Reaching the Poorest in the Lao DPR
Requires Cutting Edge Approaches
Jacquelyn Chagnon
Rural Development Consultant
Participatory Development Associates
Lao PDR
Abstract:
In the mid-1990’s, the Lao government consciously began to shift its rural
development focus towards the least advantaged, least accessible, and most
war-traumatized districts of the country. In 2003 the Lao PDR’s Report on the
National Poverty Eradication Program identified through quantitative and
qualitative measures 72 poor districts out of 142. Top priority was given to 40
districts. Almost all were in remote upland areas characterized by high ethnic
diversity, low education rates, and inadequate outreach of government services.
Decidedly, these districts presented the zenith of development challenges.
Drawing from her decades of professional development experience, the writer
raises three critical challenges for reaching remote poor districts. First, how
can the critical core of indigenous development professionals emerge in these
districts, where education levels average 2-3 grades? Second, as many of the
poorest districts are plagued by high levels of unexploded ordnance (UXO), can
clearing methods be improved to meet popular demands? Third, with an underpaid,
understaffed civil service core, what alternatives are there for providing basic
health and education services in these remote, low population areas? For each
challenge, the writer highlights some cutting edge approaches being tested in
the Lao PDR.