃນທົ່ວໂລກຢ່າງສຳເລັດຜົນ.”
ທ່ານນາງ ແຄໂຣລ ໂມແທນສັນ ອໍານວຍການ ອົງການແພລນ ສາກົນ ປະຈໍາ ສປປ ລາວໄດ້ກ່າວຊົມເຊີຍຜົນໄດ້ຮັບຈາກຄູ່ຮ່ວມງານທັງໝົດວ່າ: “ໂຄງການ CISAC ໄດ້ຮັບຜົນສຳເລັດຫລາຍໃນການຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອບັນດາຄອບຄົວເພື່ອຫຼຸດຜ່ອນຜົນກະທົບຈາກພະຍາດໂຄວິດ.
ອົງການແພລນ ສາກົນ ປະຈໍາ ສປປ ລາວມີຄວາມພາກພູມໃຈທີ່ໄດ້ຮ່ວມມືກັບອົງການຈັດຕັ້ງສັງຄົມລາວ ອີກຄັ້ງໃນການຈັດປະຕິບັດຄັ້ງນີ້ ແລະ ຂໍສະແດງຄວາມຂອບໃຈມາຍັງກະຊວງສາທາລະນະສຸກ ແລະ ກະຊວງແຮງງານ ແລະ ສະຫວັດດີການ ສັງຄົມທີ່ໄດ້ໃຫ້ການສະໜັບສະໜູນຢ່າງເຕັມທີ່ໃນລະດັບຊາດ, ຂັ້ນແຂວງ ແລະ ຂັ້ນເມືອງໃນໂຄງການນີ້.
ໃນໄລຍະ 12 ເດືອນຜ່ານມາ, ອົງການຈັດຕັ້ງສັງຄົມລາວ ໄດ້ສຸມໃສ່ການຟື້ນຟູຊີວິດການເປັນຢູ່ເພື່ອແກ້ໄຂຜົນກະ ທົບດ້ານເສດຖະກິດຈາກພະຍາດໂຄວິດ ແລະ ອັດຕາເງິນເຟີ້ຕຕໍ່ຄອບຄົວທີ່ເຮັດວຽກ. ປະຊາຊົນຫຼາຍກວ່າ 5.100 ຄົນໄດ້ຮັບການສະໜັບສະໜູນເພື່ອຟື້ນຟູຊີວິດການເປັນຢູ່ຂອງເຂົາເຈົ້າດ້ວຍກິດຈະກໍາຕ່າງໆເປັນຕົ້ນແມ່ນເຮືອນຮົ່ມສຳລັບສວນຜັກ, ທຶນຂະ ໜາດນ້ອຍເພື່ອການສຶກສາ ແລະ ການລ້ຽງກົບລວມທັງເຄື່ອງຫັດຖະກໍາ, ການຜະລິດສະບູ ແລະ ຜະລິດຕະພັນກວນໝາກໄມ້ເຊິ່ງຊີວິດການເປັນຢູ່ເຫຼົ່ານີ້ກຳລັງຊ່ວຍໃຫ້ປະຊາຊົນມີລາຍໄດ້ເພີ່ມຂຶ້ນ.
ທ່ານດຣ ຈັນສີ ພິມມະຈັນ ຫົວໜ້າຄະນະກຳມະການອົງການຈັດຕັ້ງສັງຄົມລາວ (LCCC) ກ່າວໃນໂອກາດນີ້ວ່າ: “ອົງການຈັດຕັ້ງ ສັງຄົມລາວ ໄດ້ຕອບສະໜອງວຽກງານປ້ອງກັນພະຍາດໂຄວິດນັບແຕ່ປີ 2020 ເປັນຕົ້ນມາ ແລະ ໄດ້ຈັດຕັ້ງປະຕິບັດຫຼາຍກວ່າ 1,150 ກິດຈະກຳ ນັບຕັ້ງແຕ່ອົງການຈັດຕັ້ງສັງຄົມລາວໄດ້ຮັບທຶນພາຍໃຕ້ໂຄງການ CISAC ໃນເດືອນພຶດສະພາ ປີ 2021.
