CLOSING REMARKS: Theme 2: Human Capital, Multi-Stakeholder Taskforce to study the impact of COVID-19 to support a Determination of the 9th NSEDP and SDG Localization in Lao PDR

Esteemed Government partners,

Development Partners,

Colleagues, Ladies & Gentlemen,

• On behalf of the Core Group of the Multi-Stakeholder Taskforce, I would like to express my sincere thanks for your active participation in the dialogue this afternoon.
• As we have seen through our discussion, and indeed in each of the three thematic dialogues thus far, the 9th NSEDP is being developed under highly unusual circumstances. Plans inevitably involve some level of uncertainty and need to allow for unforeseen events.
• With COVID-19 we already know that we cannot continue with business-as-usual as if the pandemic had never happened. But there is so much about the implications of the pandemic that we are yet to understand, making it extremely difficult to design a plan that will stand the test of time.
• We are all here because we recognize that the plans and policy priorities set out in the NSEDP matter. It is a critical document, being developed at an equally critical moment. How well we can identify and adapt to the changing circumstances will shape how much progress that will be made for years to come.
• We set out this afternoon to address challenging questions about what implications there may be for human capital priorities in the 9th NSEDP following the COVID-19 pandemic.
• In this dialogue, we brought together key policy makers and technical experts with the hope of pooling our knowledge through a frank, open discussion.
• In turn, and responding to the responsibilities charged to the Taskforce, we hoped to move towards a shared understanding of the strategic policy decisions that can give the best chance of achieving our shared development aspirations over the next 5 years and beyond, despite the challenges we now face.
• In this context, the clear articulation of the country’s demographic transition further emphasizes the importance of getting policy priorities right. A failure to find ways - even with the implications of COVID-19 – to make smart investments in human capital now risks missing a potentially transformational demographic dividend.
• The pandemic has effectively interrupted the delivery of the investments in human capital. At the same time, it has also disrupted our ability to finance all of the priorities that we collectively have. More than ever, it is clear that only through careful consideration of strategic options and needs, joining up conversations across sectors and ministries, can we navigate a sustainable way ahead, sequencing the investments needed across the 5 years of delivery and beyond.
• This third thematic policy dialogue will be followed over the remainder of this week by the final two on:
  • Managing changes and enhancing policy preparedness for decent work, and
  • Green growth, resilience and risk management.

• These will further build on the discussions from today, and from last week.  They will take a similar approach, working through what we know about how the situation has changed as a result of COVID-19, and what that may mean for policy priorities over the coming 5-years, with a view to making strategic recommendations for consideration in the preparation of the 9th NSEDP.
• Based on each meeting, we will prepare a short outcome document – drawing on the background paper- setting out the key elements of discussion, and our strategic recommendations on possible ways forward as suggested by the Multi-Stakeholder Taskforce.
• This will then be presented at the planned meeting of the Sector Working Group Chairs and Co-Chairs (tentatively planned for 28th September). Vice Minister Kikeo and I count on the technical leads from the sessions divijoining that discussion, to take forward the process of translating the strategic discussion we have had today into concrete implications for the 9th NSEDP.
• With this, I thank you all again for your participation today, and in particular to the technical team that has worked over the previous weeks to prepare for this discussion.
• Thank you and good afternoon.