Lao Government and UN discuss social protection implementation and financing

Vientiane Capital, 5th November 2021 – Lao PDR is establishing a high-level National Social Protection Commission, to coordinate, plan and monitor social protection programmes in the country. To support this soon-to-be-established Commission, the UN Joint Programme “Leaving No One Behind: Establishing the Basis for Social Protection Floors in Lao PDR” held a Programme Advisory Committee Meeting in Vientiane Capital on 5 November 2021, to discuss progress and achievements to date, to present the “living documents”––the National Social Protection Strategy’s Implementation Roadmap and Monitoring Tool, and to decide on the next steps. The meeting was attended by His Excellency Mr. Leepao Yang, Vice Minister of Labour and Social Welfare; Ms. Sara Sekkenes, UN Resident Coordinator to Lao PDR; and Mr. Dan Heldon, Deputy Head of Mission, Australian Embassy to Lao PDR; as well as around 50 representatives from Lao Government ministries and Development Partners.

Addressing the event, His Excellency Mr. Leepao Yang, Vice Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, said "Lao PDR has been making every effort to incorporate regional and international declarations, conventions and guidelines into the Party's policies and the government's national socio-economic development plan. We have included social protection measures into the 8th National Socio-Economic Development Plan from 2016-2020 and the 9th Plan from 2021-2025.” “

Through efforts of relevant sectors and partner organizations, the National Social Protection Strategy was formally adopted and promulgated in 2020. The strategy can be used as a reference for central and local sectors to implement. At the same time, the strategy can more easily facilitate the various international organizations in organizing their technical assistance and budgeting," he added.” “

The programme is a Government–UN partnership launched in January 2020 and funded by the Joint SDG Fund and the Australian Government. It invests in progressing towards the sustainable development goals, which aim for a future with no poverty, zero hunger, peace, justice and strong institutions. The intention is to support the government to implement the National Social Protection Strategy, through building the national social protection system, ensuring that funding for social protection is on-budget, exploring innovative financing mechanisms, and piloting a mother and early childhood grant and welfare programme.

The National Social Protection Strategy’s Implementation Roadmap, presented at the event, guides decision making among government institutions, prioritising the most vulnerable people in Lao PDR, and ensures that infrastructure and procedures are in place to ensure the support is reaching the target groups. The Strategy’s Monitoring Tool measures the progress in implementing its goals. A financial strategy paper is being developed which will involve public and private stakeholders, both within Laos and internationally, with the aim to source and channel funds in a more formal and structured way. This will be enacted, alongside the strengthening of the social contract between the state and individuals, to provide a foundation for sustainable social protection and to ensure the full and effective utilisation of the available resources.

A financial strategy paper is being developed which will involve public and private stakeholders, both within Laos and internationally, with the aim to source and channel funds in a more formal and structured way. This will be enacted, alongside the strengthening of the social contract between the state and individuals, to provide a foundation for sustainable social protection and to ensure the full and effective utilisation of the available resources.

The Joint Programme has also been supporting the government, Lao Women’s Union and a network of health workers to pilot an integrated social welfare package for pregnant women and children below the age of one. A crucial part of this endeavour is good health and nutrition to promote the well-being of children. So far, the programme has been launched in 2 districts in Attapeu province with more than 1,000 pregnant women and children enrolled and with on-going efforts to enrol a further 1,000 or more beneficiaries.

To make last-mile payments to beneficiaries easier, quicker, and more reliable in the future, a modern and innovative mechanism for social cash transfers, the “U-money” app, is being set up. This, and the capacity development for national, provincial and district officers, aims to ensure long-term sustainability of the programme by making it both nationally-led, and nationally-owned.