Social development
Mekong dam projects ‘could destroy livelihoods, ecology’
The ecology of the Mekong River could be destroyed within 10 years if dam projects along the river are allowed to continue, Thai and Cambodian non-government organisations have warned. They have also warned that it will be very difficult for people to claim compensation for ...
New teams to settle land disputes announced
Newly appointed Minister of Land Management Chea Sophara last week established a working group comprising 27 four-man teams tasked with hastening the resolution of land disputes. According to a letter issued by the Ministry of Land Management on 5 June, each team will be assigned three ...
UNICEF pledges to improve child welfare in Laos
The United Nations Children’s Fund has committed to strongly supporting the Lao government’s efforts to improve the quality of education and healthcare as well as combat malnutrition problems in the country. Ms Hongwei Gao, UNICEF Lao PDR Representative stressed the importance of providing opportunities and a supportive ...
License freeze hits teacher graduates
The Teachers’ Council of Thailand (TCT) has decided not to issue educational administrator licences for about 2,500 master’s graduates of Bangkokthonburi University’s Educational Administration programme in 2014 after a probe found irregularities. Keep reading ...
Govt, ADB consult on new country partnership strategy
The Lao government and the Asian Development Bank have jointly discussed preparations for the new ADB Country Partnership Strategy 2017-2021, to align ADB’s support with Lao development priorities in its next five year plan. The consultation meeting was held in Vientiane on 2 June and was jointly ...
PM raises doubts on ASEAN economic community
Prime Minister Hun Sen questioned on 1 June the extent of the ASEAN Economic Community’s commitment towards forming an inclusive economic region as countries continue to compete with each other for agricultural exports and inflows of foreign direct investment. Cambodia, which was the last member to join ...
World Bank provides US$30m for fight against poverty
The World Bank has agreed to provide a low interest loan of US$30 million to fight poverty in Laos, a government source has said. The Lao government will contribute another US$6 million bringing total funding from the three sources to US$52 million. This amount will be ...
Smoking claims over 100 lives every day in Vietnam
Vietnam is among countries where smoking is most widely prevalent, losing more than 100 people a day to the habit and facing a huge financial burden, according to official figures. Statistics from the Ministry of Health show that the Vietnamese smoking population is among the biggest ...
Development partners extend support for disabled people
International development partners have agreed to continue supporting disabled people’s organisations in Laos through capacity building for the authorities and organisational capacity, promoting equity and participation among disabled people. The signing of Memorandums of Understanding on the implementation of two disability projects took place on 30 ...
Australia refines its investment in Lao people
Australia has agreed to continue to build on its support of more than five decades in Lao human resource development needs, at a high-level review meeting held in Vientiane on 27 May. Ambassador Williams told the meeting Australia was keen to build on its extensive support ...
