Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR – From June 16 to 27, 2025, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) conducted a comprehensive review mission for the Sustainable Rural Infrastructure and Watershed Management Sector Project across three key provinces in Lao PDR: Houphan, Luang Prabang, and Xayabouly. The mission’s core objective was to meticulously follow up on the advancement of the project’s four main outputs, which are strategically designed to foster sustainable, market-oriented agricultural production and enhance natural resource management within selected watershed areas.
The ADB delegation, serving as the project’s key loaner and fund donor, was spearheaded by Mr. Omer Zafar, Principal Natural Resources and Agriculture Specialist. He was accompanied by a cadre of essential project officers, Madam Bounthien Vongkaysone, the Deputy Director General, who serves as the project advisor, and members of the Program Governance Team (PGT:DOI). The team undertook extensive visits to various beneficiary project locations, engaging directly and meaningfully with local communities, with a particular emphasis on fostering dialogue with female beneficiaries to understand their unique perspectives and contributions.
The immersive field visits provided crucial insights into the tangible impacts and ongoing implementation of the project components:
- Houphan Province: The mission critically assessed the progress in nutrition villages located within Xamneua and Sopbao Districts. These initiatives fall under Output 4, which focuses on improving nutrition awareness, access to nutritious food, and enhancing community health facilities, with implementation support from SNV.
- Luang Prabang Province: The team meticulously inspected the slope protection site at Nam Seng Representative Sub Project (RSP), observing the effectiveness of interventions aimed at mitigating soil erosion and land degradation. Subsequently, fruitful discussions were held with local production groups in Nan District, evaluating their progress in adopting market-oriented agricultural practices and their contribution to broader watershed protection efforts.
- Xayabouly Province: The delegation’s itinerary included visits to the Nam Phieng RSP and its associated production groups, alongside the Huay Khaen Aadditional Sub Project (ASP) and its production groups. These visits were instrumental in reviewing advancements in sustainable agricultural techniques, infrastructure development, and the overall capacity building of local farming communities.
Following the comprehensive field assessments, a pivotal kick-off meeting was convened on Monday, June 23, 2025, to synthesize initial findings and establish a shared understanding of priorities. The mission culminated in a productive wrap-up meeting on June 27, 2025. Both crucial meetings were held at the Department of Irrigation, centrally located in Anou Village, Vientiane Capital.
The outcomes of these strategic meetings were highly constructive, leading to the formulation of detailed and actionable plans for each project team. These plans are clearly delineated with specific due dates and timelines, ensuring accountability and measurable progress. All participating teams have expressed their unwavering commitment to diligently execute these plans, striving to propel the project towards its successful completion and ensure the delivery of significant, long-term socio-economic and environmental benefits to villages across the four project provinces of Lao PDR.
