(KPL) Access to sufficient nutrition, clean water resources and adequate sanitation are keys to the health and livelihood of the populations around the world, particularly in developing nations such as South-East Asia’s Lao PDR.

This is the overall goal of the Scaling Up Nutrition and WASH Infrastructure Project (SUNWIP), which annual meeting is held in Vientiane on Tuesday, Oct 22.

Joint efforts undertaken by the European Union and the government of the Lao PDR through SUNWIP are resulting in substantial financial and technical support benefiting the communities – and in particular the vulnerable households – of Southern Laos.

SUNWIP directly supports the Lao PDR in achieving SDG 2 “End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture” and SDG 6 “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all”. It also directly contributes to the implementation of some of the Priority Interventions of the National Nutrition Strategy to 2025 and Plan of Action 2016-2020 (NNSPA).

SUNWIP aims to effectively improve the access of households, communities, healthcare facilities and schools to water and sanitation in the Lao PDR.

The total financial commitment for the project amounts to EUR 16.95 million.

Of this amount, EUR 15 million is granted by the European Union through KfW and EUR 1.95 million is contributed by the government of the Lao PDR.

SUNWIP’s annual meeting was chaired by Deputy Minister of Public Works and Transport Vilaykham Phosalath, Vice Governor of Khammuan Province Bounmy Phimmasone, and Head of Corporation, EU Delegation to the Lao PDR Bryan Fornari.

More than 60 participants attended the meeting representing government partners from the Ministries of Finance, Planning and Investment, line ministries, provincial and district authorities as well as the European Union, KfW Vientiane Office and Headquarters.

SUNWIP was launched in June 2018 and will be completed in 2021: the Annual Meeting attendees got an overview of the main achievements of the project since its commencement and information on the planned activities during the upcoming year.

The annual meeting also allowed room for the participants to express their feedback, exchange good practices and provide guidance on the project’s next steps.

SUNWIP is expected to provide access to clean water up to 90,000 residents in Savannakhet and Khammouane provinces. Improved access to clean running water has been proven to directly and positively impact the living and health conditions of the communities, and in turn improving their nutrition status.

KPL