(KPL) The Department of Water Resources (DWR), the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has conducted a series of disaster risk reduction (DRR) training workshops, focusing on empowering women and strengthening community resilience.

The workshops, held between Dece 2024 and Jan 2025, took place in four districts across Khammouane and Champasak provinces. Part of the “Enhanced Integrated Water Management and Resilience in Vulnerable Urban Areas of the Mekong River Basin” (ROK Mekong) project, the initiative trained 193 participants, including 112 women.

The primary objective of the training was to bolster community resilience in the Xe Bang Fai and Xe Don river basins. The program emphasized the involvement of women in decision-making on integrated water resources management and sanitation, addressing systemic barriers to equal participation. Participants gained entrepreneurial skills in water-related sectors and learned tools to empower women and girls, ensuring they can contribute to and benefit from community resilience efforts.

With 60% of the Mekong River flowing through the Lao PDR, the region faces challenges such as seasonal flooding, climate change impacts, and the effects of hydro dams. Women and girls, often tasked with family health and hygiene responsibilities, are disproportionately affected and frequently excluded from decision-making processes.

The workshops brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including representatives from national, provincial, and district levels, as well as local NGOs and CSOs. Community influencers, village heads, and participants from underrepresented groups—including women leaders, persons with disabilities, and ethnic minorities—were prioritized, ensuring a focus on gender equity.

Key officials such as Mr. Khamxay Khonmany, Chief of DoNRE in Sanasomboun District, and Mr. Kingkham Manivong, Deputy Director General of the DWR at MONRE, underscored the importance of women’s participation in disaster risk reduction.

The training equipped participants to develop community-specific disaster risk reduction plans, enhance knowledge-sharing systems, and identify economic opportunities in water management and sanitation. The program also integrated human rights considerations into resilience-building efforts.

By empowering women, fostering collaboration among diverse groups, and adopting a holistic approach, this initiative lays the groundwork for safer, more inclusive communities across Lao PDR, ensuring that women play a central role in shaping a resilient future.

KPL