ໂຄງການເຫຼົ່ານີ້ບໍ່ພຽງແຕ່ໄດ້ສະໜັບສະໜູນຊຸມຊົນເພື່ອປ້ອງກັນພະຍາດໂຄວິດໂດຍການປະຕິບັດສຸຂະອະນາໄມທີ່ດີຂຶ້ນ
ແລະ ການສັກຢາວັກຊີນເພີ້ມຂຶ້ນເທົ່ານັ້ນ, ແຕ່ຍັງໄດ້ສຸມໃສ່ແກ້ໄຂຜົນກະທົບທາງລົບຈາກພະຍາດໂຄວິດ, ລວມທັງພາລະດ້ານສັງຄົມ ແລະ ການເງິນຂອງຄອບຄົວປະຊາຊົນລາວ. ໂຄງການເຫຼົ່ານີ້ໄດ້ຊ່ວຍໃຫ້ແມ່ຍິງ, ເດັກຍິງ ແລະ ຊຸມຊົນຂອງເຂົາເຈົ້າໃນການປ້ອງກັນ ແລະ ຟື້ນຕົວຈາກພະຍາດໂຄວິດ.”
ໂຄງການ CiSAC ໄດ້ຖືກຈັດຕັ້ງປະຕິບັດໂດຍການຮ່ວມມືລະຫວ່າງກະຊວງສາທາລະນະສຸກ, ສະມາຄົມພັດທະນາກະສິກຳ ແລະ ສິ່ງແວດລ້ອມແບບຍືນຍົງ (SAEDA), ສະມາຄົມສູຂະພາບຊຸມຊົນ ແລະ ການມີສ່ວນຮ່ວມ (CHIAS) ແລະ ອົງການແພລນ ສາກົນ ປະຈໍາ ສປປ ລາວ ພາຍໃຕ້ການຊີ້ນຳ ແລະ ຫ້ອງການປະສານງານອົງການຈັດຕັ້ງສັງຄົມ (LCCO).
ບັນດາສະມາຄົມທີ່ຕອບສະໜອງໃນໂຄງການນີ້ລວມມີ:
ສະມາຄົມແມ່ຍີງຮ່ວມໃຈພັດທະນາ (MHP) ແລະ ສະມາຄົມສົ່ງເສີມຄວາມຮູ້ເພື່ອການພັດທະນາຊົນນະບົດແບບມີສ່ວນຮ່ວມ (CAMKID) ແຂວງບໍ່ແກ້ວ; ສະມາຄົມສົ່ງເສີມສຸຂະພາບຄອບຄົວ (PFHA) ແລະ ເຄືອຂ່າຍເພື່ອການພັດທະນາສັງຄົມ
(SODA) ແຂວງຫຼວງນ້ຳທາ; ສະມາຄົມຮ່ວມໃຈພັດທະນາ (SDA) ແລະ ສະມາຄົມຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອເຊິ່ງກັນ ແລະ ກັນ (AMA) ແຂວງຫຼວງພະບາງ; ສະມາຄົມສົ່ງເສີມການນຳໃຊ້ຊັບພະຍາກອນທຳມະຊາ ແບບຍືນຍົງ (PSNUA) ແລະ ສະມາຄົມຮ່ວມໃຈອາສາສະມັກ
( HJA) ແຂວງ ໄຊຍະບູລີ; ສະມາຄົມສົ່ງເສີມຄວາມຮູ້ກ່ຽວກັບການຄົ້ນຄວ້າ ແລະ ພັດທະນາຊົນນະບົດ (RRDPA) ແລະ ສະມາຄົມພັດທະນາບົດບາດຍິງຊາຍ (GDA) ແຂວງວຽງຈັນ; ສະມາຄົມພັດທະນາແມ່ຍິງ ແລະ ການສຶກສາກົດໝາຍ (ADWLE) ແລະ ສະມາຄົມສົ່ງເສີມແຮງງານນອກລະບົບ (IWAA) ນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ; ສະມາຄົມສົ່ງເສີມການຮຽນຮູ້ເພື່ອການພັດທະນາ (LDA) ແລະ ສະມາຄົມສົ່ງເສີມທັກສະຊີວິດ ເດັກນ້ອຍ ແລະ ໄວໜຸ່ມ (APPREN) ແຂວງບໍລິຄຳໄຊ; ສະມາຄົມນຳ້ໃຈຊາວບ້ານ (NCA) ແລະ ສະມາຄົມ ເຄືອຂ່າຍຜູ້ຕິດເຊື້ອເຮສໄອວີເອດ ( APL+) ແຂວງ ຄຳມ່ວນ ; ສະມາຄົມພັດທະນາຊຸມຊົນ (CODA) ແລະ ສະມາຄົມຕະກຽງລາວ (TKL) ແຂວງສະຫວັນນະເຂດ, ແລະ ສະມາຄົມ ຄົນພິການແຫ່ງຊາດ ສາຂາແຂວງຈຳປາສັກ (LDPA.CPS) ແລະ ສະມາຄົມພັດທະນາຊຸມຊົນເມືອງໂຂງ (KCDA) ແຂວງຈຳປາສັກ.
