UNODC is currently operating the following projects in the Lao PDR:

(Global Project) - The Global Partnership On Alternative Development (GLO/I44)

The Global Partnership on Alternative Development contributes to sustainable reduction and prevention of expansion of illicit crop cultivation, with a main strategy to strengthen the capacity of participating governments and development entities to mainstream AD and to integrate it into national and regional development plans and programmes. The participating governments having laid out policies and strategies to reduce illicit crop cultivation, the project is implemented by providing governments with advisory and technical services while mainstreaming strategic AD in corporation with other development entities.  Read more...

NEW - Increasing Food Security and Promoting Licit Crop Production and Small Farmer Enterprise Development in the Lao PDR (XSP/K26)

The project is oriented to addressing the pressing needs related to the current opium scenario, specifically focusing on poverty alleviation through improving food security levels in selected communities in Oudomxay province in Lao PDR.  This project  will target interventions in the areas of i) food security and increasing legal production of agriculture for food security and income generation ii) development of small farmer associations and cooperatives iii) prevention of opium production, consumption and treatment.  Read more...

A balanced approach to opium elimination in Lao PDR: Programme Facilitation Unit (LAO/F13)

The Programme Facilitation Unit forms the coordinating, monitoring and supporting backbone of the Lao National Opium Elimination Strategy entitled "A Balanced Approach to Opium Elimination in Lao PDR". The PFU supports the formulation, preparation, implementation, coordination and monitoring of provincial programme modules, that have to date reduced the areas planted with opium poppy and decreased opium production by 94% and reduced the abuse of opium in the Northern Lao PDR through a combination of alternative development, demand reduction and law enforcement activities. Read more...

Social and economic rehabilitation of former opium poppy growing communities in Oudomxay Province (LAO/I28)

The project assists the Government of the Lao PDR to identify and propagate alternative livelihoods for ex-poppy growing communities. The project complements programmes in the Northern Lao PDR in the frameworkof the GoL's "National Opium Elimination Strategy". Beyond the elimination of opium production and the reduction of opium abuse, the propagation of alternative livelihood development for former addicts and opium farmers is crucial for poverty alleviation as specified in the National Growth and Poverty Eradication Strategy (NGPES). The project strategy is building on three major components to contribute to an economically viable alternative development: (i) Community organization and opium rehabilitation; (ii) vocational training and technical support and (iii) improved marketing and income generation.  Read more...

Houaphan alternative development programme module - HADP (LAO/H98)

The project extends the achievements of the UNODC Village-Based Development Components in the ADB Shifting Cultivation and Stabilisation Pilot Project in Houaphan Province (Micro Project) that was implemented between July 2000 and December 2006. The project, which is designed to lift people out of poverty and is consistent with the efforts to attain the Millennium Development Goals, will focus on providing assistance to former opium planting communities so as to promote village based organisations, alternative sustainable livelihoods, drug demand reduction, village saving and credit groups (VSCG), gender mainstreaming, community-based treatment and the development of community infrastructure.  Read more...

Phongsaly Alternative Development Fund - PADF (LAO/I32)

This project assists the government of the Lao PDR to extend sustainability of opium elimination and poverty reduction to approximately 10,000 persons (1,600 households) in 30 villages in the districts of Koua and May in Phongsaly province by providing community based participatory alternative development activities, drug demand reduction, law enforcement and civic awareness programmes to the target communities. Activities include reinforcing essential drug control activities in Xamphan district, treatment and rehabilitation of opium addicts, drug prevention campaigns, creation of an alternative development savings and credit fund, capacity building for Government staff as well as improvement of the social and economic livelihoods of former opium poppy farmers.  On completion of the project, opium addiction is expected to be eliminated, abuse of ATS will measurably decrease and targeted household income will have increased by 50% as a way to prevent return to the practice of opium cultivation in a province that had the highest area of opium poppy cultivation and addiction in the country. Best practices identified will contribute to poverty reduction and sustaining opium elimination efforts in other parts of the country.  Read more...

Expansion of vocational training and occupational therapy opportunities at the Somsanga Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre (Lao/F13 Sub-Project)

The objective of this project is to continue improving the administration and the vocational training and occupational therapy capacities at the Somsanga Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre in Vientiane capital. One component of the project consists in renovating facilities in order to reach basic standards of hygiene and comfort. This is necessary for the patients to be able to seriously challenge their drug addiction. The second component of the project is to improve the vocational, recreational and occupational training capacities of the centre which keep recovering drug users occupied and productive and encourage them to learn and develop new skills, which results in them having more self-confidence when looking for employment, as well as managing their lives and future without drugs. This will cut down the currently high relapse rate; with less users returning to the centre.  Read more...

Reduce the spread of HIV harm associated with Injecting Drug Use amongst men and women in the Lao PDR: HAARP Country Flexible Program Lao PDR (Lao/K18)

This project is part of the HIV/AIDS Asia Regional Program (HAARP), a regional initiative funded by the government of Australia. The HAARP CFP (Country Flexible Program) for Laos will be implemented by UNODC as lead agency with WHO as main UN partner. The project aims to strengthen both the Lao National Commission for Drug Control (LCDC) and the Ministry of Health (MoH) capacities to effectively and efficiently deliver harm reduction services for drug users especially to Injecting Drug Users (IDUs).The CFP Laos aims to reduce the spread of HIV harms associated with injecting drug use and help prevent the initiation of injecting behavior.  Read more...

Strengthening of the legal and law enforcement institutions to prevent and combat human trafficking (LAO/R76)

The project aims at strengthening the capacity in the Lao PDR of the criminal justice institutions, including the judiciary, and the government law enforcement bodies to prevent, investigate and prosecute cases of trafficking in human beings and related forms of organized crimes, including the enhancing of international co-operation. The project assesses the needs to implement the "Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, particularly Women and Children", supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. The project's main objective is to enhance the criminal justice mechanisms and law enforcement against trafficking in human beings. This will take place through proposed amendments to the criminal law structures, training for criminal justice practitioners and law enforcement in order to strengthen the country's capacity to investigate, prosecute and convict traffickers.  Read more...

Development of the Drug Law Enforcement Strategy (LAO/I95)

The project addresses the need to improve the operational capacities of the law enforcement agencies and help the Government to develop its National Drug Law enforcement strategy. As a result, a national drug law enforcement programme strategy and action plan are being be developed. Training needs as well as a core of law enforcement trainers are identified, laying the foundation for a sustained improvement in law enforcement capacities in the Lao PDR.  Read more...