The Sub-Regional Conference on Poverty

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• The Sub-Regional Conference on Poverty
  Environment Nexus Research Findings
• June 21-22, 2006, Vientiane Capital City

LAO PEN RESEARCH FINDINGS
Lao PEN Team
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OUTLINE

• Targeted Areas
• Methodology
• Objectives
• Institutional Arrangement
• Outcomes
• Selected findings from national analysis
• Research Findings
• 7.1. NTFPs
• 7.2 Roads
• 7.3 UXOs
• 7.4. Rural WS
• 7.5. rban WS
• VIII. Conclusion
• ix. Suggestions

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• I. Targeted Areas

Nhot Ou District Road and Rural WSS Studies
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Namor District NTFPs and Rural WSS Studies
Kaleum District and Lamam Municipality Road, UXO
and Urban WSS Studies
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Phouvong District NTFPs and Rural WSS Studies
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Poverty incidence and government priority
districts for poverty eradication
of villages with high UXO
Government priority districts 1998
District poverty incidence in 1998
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Four remote and very poor districts and two poor
district towns
Target districts Forest Cover () Poor HH () Villages with school () HH with paddy field () Villages with the risks of UXOs () Villages with roads access () Village with safe water supply ( ) Villages with an improved sanitation facilities () Market access
Kaleum 90 96.4 50.5 68 - 65.5 6.9 3 limited
Phouvong 83 92.1 40 77 - 4 8 1 Limited
Namor 23 55 68.7 82 0 52.5 15 23 good
Nhot Ou 70 54.9 83.9 86 0 34.5 6 1 less good
Lamam 82 34.5 93 65 0 72.1 43 27 good
Phongsaly 81 60 84 88 0 50 61 23 good
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II. Methodology

• A Policy Research with a dual approach (i) a
  national analysis using district and province
  data and (ii) five case studies in four poorest
  districts and two municipalities in the North and
  the South of the Lao PDR
• Structured Case Studies with (i) four levels
  provincial, district, village and households and
  (ii) attention to linkages between case studies
• Each Case Study has followed eight steps (i)
  Matrix of Issues (ii) National datasets (iii)
  District Profiles (iv) Sampling (selection of
  villages and households) (v) Preparation of
  field work activities (field work plan) (vi)
  Questionnaires (two types of questionnaires
  households and villages) (vii) Data Analysis
  (use of SPSS and Excel in field data analysis)
  and (viii) Preparation of Outputs
• Outcomes have been integrated into the country
  main report by ERI

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III. Objectives

• 3.1 Overall Objectives

1. To deepen the analytical basis for specific PEN
   issues at local levels

1. To mainstream the findings in Lao PDR poverty
   eradication policy and plan

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To provide on the job training to Lao PEN Team
4. To contribute to the overall understanding of
PEN in the sub region (Cambodia, China, Lao PDR
and Vietnam)
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• 3.2. Specific Objectives

1. To provide most relevant data / information and
   policy guidance for the National and Provincial
   Committee on Poverty Eradication

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• 2.a. Identify the main pressures of environment
  degradation which are barriers to poverty
  eradication efforts in targeted Districts (e.g.
  lack of water supply and NTFPs decline)

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• 2.b. Identify solutions to alleviate poverty,
  including women and children, while preserving
  the environment

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3. To effectively contribute to the National and
Provincial Programs on Poverty Eradication
through the improvement of health care (WSS),
access to roads,, development of the agriculture
sector and to use in a sustainable manner the
national natural resources (NTFPS, water,), UXO
issues
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3.a. To sustain the richness of NTFPs which serve
as a main source of income and food security for
the poor households (Namo and Phouvong Districts)
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• 3.b. To allow Infrastructure Development to
  contribute to poverty reduction while avoiding
  impact on natural resources (Nhot Ou and Kaleum
  Districts)

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• 3.c. To contribute to greater understanding and
  awareness of UXO impacts on poverty, development
  and natural resource management (Kaleurm
  district).

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• 3.d. To ensure good water supply and sanitation
  system in rural areas (Nhot Ou, Namo, Kaleum and
  Phouvong Districts) and urban areas (Phongsaly
  and Laman Municipalities)

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IV. INSTITTUTIONAL ARRANGEMENT
WB
NGPES
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• V. OUTCOMES

• Importance of environment and poverty linkages
  related to each of 5 case studies has been
  documented
• Better understanding of these linkages by filling
  knowledge gaps has been gained
• Production of suggestions of national relevance
  based on solid evidence from national analysis
  and case study findings
• Programs and/or projects related to each case
  study have been listed out
• Local capacity in undertaking the Environment
  Poverty Research as well coordination between
  relevant local institutions have been
  strengthened
• Sharing experiences and gained knowledge on PEN
  with relevant persons and institutions from
  Cambodia, China, Thailand, Vietnam and other
  international organizations.

