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UNICEF’s Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, Mr. Sanjay Wijesekera, met senior members of the Government of the Lao PDR in Vientiane this week, calling for sustained investment in children as the country prepares to graduate from Least Developed Country (LDC) status in November.
The visit reaffirmed UNICEF’s partnership of more than five decades with the Lao PDR, with discussions focused on protecting gains for children and ensuring they continue to benefit from the country’s development progress.
Mr Wijesekera paid a courtesy call on Mrs Aly Vongnobountham, President of the Lao Women's Union and Standing Vice-Chairperson of the National Commission for the Advancement of Women, Mothers and Children. Their discussion focused on the Union's reach into communities across the country and its role in the new Country Programme (2027–2031) — including on immunisation, parenting support and outreach on adolescent wellbeing — and on the shared commitment to advancing the rights of women and children in Lao PDR.
The forthcoming Country Programme for 2027–2031 is aligned with the Government's 10th National Socio-Economic Development Plan and focuses on four areas: the first 1,000 days of life; learning and skills; adolescent empowerment and inclusion; and a safe and clean environment for children.
The Regional Director also paid a courtesy call on Mr Anouparb Vongnorkeo, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. Their discussion covered the forthcoming UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2027–2031) and the Lao PDR's engagement with UNICEF's Executive Board, of which it is currently a member.
At the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Wijesekera met Mr. Soulivath Souvannachoumkham, Deputy Minister of Finance, to discuss sustaining public investment in children as the country prepares for LDC graduation. The Lao PDR has reduced national poverty from 18.3 per cent in 2019 to 15 per cent in 2025, but poverty continues to disproportionately affect children, with 22.9 per cent of children under five living in nationally poor households.
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"The Lao PDR has made real progress in reducing poverty," said Mr. Wijesekera. "What matters now is making sure every child shares in it, including the very youngest. Sustained investment in children, through this transition and beyond, is what is now needed. UNICEF will continue to support the Government to help protect and build on the gains made for children."
During the visit, Mr. Wijesekera also met young people from UNICEF's Youth Advocate Network, whose work spans the prevention of child marriage, climate action and digital skills, and witnessed health support to children and mothers in a local hospital.
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