Midterm review meeting of PRF Phase III in Vientiane on Jun 22, 2018

(KPL) Over 2,500 villages in rural areas of fifty five districts have reportedly benefited from the Poverty Reduction Fund since 2002.

The statement was made at the mid-term review meeting of the Poverty Reduction Fund (PRF) Phase III in Vientiane on Jun 22, 2018 in the presence of Mr Chit Thavisay, Director of the PRF, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Mr Erik Johnson, Mission Leader of Mid Term Review and relevant officials.

The Poverty Reduction Fund was established in 2002, since then its poverty reduction efforts have been made in 2,185 villages in 28 poor districts of Luang Namtha, Huaphan, Xieng Khuang, Savannakhet, Saravan, Champassak, Sekong and Attapeu, benefiting more than 900,000 people.

In 2012, Luang Prabang, Oudomxay and Phongsaly Provinces were listed as new beneficiaries of the fund. In 2017, the number of communities benefiting from the fund reached ​1,820. These have a combined population of over 850,000 people.

Currently, 915 groups with 9,962 members are supported by a project worth 9.85 billion kip.

At midterm, PRF III is on track to achieve its development objective, with nearly all intermediate indicator targets already reached or within reach by year’s end.

Cycle 16 design is underway and once this cycle is complete, the target number of infrastructure sub-projects will be exceeded by nearly 10 % and number of beneficiaries exceeded by nearly 20 per cent. This significant achievement is due to a large number of newly served PRF target villages than anticipated at the time of project preparation. A technical audit has also confirmed the consistent high quality of construction.

The objective of the Project is to improve access to basic social infrastructure in regional areas through rehabilitation, construction and installation of roads, bridges, electricity and water supply facilities nationwide, thereby contributing to poverty reduction and socio-economic development of Laos.

KPL