The focus of UNDP work under this pillar has evolved to better reflect the significant economic progress in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic over the last twenty years.

While poverty rates have fallen, there are still significant pockets of deprivation across population groups and geographies that speaks to the need to develop policies that increasingly promote inclusive growth. UNDP work is informed by the need to ensure a mutually reinforcing link between policies and programmes based on concrete evidence of what works at scale. If there is improved macro-fiscal management, evidence-based and territorial development planning and prioritization of public investments in social and green sectors, the country will shift to a more inclusive and more environmentally responsible, climate-resilient development pathway.

Resilient and gender-responsive social protection systems will protect people from falling back into poverty and ensure development progress, even if disasters and shocks hit.

In Depth

UNDP will also explore innovative solutions, including digital, to rally different actors to improve synergies in sectoral and local plans. UNDP will support vulnerable groups – women, young people, persons with disabilities, ethnic groups and those impacted by unexploded ordnance – in the poorest districts to gain increased access to vocational training (TVET), jobs and entrepreneurship opportunities, with a particular focus on innovation and technology.

This translates into the CPD outcome: By 2026, people, especially the most vulnerable and marginalized, will benefit from more inclusive, resilient, transformative, and sustainable socioeconomic and demographic opportunities to reduce poverty and inequalities by:

• Strengthening national capacities for the development, financing and implementation of pro-poor/green growth policies, including a comprehensive social protection system, thereby contributing to COVID-19 recovery
• Leveraging its signature solutions on keeping people out of poverty, environment and gender equality to ensure pro-poor and inclusive growth strategies, including in COVID-19 recovery plans
• Continuing to promote green growth policies that encourage shifts towards sustainable consumption and integrate circular economy principles
• Continuing support to the unexploded ordnance sector (SDG18), especially the National Regulatory Agency (NRA), and help increase the sector’s contribution to a broader inclusive growth strategy with a particular focus on the country’s poorest districts.  

UNDP will complement its support to national policy development and evidence-based planning by leveraging relationships with sectoral ministries and provincial authorities to address planning and implementation bottlenecks. UNDP will help select ministries establish regular and quality reporting on SDG implementation, including on SDG indicators.