1 Ongoing EU funded NGO activities China Yot Ou Phongsaly Phongsaly h n a h p m a S May Myanmar Sing Khoua Vietnam Namtha Na Mo Luang Namtha La k a Add B Ton Pheung Xay m Viengkham a Sobbao Meung N Oudomxay g y n Xa Beng o y th ua g Ho Phonthong n Pha Oudom Nga ie Houne Pak Ou V Bokeo Pak Seng Houaphanh Houameuang Samtay Pak Tha Pak Beng ChomphetLuangg PrabangPhonxay n a n b o ra P H g Khob Ngeune n g Hongsa a n u ie L X Nong Het Sayaboury n Nane a Xiangkhouang h t e s y a S Khoune Hom Phieng i Vangvieng Thathome ur Viengthong Borikhane boy a Vientiane L Xaychamphone k a ayaP ThongmSixay Pholhong Bolikhamsai Thoulakhom S an gt Hatsayphong ho Khamkeut ng ngSaysetha abo hott Sik Kenethao Boten Yommalath KhammouaneBoualapha Mahaxay Thakhek Sebangphay Saybouathong Viraboury Seponh Outhoumphone K h a n th a b o Nong u r Savannakhet y Ta Oy Thailand Thapangthong Toumlane Saravane Kaleum Vapy Saravane SekongLa Mam Dack Cheung Pak Se P h o Champassackn th o n g Champassack Sanamxay Attapeu INTRODUCTION 2012 marks a special year in the relations between the European Union and Lao PDR, as the Lao Government will host the 9th ASEM Summit in Vientiane. The Summit itself is a very visible political event, bringing together Heads of States and Heads of Governments from Asia and Europe. The ASEM process also pro- vides opportunities for Members of Parliaments, Business Leaders and Civil So- ciety representatives to come together. The Asia-Europe People’s Forum (AEPF), scheduled ahead of the Summit, will bring together active citizens from Europe and Asia to share their views and experiences. For the Lao civil society groups hosting the event, this will be an excellent opportunity to share their experiences and their achievements, and to learn from others from elsewhere in Asia and from Europe. The European Union strongly believes in the potential of local communities and civil society groups to make a significant contribution to a country’s development agenda. Several Member States and the EU Delegation to Laos have long-stand- ing relationships and cooperation with non-governmental and other civil society organisations as well as with local and decentralised authorities in the field of development, and we are very confident that we can strengthen and extend this further. It is therefore our great pleasure to present the 2012 edition of the “Blue Book” on EU development cooperation with Lao PDR, which is dedicated to our part- nerships with civil society organisations and local authorities in support of poverty reduction, sustainable and inclusive development and - when needed - emergency assistance to Lao PDR. We hope that this “Blue Book” provides a helpful overview and information tool for our partners in government, civil society, and the wider development community in Lao PDR. Please do not hesitate to contact us or our non-resident colleagues as listed at the end of this brochure if you have any further questions. 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. SUPPORT TO CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS IN LAO PDR: A LONG TRADITION AND CONTINUED SUCCESS 8 2. MAIN SECTORS OF COOPERATION 10 2.1 Rural Livelihoods and Food Security, Nutrition 10 Rural Livelihoods and Food Security, Nutrition 12 2.2 Emergency Assistance and disaster preparedness 13 2.3 Unexploded Ordnance 14 2.4 Natural Resources Management, Environment, Climate Change 18 2.5 Health and Education 21 2.6 Trade, Small Enterprise Development and Micro-Credit 28 2.7 Inclusion and Participation, Good Governance and Human Rights 31 2.8 Heritage Preservation and Culture 35 3 EU DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION WITH CIVIL SOCIETY/NGOS 37 3.1 The European Union 37 3.2 The European Commission 37 3.3 France 39 3.4 Netherlands 40 3.5 United Kingdom 40 3.6 Germany 40 3.7 Luxemburg 41 3.8 Ireland 41 4. ONGOING NGO ACTIVITIES WITH SUPPORT FROM EUROPEAN DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS 42 5. TO KNOW MORE 49 6. EU AND MEMBER STATE REPRESENTATION ACCREDITED TO LAO PDR 50 5 List of Abbreviations AEPF Asia-Europe People’s Forum ASEAN Association of Southeast Asian Nations ASEM Asia–Europe Meeting ASF Avocats Sans Frontières France BMZ Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (Germany) CCL Comité de Coopération avec le Laos CSO Civil Society Organisation DCI Development Cooperation Instrument DDMC District Disaster Management Committee DEVCO Development Cooperation DFA District Focused Approach DFID Department for International Development DFS District Focus Survey IfS Instrument for Stability DIPECHO Disaster Preparedness ECHO EC European Commission ECHO Humanitarian Aid Office EIDHR European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights ENRTP Environment and Sustainable Management of Natural Resources including energy EU European Union DGRV German Confederation of Cooperatives “Raiffeisen” GIZ German Society for International Cooperation HI Handicap International INGO International Non-Governmental Organization LANN Linking Agricultural, Natural resource management and Nutrition LBA