Meeting of Chairs and Co-Chairs of Sector Working Groups in advance of the 13TH High Level Round Table Meeting

Today’s meeting was chaired by Her Excellency Mrs. Phonevanh Outhavong, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment and Ms. Ricarda Rieger, Resident Representative of UNDP in Lao PDR, and was the last in a string of consultation meetings of all SWGs in advance of the Round Table Meeting.

The Deputy Minister reiterated the importance of having fruitful and constructive dialogues on how to further strengthen partnerships and cooperation across a broad range of development and challenges that have been the focus of the upcoming Round Table Meeting, including the implementation of the 9th NSEDP, furthering progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, graduation from Least Developed Country Status and reviewing the effectiveness of development cooperation in the country, which includes a review of the Sector Working Group mechanism itself.

Mrs. Othavong went on to stress that Lao PDR is in a pivotal moment as it attempts to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, which has so far dominated the first year of implementation of the 9th National Plan – it is important to stay positive, yet critical she noted – thinking broadly on how things can be done better will help us become more dynamic in the ways we address the problems ahead, and will be integral to helping us achieve our ambitions of becoming a middle income country and achieving our development objectives in terms of the 2030 Agenda and the 9th NSEDP.

Ms. Rieger noted emphasized the importance of the transitional moment Lao PDR is in and underlined that collaboration is key to shaping the best way forward, ensuring no one is left behind as the country embarks on the implementation of the 9th NSEDP. The Round Table will provide an important platform for us to discuss and begin to implement plans of action in terms of LDC graduation and COVID-19 recovery and will allow us to assess and improve the ways in which we work together.

There are windows of opportunity for transformative action in Lao PDR over the next five years which need investment and careful planning and financing to ensure the best outcomes are achieved – with continuing collaboration between the Government of Lao PDR, development partners, representatives from the private sector and civil society organisations, we can continue to take steps in the right direction, despite the effects of COVID-19, Ms Rieger stated. 

High-Level Round Table Meetings provide an inclusive forum for the Government of Lao PDR, the United Nations and development partners to discuss and support the design and implementation of the country’s national development plans and processes. Sector Working Groups are key coordination platforms for each thematic area of development in Lao PDR’s Round Table Process at a sectoral level – serving as discussion forums that aim to build consensus on development priorities and make development cooperation more effective.

Today’s event is a part of the preparations for the High-Level Round Table Meeting and the MPI-MoFA Programme with the objective to contribute to the NSEDP Implementation towards LDC Graduation, Middle-Income-Country Transition and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

For more information, please contact:

Mr. Alounsith Maniphon

Director of International Organisations Division, Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Planning and Investment

Mob: + 856 20 5999 9153        Email: toom_mpi@yahoo.com