Improving the Lives of Children through Development Programmes in Champassak Province

The Provincial Rural Development and Poverty Eradication Office of Champassak Province and World Vision in the Lao PDR (WVL) have signed Memorandums of Understanding for a total USD 3,624,826 million to implement two Area Development Programmes (ADP) in Mounlapamok and Soukhuoma Districts. These five year programmes, from July 2012 to July 2017, are funded by private donor contributions through World Vision in Canada. Development activities will target 20 villages, a population of 18,022, in Soukhuoma District, and 21 villages, a total population 20,876, in Mounlapamok District.

WVL began working in Champassak Province in 1991 and has implemented various projects including a famine relief project, food for work project, community based disaster management project, several integrated rural development projects, a project for the disabled, HIV & AIDS prevention and care project, water supply and sanitation projects, and a variety of health projects. World Vision has also repaired and constructed several primary schools.

Mounlapamok and Soukhuoma Districts of Champassak are two of the 47 poorest districts in the country according to the Government of the Lao PDR. This dire poverty takes a toll on the lives of children in their health, physical and intellectual development, education opportunities, and prospects for future livelihoods. Early childhood malnutrition raises concerns for food security, with the major problem in the area caused by low rice yields and lack of other food sources or family incomes. Children suffer as a result, with one serious consequence being the large number of children and youth migrating or being trafficked across borders to work and supplement family incomes.

The development programmes in these two districts will emphasise child focused development and monitoring of child wellbeing. Programmes will address the need for food security and family income generation through improved agricultural productivity, alternative crops and livestock, and also provide vocational skills development. The activities will include constructing several schools to improve access to education in villages that do not have schools, and improvements to the quality of education in existing schools which need repairs, have material shortages and need teacher training. Urgent health care needs of the children and their families will be alleviated by better access to mother and child, and general health services, as well as clean water and sanitation.

Oversight for these programmes will be under the Provincial Rural Development and Poverty Eradication Office in Champassak, and will involve other relevant provincial-level departments. The District Administrative Authorities, the District Rural Development and Poverty Eradication Office, District Agriculture and Forestry Office, the District Education Office, District Health Office and District Labour and Social Welfare Office of Mounlapamok and Soukhuoma Districts, together with the targeted communities will be intimately engaged in the project planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of the programme. The ADP programmes will also involve counterparts in village development youth groups, women’s groups, children's clubs and other community based organisations.