ການໃຫ້ທຶນຂອງໂຄງການ CISAC ແມ່ນສ່ວນຫນຶ່ງຂອງທີມເອີຣົບຕອບໂຕ້ພະຍາດໂຄວິດ, ສະຫນອງໂດຍສະຫະພາບເອີຣົບ ເພື່ອແນໃສ່ສະໜັບສະໜູນລັດຖະບານແຫ່ງ ສປປ ລາວ ເພື່ອຫລຸດຜ່ອນຜົນກະທົບດ້ານສຸຂະພາບ, ເສດຖະກິດ ແລະ ສັງຄົມ ຈາກພະຍາດລະບາດ ແລະ ເພີ່ມທະວີການຮ່ວມມືຢ່າງມີປະສິດທິຜົນກັບບັນດາອົງການຈັດຕັ້ງສັງຄົມ. ທຶນທີ່ສະໜອງໃຫ້ພາຍ ໃຕ້ໂຄງການນີ້ແມ່ນສະເພາະສໍາລັບອົງການຈັດຕັ້ງສັງຄົມລາວ. ສະຫະພາບເອີຣົບຍັງໄດ້ຈັດຕັ້ງປະຕິບັດໂຄງການກັບກະຊວງ ສາທາ ລະນະສຸກ ແລະ ອົງການອະນາໄມໂລກລວມທັງການສະຫນອງທຶນເພື່ອສະຫນັບສະຫນູນລັດຖະບານເພື່ອຕອບໂຕ້ພະຍາດໂຄວິດໂດຍກົງ. ນີ້ເປັນຄວາມພະຍາຍາມຂອງໂລກ ແລະ ສະຫະພາບເອີຣົບພູມໃຈທີ່ໄດ້ຮ່ວມມືກັບລັດຖະບານລາວ ແລະ ອົງການຈັດຕັ້ງສັງຄົມລາວເພື່ອຫຼຸດຜ່ອນຜົນກະທົບທາງລົບຈາກພະຍາດນີ້ບໍ່ວ່າຈະເປັນທັງຜົນກະທົບຕໍ່ສຸຂະພາບກໍ່ຄືຜົນກະທົບຕໍ່ຊີວິດການເປັນຢູ່.
Lao CSOs help COVID-impacted families across 10 provinces.
On Thursday 24th August 2023, 22 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) celebrated the closing of their 3-year, European Union-funded COVID response project. The ‘Civil Society Action to Prevent and Mitigate COVID-19’ (CiSAC) project responded to the COVID-19 pandemic with 1,150 prevention and livelihoods recovery activities. The CISAC project helped over 164,000 people by preventing the spread of COVID across 10 provinces during the pandemic period. In partnership with government at all levels, civil society have spread COVID prevention messages across 218 villages and 34 districts. This included awareness actions in 130 schools, 40 health centres and 8 markets, as well as building over 300 handwashing basins and providing vaccination awareness and access to thousands of people.
