Plan international Laos to pilot and implement climate change adaptation initiatives in Bokeo province 

Remote communities in Laos rely on rain-fed agriculture, making them vulnerable to climate change. New practices for commercial cultivation and livestock raising offer hope for a more resilient future.
With financial support from Plan International Germany through Plan International Laos, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry approved the new project to support young women and men, farmers and adults in 16 upland villages in two districts, Bokeo province   in adapting practices for commercial cultivation and livestock raising.
Represented by the Director of Bokeo Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Office Mr Sibounheung Phanthalak and Deputy Country Director – Programme of Plan International Laos,

The Director of Bokeo Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Office Mr Sibounheung Phanthalak and Deputy Country Director – Programme of Plan International Laos, Ms Loretta Hoban, signed the MOU concerning the project of the Climate Change Adaptation in the Uplands through Innovative Practices in Pha-oudom and Paktha districts, Bokeo province.

Ms Loretta Hoban, signed the Memorandum of Understanding concerning the project of the Climate Change Adaptation in the Uplands through Innovative Practices in Pha-oudom and Paktha districts, Bokeo province.
“We are excited to be working with these communities to help them adapt to the impacts of climate change,” said Ms Hoban. “This project will help them develop new ways of producing food and generating income that are more resilient to drought.”
This project aims to contribute to increasing rural livelihood opportunities by 30 percent through supporting improved farming and entrepreneurship opportunities, and promoting climate adaptation methods in target villages by piloting enhancing and increasing gender responsive livelihood and climate change adaption initiatives through the Community Learning Centre to serve as the demonstration facilities for the new production method and practices, and practices, as well as a space for community members to learn about climate change adaptation.
The project will also work to build the capacity of community members to develop and implement climate change adaptation plans. This will include training on meteorological and hydrological forecasting, as well as on gender-responsive resilience livelihood strategies.
“We believe that this project will help young women and men, farmers and adults in these communities become more resilient to the impacts of climate change,” said Ms Hoban. “We are confident that they will be able to use the knowledge and skills they gain from this project to build a more sustainable future.”
The project will introduce the new practices for commercial cultivation and livestock raising which will be contextually adapted and applied. The local authorities as well as the local government partners and other concerned parties will provide their on-going supports to the project in its efforts in improving the local livelihood through increasing their income and adaptability to the adversary impact of the climate change especially the drought.
The project will work in collaboration with many parties especially the provincial and district authorities in order to replicate the proven contextualised practices after the project’s end. At the household economic level, the food production will be improved and increased in its quality and variety that result in improving food and income security.
At the same time, the supports on farmers consolidating into sustainable organised farmer groups or cooperatives which is expected to elevate living standards that ultimately sustainably improves the livelihood of the farmers especially the women and young people in the target communities will be made.
The Lao PDR is amongst the most vulnerable countries to projected climate change trends.  As most of its communities are totally dependent on rain-fed subsistence cultivation, they face significant climate-related hazards that exacerbate their poverty especially their food insecurity and malnourishment.
The government’s significant adaptation effort is required to address reductions in yields due to the decrease in rainfall and the change in the precipitation patterns. Besides the report on the projection of the climate change trends for years ahead, Lao farmers in many areas have already observed and reported the decrease in their yield due to the increase in the incidence of climate change in the past years that has made them concerned on facing the increase in drought in future.
The project will be implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Office, and other local government partners. It is expected to be completed in June 2026.
Plan International Laos commenced working in Bokeo province in 2008 with Education and Public Health Programmes. Strong partnership with the Ministry of Education and Sports, Provincial Education and Sports Services, and District Education and Sports section made Plan International’s interventions achieve goals and deliver quality programmes to enhance children’s and adolescents’ education, rights and improved health condition.
--Source Plan International Laos

(Latest Update August 15, 2023)