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CapitalVientiane
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Area236,800 km²
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Poverty rate*17% of the population live under the poverty line of $1.90 per day
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UN DEVELOPMENT INDEX*Rank: 138 out of 191
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Population6,918,000
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People supported per year82,000
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Thematic focusClimate & Disaster Resilience
Voice, Inclusion & Cohesion
Education and Vocational Skills
Private Sector Development
Advocacy
Gender & Social Equity
Laos, the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia, remains by and large a rural society. Roughly a third of the population still lives below the poverty line. Over three quarters of the population derive their livelihood from farming. Most small-holder farmers produce little, if any, surplus beyond their own needs. And yet their ecologically sound traditional farming methods hold tremendous development potential.
Advisory services for farmers
Helvetas has been working with the government since 2001 to set up an agricultural advisory system that combines expertise with the experience and know-how of local farmers. Farmer groups are now working with the authorities to make Laotian agriculture more environmentally friendly and improve its access to the market. The Laotian extension services have officially taken up this approach and are now applying it in various parts of the country.
Supporting ethnic minorities
Helvetas supports agricultural and forestry colleges all over the country. The objective is to dynamically adapt the schools to the specific local conditions and also to promote the inclusion of women and ethnic minorities. The schools teach theoretical knowledge and practical know-how, train teaching staff and develop new curricula, which include applied training. Laotian agricultural and forestry colleges are also improving their infrastructure and administration and integrating into a regional network.
Against domestic violence
Helvetas advocates for improved social inclusion in Laos. We support farmers’ and civil-society organizations as well as local parliaments with a view to fostering local development based on the principles of self-determination and social justice. We also seek to safeguard women’s rights and fight against gender based violence, because domestic violence, which is still widespread in Laos, is hushed up as a “family affair”.
Visit the website of Helvetas Laos.
The country programme in Laos is co-funded by the SDC programme contribution.
Our Projects in Laos
If you would like to know more about our work in Laos, click on each project for details.
Multimedia Stories from Asia
HELVETAS LAOS
P.O Box 6367, House No. 143
Ban Phonthan Neua, Unit 15, Rue Phonthan
01000 Vientiane Capital
Lao PDR
Phone:+856 21 263 189
E-Mail: laos@helvetas.org
Visit the website of Helvetas Laos.