Development Opportunities in Rural
Laos
Kathryn Sweet
Project Advisor
Rural Women’s Project
Family Planning Australia
Vientiane, Lao PDR
Abstract:
The paper explores the development landscape in Lao PDR and the effect of its
urban bias on rural communities. It examines the experiences of rural women in
particular, and practical strategies to engage with rural women and improve
their ability to access more development opportunities. Strategies must address
geographical isolation, poor communications links, low levels of formal
education and resulting low fluency in Lao language, poor health, high birth and
maternal mortality rates, and the daily grind of agricultural subsistence.
Examples are taken from the Rural Women’s Project, jointly implemented by Family
Planning Australia and the Lao Women’s Union, in Vientiane province and
Xaysomboun Special Zone.