The European Union Ambassador to Lao PDR, Ms. Ina Marčiulionytė, highlighted the important role of civil society in supporting the national response project: “The CiSAC project provides strong evidence of how the partnership between EU, Govt., INGOs and civil society, can deliver successful and quality results that have a tangible impact for Lao communities. The project helped to strengthen relations and foster trust between local authorities and local CSOs, demonstrating that CSOs could effectively contribute to the SDG agenda and during the emergency crisis. This project not only reduced deaths and prevented illness, but it has also supported the economic recovery of thousands of families across Lao PDR.”
The Vice-Minister for Health, Dr. Phaivanh Keopasert, stated: “The Ministry of Health appreciates the partnership between the government and Lao civil society to respond to the COVID pandemic. This partnership is an example of how working together, we can successfully respond to global challenges.”
The Country Director for Plan International, Ms. Carol Mortenson, praised the results from all partners: “The CISAC project has been very successful in helping families reduce the impacts of COVID. Plan International is proud to partner again with Lao civil society in this action and wish to thank the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, for their strong support at the national, provincial and district levels during this project.”
Over the past 12 months, these Lao CSOs have focused on livelihood recovery to address the economic impacts of COVID and inflation on working families. More than 5,100 people were supported to recover their livelihoods, with activities ranging from shade-houses for vegetable gardens, small TVET scholarships and frog raising, as well as handicrafts, soap and jam production. These livelihoods are helping people to earn extra incomes.
Dr. Chansy Phimmachan, the Chairperson for the Lao Civil Society Coordination Committee (LCCC), said at the event that “Civil Society Organisations have been responding to the prevention of COVID since 2020, and have implemented over 1,150 activities since the CSOs received funding under the CISAC project in May 2021. These projects not only supported communities to prevent COVID through better hygiene and increased vaccinations, but it also focused on reversing some of the negative impacts from COVID, including financial and social burdens on Lao families. These projects helped women, girls and their communities to prevent and recover from COVID-19.”
The CiSAC project was implemented in partnership between the Ministry of Health, Sustainable Agriculture and Environment for Development Association (SAEDA), Community Health and Inclusion Association (CHIAS) and Plan International in Lao PDR, under direction and coordination with the Lao Civil Society Coordination Office (LCCO).
The other Lao associations responding during this project include: Maeying Houamjai Pathana (MHP) and Community Association for Mobilizing Knowledge in Development (CAMKID) in Bokeo; The Promotion of Family Health Association (PFHA) and Social Development Alliance Association (SODA) in Luang Namtha; Sustainable Development Association (SDA) and The Association for Mutual Assistant (AMA) in Luang Prabang; Promote Sustainable Natural Resources Use Association (PSNUA) and Huam Jai Asasamak Association (HJA) in Xayabouly; Rural Research and Development Promoting Knowledge Association (RRDPA) and Gender Development Association (GDA) in Vientiane Province; Association for Development of Women and Legal Education (ADWLE) and Informal Worker Advancement Association (IWAA) in Vientiane Capital; Learning for Development Association (LDA) and Association for promotion good life to children-youth (APPREN) in Bolikhamxay; Namjai Community Association (NCA) and Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS (APL+) in Khammouane; Community Development Association (CODA) and Takienglao Association (TKL) in Savannakhet, and; Lao Disable People's Association Champasack Branch (LDPA.CPS) and Khong District Community Development Association (KCDA) in Champasak.
The CISAC project funding is part of the Team Europe response to COVID-19, provided by the European Union. It aims to support the government of Lao PDR to mitigate the health, social and economic impacts of the pandemic, and it enhances the effective cooperation with Civil Society Organisations. The funding provided under this project is specific for civil society organisations. The European Union has also implemented projects with the Ministry of Health and WHO that included funding to support the government’s direct response to COVID-19. This is a global effort and the European Union is proud to partner with the Lao government and Lao civil society to reduce the negative impacts from this disease, both health impacts as well as impacts to livelihoods.
Thanks to Plan International Laos, SAEDA LAO, CHIAs Laos, ອົງການຈັດຕັ້ງສັງຄົມລາວ - Lao CSOs for organizing this closing event, and special thanks to our donor, the European Union in Laos, for recognizing the significance of CSOs in development work.
