Locations
Solar Power in Champone district, Savannakhet, Lao PDR
Fifteen kilometers from Kaysone Phomvihane city, Phiaka Village had long struggled with drought. Year after year, families fought to keep their farms alive as dry seasons stretched longer and water remained scarce. Their only lifeline was electric water pumps, but the high costs drained their already limited incomes. For many, farming became a gamble—one they were losing.
Bounmy, a 52-year-old farmer, knew this struggle all too well. He had spent his life tied to the land, but with only enough water to farm once a year, survival was uncertain.
Mr. Bounmy
“We wanted to grow more, but the electricity bills were too high. If we pumped water, we couldn’t afford other necessities. If we didn’t, our crops died.”
Some years, he and others in the village were forced to leave their fields behind, searching for temporary work in the city to feed their families.
About 60% of the Mekong River flows through Lao PDR, providing food, water, and transportation for millions. However, the country has long faced the devastating effects of climate change, caught between cycles of severe drought and intense flooding. Floods take homes and crops with little warning, while droughts threaten water supplies and food security. These climate shocks threaten over 70% of the livelihoods of the Lao population who depend on agriculture, pushing many rural families deeper into poverty and forcing migration to cities and neighboring countries for alternative incomes. For small farming communities like Phiaka, extreme weather patterns have made survival even more challenging and uncertain.
Thanks to the Integrated Water Resources Management and Ecosystem-based Adaptation (IWRM-EbA) project supported by UNDP, Phiaka village now has access to reliable and cost-free solar electricity. A solar-powered irrigation system has been installed, turning challenges into opportunities. Suddenly, water became abundant, accessible, and free. Through this initiative, UNDP is supporting over 17,000 people, beyond the Phiaka village, with the power of clean energy and sustainable solutions. It is a story of resilience, transformation, and hope—a future shaped not by drought and hardship, but by the promise of what’s possible when a community is given the tools to succeed.
The story of Phiaka Village is just one example of how a strategic investment in sustainable solutions can transform communities. UNDP core funding has been instrumental in driving progress by supporting project development and unlocking large-scale financing for climate resilience. It played a crucial role in shaping the concept and secured over USD 5 million from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) with an additional 5% of core contribution to the project. This strategic financial support helped enhance national and local capacities to better manage watersheds and urban environments, reduce climate risks and improve livelihoods through ecosystem-based solutions and adapted infrastructure.
UNDP is committed to shaping a more resilient and prosperous future for Lao PDR by laying the groundwork for meaningful, lasting development. Every dollar invested acts as a catalyst, turning bold ideas into tangible, self-sustaining solutions that empower communities, strengthen livelihoods, and drive long-term growth. This commitment goes beyond immediate impact. It builds the momentum for broader support, unlocking new opportunities, the systems, and capacities needed to ensure progress continues.
