Laos_Sustainable Rural Infrastructure and Watershed Management Sector Project

The core problem of the agriculture, natural resources and rural development sector in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) can be summarized as low agricultural productivity, quality, diversity, and unrealized trade potential, with a rapidly eroding natural resource production base due to physical, economic, and capacity constraints.

Climate change impacts are exacerbating losses in agriculture investments, increasing the risks of food insecurity, poverty, and inequality. The proposed Sustainable Rural Infrastructure and Watershed Management Sector Project (the project) will increase the profitability of the agriculture, natural resources and rural development sector to be aligned with the following impact: sustainable and inclusive rural development achieved. Its outcome will be sustainable, market oriented agricultural production and natural resources management in selected watersheds enhanced. The project has three outputs:

(i) productive rural infrastructure (PRI) upgraded to be climate resilient, efficient, and sustainable;

(ii) land use management within the PRI scheme watersheds improved; and

(iii) institutional arrangements and capacity for good agriculture practices and sustainable watershed management improved.