Effective Governance for Small-scale Rural Infrastructure and Disaster Preparedness in a Changing Climate

What is the project about?

This project aims to increase climate resilience for vulnerable communities in Sekong and Saravan Provinces. This area has the highest poverty rates in Lao PDR – thus, communities in these provinces are especially vulnerable to floods and drought, as well as extreme climate events such as storms and flash floods, which are occurring with increasing frequency in the region. Important rural infrastructure such as irrigation channels, rainwater storage systems, check dams, roads, bridges and water supply have been damaged in storm events, most recently the 2015 Ketsana storm.The project combines improved standards in rural infrastructure with ecosystem-based adaptation, such as using road-side vegetation to protect road degradation, to contribute to the conservation of water resources and protect rural infrastructure from the impacts of climate change.

What have we accomplished so far?

This project has achieved results across three categories;

Capacity development

Developed capacity of local, district and government stakeholders through the implementation of project activities, i.e. during prioritisation and selection of infrastructure projects, design of infrastructure projects in the four selected districts, development of tender documents and finally in implementation of the four projects in Lakhonpheng, Saravane, Kaleum and Thateng districts.
‘On the job’ training has been widely successful in developing capacity of local officers and departments in climate management related planning and activities.
Implemented a capacity needs assessment leading to the development of a capacity development plan which emphasises proficiency in activities linked to project implementation.

District Development Fund

Achieved amendment to the District Development Fund Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Home Affairs and the United Nations Capital Development Fund, to include a climate resilience grant facility, with climate resilience performance criteria to be used for future fund approval and allocation.
Revised and included incentives in the District Development Fund guidelines to integrate climate resilience into the planning process of the next round of climate change preparedness and disaster risk reduction projects.

Safeguarding vulnerable ecosystems

Two ecosystem areas were selected from the 2014 Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment Report and meetings and workshops were organised to develop a management roadmap for these ecosystems.