Mr Khamjane Vongphosy, Minister of the Ministry of Planning and Investment (R)and Ms Mariam A. Khan, UNFPA Representative at the meeting in Vientiane on Nov 17

(KPL) Lao Statistic Bureau (LSB), Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), in collaboration with United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), today organised the 3rd Stakeholders Briefing on the preparation of the 5th Population and Housing Census (PHC) "Counting Everyone, Because Everyone Counts".

.LSB shared the latest information about the 5th PHC 2025 preparation plan, including the estimated budget, planned digital data collection innovations and time frame. The meeting brought together key partners such as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the World Bank (WB), representatives from Government sectors, Development partners, Embassies, and private sectors.

“The government of the Lao PDR is highly committed to continuing the implementation of the nation-wide Population and Housing survey in 2025. We have been responsible for coordinating with all stakeholders to conduct the survey and complete its objectives within the expected outcomes. This 5th Census is crucial in evaluating the success of and preparing the 9th and 10th National Socio-Economic Development Plans to graduate from the Least Developed Country Status and achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” said Mr Khamjane Vongphosy, Minister of the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

Human capital and well-being are the most critical assets for sustainable development. Therefore, accurate, timely and disaggregated population data is instrumental in monitoring human capital's status and Sustainable Development Goals.

Ms Sara Sekkenes, the UN Resident Coordinator, further explained, “Generating and better use of data is integral to our future and our journey toward the achievement of the SDGs begins with a vision of making our organizations data-driven and our work evidence-based. In building a whole-of-UN data ecosystem, we are supporting our partners in the Lao PDR to maximise the value of data, unlock the potential of user data competitive decisions and deliver stronger support to people and the planet in the moment that matters the most. High-Frequency Data is an example of using census and other sources of data to monitor the status of the most vulnerable groups, especially women and girls in the Lao PDR, ensuring their rights, dignity and well-being are protected in challenging times."

“A Population and Housing Census requires timely and accurate planning, financing and monitoring.   Delays in financing will significantly affect the implementation of the census and hamper access to quality data, which in turn limits the possibility of decisions and policies to be based on data. With LSB we planned well, now we count on the active involvement of key stakeholders, including media, to adhere to the census timetable and commit support to the census implementation. UNFPA will bring its global and regional expertise and UNFPA invites partners to invest now in the PHC 2025,” said Ms Mariam A. Khan, UNFPA Representative.

The Population and Housing Census is among the most complex and large peacetime exercises a country undertakes where every person is counted; with strictly sequenced interventions, a delay in any intervention has a knock-on effect on subsequent ones. Therefore, all sectors and people are encouraged to participate and contribute to the PHC process.

KPL