KPL
The High-Level Meeting of the Joint Steering Committee (JSC) on the Cooperation Framework for Sustainable Development between the Government of the Lao PDR and the United Nations (UN) for the period 2022–2026 was held on October 21, 2025, under the co-chairmanship of Mr. Anouphab Vongnokheo, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Bakhodyr Burkhanov, UN Resident Coordinator in Laos. Representatives from relevant ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and UN agencies attended the meeting.
Co-chaired by Anouparb Vongnorkeo, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Bakhodir Burkhanov, UN Resident Coordinator, the meeting brought together senior officials from key ministries — including Foreign Affairs, Finance, Education and Sports, Health, Industry and Commerce, Justice, Labor and Social Welfare, and Public Works and Transport — along with members of the UN Country Team.
This year’s JSC carried special significance as it followed the completion of the independent Evaluation Report of the Cooperation Framework and the UN in Lao PDR Management Response. The findings will inform the strategic direction of the UN’s next Cooperation Framework, ensuring alignment with the Government’s 10th National Socio-Economic Development Plan (NSEDP).
In his opening remarks, Deputy Minister Anouparb Vongnorkeo underscored the importance of the review process: “The Joint Steering Committee is a vital mechanism to ensure that our partnership with the United Nations continues to deliver tangible results for the Lao people. I am pleased to note the joint achievements under the Lao PDR–UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework as we enter the final year of the 9th NSEDP. I am confident that together, we can further advance sustainable and inclusive growth across all sectors.”
The independent evaluation presentation highlighted key achievements, identified areas for improvement, and outlined priorities for future engagement amid a constrained financing environment. It emphasized the importance of innovation, partnerships, and domestic resource mobilization to sustain progress.
In response, the UN outlined strategic actions to strengthen coordination, enhance synergies among agencies, and build national capacities to achieve sustainable results.
The meeting also reviewed the 2025 Joint Work Plan and discussed emerging priorities for 2026, presented by the four Results Groups under the Framework — People’s Wellbeing; Inclusive Prosperity; Governance and Rule of Law; and Environment, Climate Change and Resilience. Each group shared progress updates and strategies to sustain momentum as the Lao PDR prepares for its graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status.
Participants also examined the impacts of declining Official Development Assistance (ODA) on UN-supported programmes, emphasizing the need for innovative financing mechanisms to preserve development gains.
Reaffirming the UN’s long-term commitment to Lao PDR, Mr. Bakhodir Burkhanov stated: “This year marks seventy years of partnership between Lao PDR and the United Nations — a milestone that reflects the depth and value of our cooperation. As we enter the final phase of the current Cooperation Framework, our shared focus is on sustaining progress, mobilizing resources, and shaping the next cycle of partnership aligned with the 10th NSEDP and Lao PDR’s smooth transition from LDC status.”
This year’s JSC also coincides with two major milestones — the 70th anniversary of Lao PDR’s membership in the United Nations and the 80th anniversary of the UN’s founding— highlighting a longstanding partnership committed to advancing an inclusive, prosperous, and resilient future for all.
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