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FAO Supports Launch of New Anticipatory Action Technical Working Group in Lao PDR
Vientiane, 13 December 2023 - The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Lao Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare officially launched the new Anticipatory Action Technical Working Group (AA TWG) at its inaugural meeting at the Vientiane Plaza Hotel. This first-ever AA TWG brought together representatives from government ministries, UN agencies, NGOs, CSOs, and other partners.
Opening remarks were provided by the working group's co-chairs - Souphonesay Lorphengsy, Deputy Director General of the Social Welfare Department at MoLSW, and Chanthalath Pongmala, Assistant FAO Representative to Lao PDR.
"I admire the high level of effort for establishing the National AA TWG initiated by FAO and development partners and anticipated greater outcomes for the year 2024 as improved coordination and partnership will be fostered, and more key actors will be brought in to participate in the process," said Souphonesay Lorphengsy.
"This event will provide a basis for learning on how anticipatory action has been initiated and implemented in Lao PDR. In addition to sharing and learning from different agencies on triggering development, the identification of AA priority actions will help form a structure of our first of its kind AA Action Plan development in the coming months," stated Chanthalath Pongmala.
Attendees included representatives from government bodies like the Social Welfare Department of MoLSW, Department of Irrigation, Department of Livestock and Fisheries, National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute of MAF, Natural Resources and Environment Research Institute, Department of Climate Change, and Department of Meteorology and Hydrology of MoNRE. UN participants were UNDRR, UNRCO, WFP, and FAO, while INGOs and CSOs included CARE, World Vision, ARMI, Swiss Red Cross, SAEDA, and the Lao Red Cross Society.
The meeting was hailed as a success, with all sessions taking place as planned. The AA TWG's Terms of Reference were agreed, officially establishing the working group. FAO will take the lead in documenting priority actions identified during the meeting to draft Lao PDR's first Anticipatory Action Plan for 2024-2025 in the next meeting tentatively scheduled for March 2024.
The Anticipatory Action Technical Working Group is part of FAO's "Strengthening Capacity in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Lao PDR" project supported by the European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations department (ECHO).
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Civil Society Organization Fair 2023
Vientiane, 13 December 2023 - The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Lao Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare officially launched the new Anticipatory Action Technical Working Group (AA TWG) at its inaugural meeting at the Vientiane Plaza Hotel. This first-ever AA TWG brought
together representatives from government ministries, UN agencies, NGOs, CSOs, and other partners. Opening remarks were provided by the working group's co-chairs - Souphonesay Lorphengsy, Deputy Director General of the Social Welfare Department at MoLSW, and Chanthalath Pongmala, Assistant FAO Representative to Lao PDR.
"I admire the high level of effort for establishing the National AA TWG initiated by FAO and development partners and anticipated greater outcomes for the year 2024 as improved coordination and partnership will be fostered, and more key actors will be brought in to participate in the process," said Souphonesay Lorphengsy.
"This event will provide a basis for learning on how anticipatory action has been initiated and implemented in Lao PDR. In addition to sharing and learning from different agencies on triggering development, the identification of AA priority actions will help form a structure of our first of its kind AA Action Plan development in the coming months," stated Chanthalath Pongmala.
Attendees included representatives from government bodies like the Social Welfare Department of MoLSW, Department of Irrigation, Department of Livestock and Fisheries, National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute of MAF, Natural Resources and Environment Research Institute, Department of Climate Change, and Department of Meteorology and Hydrology of MoNRE. UN participants were UNDRR, UNRCO, WFP, and FAO, while INGOs and CSOs included CARE, World Vision, ARMI, Swiss Red Cross, SAEDA, and the Lao Red Cross Society.
The meeting was hailed as a success, with all sessions taking place as planned. The AA TWG's Terms of Reference were agreed, officially establishing the working group. FAO will take the lead in documenting priority actions identified during the meeting to draft Lao PDR's first Anticipatory Action Plan for 2024-2025 in the next meeting tentatively scheduled for March 2024.
The Anticipatory Action Technical Working Group is part of FAO's "Strengthening Capacity in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Lao PDR" project supported by the European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations department (ECHO).
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