(KPL) The Government of Ireland has announced €400,000 in funding to support a new initiative aimed at enhancing climate resilience and food security for women smallholder farmers in Lao PDR. The funding, provided through the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), will benefit approximately 1,000 women farmers in the country’s northern provinces.

A signing ceremony for the “Women Smallholders in Agriculture” programme took place on May 16 in Vientiane. The agreement was signed by Ireland’s Ambassador to Lao PDR, Ms. Deirdre Ní Fhallúin, and Mr. Marc-André Prost, WFP Representative and Country Director to Lao PDR. The event was witnessed by Mr. Souvanthong Namvong, Deputy Director General of the Department of Agriculture Extension and Cooperatives under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, along with other relevant officials.

The project aims to improve food and nutrition security while promoting climate-resilient agricultural practices. Special attention will be given to empowering rural women, youth, and ethnic minority groups. The initiative will focus on increasing access to diverse and nutritious foods, supporting community-based disaster risk management, and promoting financial inclusion through grants to women smallholder farmers to strengthen local production systems.

“This initiative reflects Ireland’s firm commitment to supporting the Government of Lao PDR in achieving Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 2 on ending hunger and promoting sustainable agriculture, and SDG 13 on climate action,” Ambassador Ní Fhallúin said at the launch.

“Ireland prioritises support for climate adaptation and resilience as part of our development cooperation efforts in Southeast Asia, especially in countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change,” she added. “We are especially pleased to support rural women farmers, who play a crucial role in food production and household nutrition across Lao PDR.”

Mr. Marc-André Prost expressed his appreciation for Ireland’s contribution, emphasizing the importance of addressing interconnected challenges. “Climate change is already impacting food production and livelihoods in many Lao communities,” he said. “This project introduces locally adapted solutions to help these communities not only survive but thrive in the face of climate challenges. Our collaboration with Ireland and the Government of Lao PDR underscores the need to address poverty, gender inequality, and climate change together, as they deeply affect the lives of vulnerable families.”

The project will be implemented in close coordination with the Department of Agriculture Extension and Cooperatives under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

KPL