(KPL) The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) and UNICEF Lao PDR reviewed progress and set critical priorities for 2025–2026 during their annual Joint Programme Review in Vientiane at a meeting chaired by Vice Minister of Planning and Investment Phonevanh Outhavong, and co-chaired by Mr. Bilal Aurang Zeb Durrani, UNICEF Country Representative to the Lao PDR.

The meeting, attended by over 60 representatives from government ministries and UN agencies, assessed key achievements and outlined future actions.

Mrs. Phonevanh Outhavong stated that it is an opportunity for partners to collectively hear on important issues related to child development: “Focusing on a child’s earliest years lays a strong foundation for improved health, nutrition, and cognitive development—essential for a prosperous future.”

Discussions centred on four priorities: improving child development and growth in the first 1,000 days for a better start in life, taking a life-course approach to adolescent development and participation, enhancing education and skills development to address the learning crisis, and addressing climate change’s impact on children.

Mr. Bilal Aurang Zeb Durrani stressed the importance of multi-sectoral collaboration: “Tackling issues like stunting, education quality, child marriage, and climate resilience requires joint efforts among government, development partners, civil society and others.

UNICEF remains committed to ensuring every child in Laos, especially the most vulnerable, thrives.”

In 2024, the Lao PDR and UNICEF advanced child well-being on multiple fronts. Endorsement of the Primary Healthcare Law and improvements in postnatal care helped lower neonatal mortality from 22 to 12 per 1,000 births. National immunization drives sustained strong coverage—92 per cent for Penta 1 and 83 per cent for Penta 3—shielding children from vaccine-preventable diseases.

In education, the rollout of a new pre-primary curriculum reached more than 229,000 children with a play-based, inclusive approach, complemented by the first-ever Digital Education Strategy (2026–2034), which charts a path toward expanded digital learning opportunities, even in remote areas. In addition, over 13,000 children facing violence or exploitation received legal aid, counseling, or social services, while unconditional cash transfers and assistive devices distribution reached nearly 500 vulnerable children, including children with disabilities, mitigating financial hardship and enhancing their independence and mobility. Looking forward, stakeholders identified priorities such as strengthening maternal and child healthcare, reducing malnutrition in children, accelerating education quality and reducing school dropouts, promoting adolescent well-being and protection from harm, expanding adolescent protection initiatives, and integrating climate resilience strategies into child-focused programmes. The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to ensuring sustainable outcomes for children in the Lao PDR.

KPL