The meeting was co-chaired by Thatsaka Saphangthong, Director General of the Department of Rural Development and Poverty Eradication, and Kenichi Nishikawa Chavez, Senior Economist and Task Team Leader at the World Bank.

Participants included directors and deputy directors of departments, division heads and deputy heads, representatives from relevant ministries and agencies, World Bank experts and officials from the project coordination office.

The review focused on assessing overall progress in project implementation, identifying lessons learned and addressing obstacles that could affect the project’s completion. Discussions also covered compliance with legal, financial, environmental and social regulations, as well as coordination among ministries on corrective measures.

Phase II of the project is designed to improve livelihoods and reduce malnutrition among vulnerable families through conditional cash transfer assistance.

Implemented by the Department of Rural Development and Poverty Eradication, the program targets poor households identified under Decree No. 348 and the Proxy Means Test system with scores of 50% or below.

Priority beneficiaries include pregnant women and children under the age of two, particularly during the first 1,000 days of life, with the aim of improving access to quality health and nutrition services.

KPL