(KPL) The Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Irish Aid, launched the LEAP Project—Enhancing Efficiency and Accessibility of Public Services in the Lao PDR.

The four-year initiative, with anticipated funding of $3 million USD from USAID and €1 million EUR from the Government of Ireland, seeks to modernize public service delivery in Lao PDR. The project focuses on ensuring equal access to essential services, particularly for citizens in underserved and remote areas.

The LEAP Project aims to streamline public service processes for greater efficiency, leverage digital tools to improve accessibility, trengthen institutional capacities to meet citizens’ needs and empower civil society organizations (CSOs) to enhance community-driven solutions and address local challenges.

Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Vilayvong Bouddakham, reaffirmed the government’s dedication to inclusive governance: "This project marks a significant step in improving public service delivery, ensuring the government’s efforts reach every corner of the country, especially those most in need."

UNDP Lao PDR Resident Representative, Martine Thérer, emphasized the project’s people-centered approach: "The LEAP Project is a critical step toward transparent, efficient public administration that puts citizens at the heart of its operations, advancing good governance and human rights."

The LEAP Project aligns with the Lao PDR’s 9th National Socio-Economic Development Plan and Sustainable Development Goal 16, which focuses on fostering transparent, accountable, and inclusive institutions.

Michael McCord, USAID Country Representative to Laos, highlighted the importance of connecting citizens with services: "ODSCs [One-Stop-Service Centers] should be more than service hubs; they should act as a bridge between people and government to ensure citizens’ needs are fully met."

Irish Ambassador Deirdre Ní Fhallúin expressed Ireland’s commitment to equitable development, "The LEAP Project will significantly contribute to building a public service system that truly serves all Lao people, particularly the most vulnerable, ensuring no one is left behind."

As the project begins implementation, the LEAP Project holds great potential to transform public service delivery in the Lao PDR, creating a system that supports inclusive, equitable, and sustainable development for all.

KPL