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• VI. SELECTED FINDINGS FROM NATIONAL ANALYSIS

Poverty environment indicator Estimated Number of People Affected Estimated Number of People Affected
Poverty environment indicator of non-poor population of poor population
Lack of water supply (using open water sources) 20 30
Lack of sanitation (no latrine) 40 70
UXO Contamination (1997) 20 28
Household use of Solid fuels/indoor air pollution 95 98
Malaria Incidence (confirmed cases 1999-2001) 0.2-0.4 1.0-2.0
Flood (1995-97 and 2002) 5 1
Drought (1995-97) 0.2 1.7
Urban environment Na lt10-15
No Access to Road 15 30
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• VII. CASE STUDY FINDINGS

7.1. Study linkages between Non-Timber Forest
Products and Poverty Findings (See detail in
NTFPs case Study presentation) 7.2. Study on
linkages between Infrastructure Development (Road
construction) and Poverty Alleviation Findings
(see detail in road (see detail in road case
study presentation) 7.3. Study on linkages
between UXO and Poverty Findings (see detail in
UXO case study presentation) 7.4. Study linkages
between Sustainability of Rural Water Supply and
Sanitation Systems and Poverty Findings (see
detail in case study of rural water supply and
sanitation) 7.5. Study linkages between Urban
Water Supply and Sanitation Systems Poverty
Findings (see detail in case study on urban
water supply)
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VIII. Conclusion
NEXUS
E N V I R O N M E N T
P O V E R T Y

• deeply dependent on natural resources
• Limited arable land for permanent agriculture
• less resources to cope with difficult times
  (shortage of rice, diseases and natural disaster
  impacts)
• Poor education (lack of skills for alternative
  income, unable to adapt to the change, inability
  to treat epidemic diseases)
• Rich NTFPs (realize on natural resources for
  surviving)
• Lack of access road (limited market oriented)
• Limited access to safe water supply and
  sanitation facilities (more exposed to disease,
  such as water borne disease)

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VIII. Conclusion (cont.)
NEXUS
E N V I R O N M E N T
P O V E R T Y

• 2. The PEN study confirms that environment is a
  Pillar to Poverty Eradication and Sustainable
  Development of Laos
• providing natural resources for economic
  activities
• regulating life supporting functions for humans
  such as purification of air or water, mitigation
  of floods and droughts, decomposition of wastes,
  generation and renewal of soil and
• enriching cultural and religious services such as
  spiritual components, aesthetic values, social
  relations, education and scientific values

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VIII. Conclusion (cont.)
NEXUS
E N V I R O N M E N T
P O V E R T Y

• 3. There are Main Environmental Pressures arising
  from economic growth
• Unsustainable economic activities under pressure
  from poverty burden on local authorities and
  communities
• Limited relevant legislation and weak
  implementation and management
• Increasing market demand including transboundary
  issues
• Financial constraints and limited human resource
  capacity
• Lack of awareness of private sector on the
  importance of natural resources
• But good local community understanding of the
  importance of natural resources

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• IX. Suggestions
• Use environment resources such as land, forest,
  biodiversity and water in a sustainable manner in
  consistency with National Growth and Poverty
  Eradication Strategy
• In particular, sector strategies and national
  programs including UXOs, Road, Education, Health,
  Culture and Environment activities should be
  consistent with NGPES
• Enforce existing legislation and promulgate new
  and relevant regulations related to natural
  resources management
• In addition to PEN study focus areas, consider
  emerging issues such as genetic resources
  protection / bio access legislation
• Continue capacity strengthening of concerned
  institutions and staff at all levels and promote
  and develop cooperation with other relevant
  countries and institutions.

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• ix. Suggestions (continued)

• Encourage the private sector to comply with
  environmental regulations (e.g. in road
  construction), and to be actively involved in the
  process of poverty reduction including water
  supply
• Ensure sustainability of financing system for
  Poverty, Environment, Road, UXO and WSS
  activities such as
• Strengthen the existing Poverty, UXO and Road
  Maintenance Fund and
• Operationalize the 2005 created Environment
  Protection Fund (EPF) and the Lao Environment and
  social project (LEnS). Such fund respectively
  assisted by the A and the WB.

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Thank you