Lao Bar Association LADCA Lao Development Cooperation Association Lao PDR Lao People’s Democratic Republic LDPA Lao Disabled People’s Association LHPA Lao Health Positive Association M3M Médecine pour le Tiers Monde MAG Mine Advisory Group MDG Millennium Development Goal MFI Micro-finance Institution MHP Maeying Huamjai Phattana MONRE Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment MS Member State NFE Non-Formal Education NGO Non-Governmental Organization NPA Non-Profit Association NRA National Regulatory Authority NSA Non-State Actor 6 NSA-LA Non-State Actor-Local Authority NSEDP National Social Economic Development Plan NTFP Non-Timber Forest Product ODA Official Development Assistance PHC Primary Health Care SFD Social Fund for Development SNV Netherlands Development Organisation STD Sexually transmissible diseases UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UXO Unexploded Ordnance WFDF Woman & Family Development Fund WING Women’s Income Generation and Nutrition Groups WREA Water Resource and Environment Authority WTO World Trade Organisation List of Figures Figure1: NGO Funding by sector (2011) 9 Figure2: Rural Livelihoods and Food Security, Nutrition 12 Figure3: Emergency Assistance 14 Figure4: Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) 17 Figure5: Natural Resources Management, Environment, Climate Change and Micro-credit, Small Enterprise Development and Trade 20 Figure6: Health 25 Figure7: Education 37 Figure8: Inclusion and Participation, Good Governance and Human Rights 34 Figure9: Heritage Preservation and Culture 36 List of Tables Table1: EU development cooperation in Laos channelled through NGOs 2006-2010 8 Table2: Ongoing NGO Activities with support from European Development Partners 42 In this brochure, "European Union" is understood as the European Commission and the EU Member Sates together. 7 1. SUPPORT TO CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS IN LAO PDR: A LONG TRADITION AND CONTINUED SUCCESS upport to development in Lao PDR by Interna The Lao Red Cross has also been an important partner Stional Non-Governmental Organisations (IN- for INGOs and international donors providing emergency GOs) goes back to the 1990s. The INGO decree of 1998 assistance. Since 2009 some 70 organisations have ap- (ref. 71/PM) (amended in January 2010 (ref.13/PM)) plied for NPA registrations. Of these, 17 have completed provides the legal basis for their operation. At least 75 the process. According to the latest official figures about INGOs are currently operating in the country, of which 30 80 NPAs are provisionally registered, either at central or have roots in Europe. provincial level. The European Union encourages opera- tional partnerships between registered international and In April 2009, the promulgation of a decree on Non-Prof- national NGOs, with an emphasis on strengthening the it Associations (Ref. no. 115/2009), allowed for the for- capacity of local NGOs. mation and registration of national civil society organi- sations, the so-called Non-Profit Associations (NPAs). From 2006 to 2010 the share of funding provided by the These NPAs can now operate in addition to the Mass EU to Laos through NGOs has grown steeply from 3% in Organisations of the Lao Socialist Party, such as the 2006 to 17 % in 2010 (see Table 1). The EU supports a Lao Women’s Association or the Lao Youth Organisa- total of 77 NGOs in Laos, of which 63 are international tion. Mass organisations have always been important NGOs and Red Cross organisations (93% of funding) counterparts for INGOs and other organisations imple- and 14 are Lao organisations (with 7% of funding). menting development projects with local communities. Table 1: EU development cooperation in Laos channelled through NGOs 2006-2010 EU ODA to Laos EU funding through NGOs NGO funding as % of EU ODA Year (€ Million) (€ million) 2006 58.02 1.5 2.6% 2007 71.81 4.9 6.8% 2008 65.32 5.1 7.8% 2009 59.23 11.8 19.9% 2010 51.13 8.8 17.2% 2011 58.02 7.0 12.1% The role of NGOs in supporting national development in Laos is significant, especially in service provision at sub-na- tional level. NGOs supported by the EU are active in 16 sectors. Health, education, rural (community) development, emergency response and food security comprise approximately 75% of EU-funded NGO activities. 8 Figure1: NGO Funding by sector (2011) NGO funding by sector (2011) 2,500 2,000 1,500 1,000 000's € 500 - UXO Health Culture Gender Education Agriculture Biodiversity Food Security Other Multisector Emergency Response Population Pol./Progr... Government & Civil S... Business & WaterOther Ser...supply & sanitation Community and Socia... Sector In 2010, around €24 million, or 8%, of OECD ODA to vincial and local governments (the main counterparts for Laos was implemented through NGOs. This amount has NGO-implemented projects). It will increase understand- doubled since 2006. Approximately 30% of this has been ing of the aid effectiveness agenda, and emphasise the provided by the EU. importance of strengthening partnerships and coopera- tion to increase the impact of aid.