PARTNERING FOR IMPACT: SUPPORTING LAO PDR'S ASEAN LEADERSHIP

The UN Country Team in Lao PDR saw this as an opportunity to enrich its focus on transformative change through ongoing and planned regional cooperation initiatives. The UNCT engagement with the Government has helped deepen collaboration, learning and exchange among ASEAN countries, with benefits extending far beyond Lao PDR.

Three themes of support emerged: Youth and children, Women's political leadership, and Labour mobility and migration. The UNCT followed the ASEAN agenda-setting very closely and ensured its connection to key transformative results under the 2022-2026 Cooperation Framework.

Under the youth and children theme, UNICEF and UNFPA, with the engagement of the Resident Coordinator, organised the ASEAN Youth Dialogue. Key outcomes included youth policy recommendations for ASEAN Leaders, and validation of the ASEAN Youth Statement that was presented during the Youth-Leaders' Interface. Additionally, UNICEF supported the 8th ASEAN Children's Forum, focusing children-led climate action. With regard to women's political leadership, UN Women and IOM provided a comprehensive package of support to the Lao Women's Union in preparing and organizing the 3rd ASEAN Women Leaders' Summit. UNDP, UN Women, and FAO provided comprehensive support to the National Assembly of Lao PDR in hosting the 45th AIPA General Assembly. Under the theme of labour mobility and migration, ILO and IOM have partnered to support the ASEAN Declaration on Skills Mobility, Recognition and Development for Migrant Workers.

The UN support across three themes demonstrated practical connectivity between regional and country agendas, and was cited during the visit of the UN Secretary-General to Vientiane for the ASEAN-UN Summit.

THE UNCT IN LAO PDR EFFECTIVELY LEVERAGED THE COUNTRY'S ASEAN CHAIRMANSHIP TO PROMOTE REGIONAL COOPERATION AND TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE ACROSS KEY AREAS, SHOWCASING THE IMPORTANCE OF MULTILATERALISM AND PARTNERSHIPS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT