Government launches social survey report: The first of its kind in Lao PDR

© UNICEF Lao PDR/2013/Verweij

Vientiane, Lao PDR, July 4^th – Lao Statistics Bureau, the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Health with support from the Ministry of Education and Sports and international development partners launched on July 4^th a comprehensive report with the findings of the Lao Social Indicator Survey (LSIS).

The LSIS is a nation-wide household survey to measure progress of social development in Lao PDR applying the international survey standards from previous surveys, the Multiple Indicator Cluster (MICS) and Demographic and Health Survey (DHS). The data was collected from September 2011 to February 2012 in 20,000 households in 1,000 villages around the country. The data obtained has been analysed and disaggregated to national and provincial levels.

LSIS provides data for health, including reproductive health, maternal health, child health and nutrition, contraception, sexual behaviour, HIV/AIDS.  It also collects data and information about education, violence, access to media and use of information, child development and water and sanitation. The LSIS unites efforts by twelve different development partners to avoid duplication and to improve data quality while applying resources in a more effective way.

© UNICEF Lao PDR/2013/Verweij

“LSIS provides valuable data for improvement processes across a number of sectors including health, education and social welfare. The findings of the survey can also inform local planning processes and guides resource allocation to the most remote areas as we accelerate the roll-out of the Government’s “three-builds policy”. It is important that the country builds on the achievements and gaps as illustrated in the LSIS results to realize the national 2020 development goals. The Government in particular aims at restructuring the delivery mechanisms of social services system to improve the overall health, education and welfare of the population, in particular women and children” said his Excellency Prof. Dr. Eksavang Vongvichit, Minister of Health.

© UNICEF Lao PDR/2013/Verweij

The findings of the survey are instrumental to monitor the progress on achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and will be used as baseline data for 7th National Social Economic Development Plan (NSEDP) as well as in other policy reform processes and further analysis. It has generated evidence in a variety of areas including the situation of children, women’s reproductive health and young people in the country. The LSIS data has been uploaded into LaoInfo national socio-economic database, and training has been provided to provincial government officials to encourage the use of data for planning. Provincial analyses will also enable better sub-national planning, monitoring and advocacy.

“The challenges identified in the LSIS call for an immediate action to draw on all critical resources available in the country, but more importantly prioritize investment in support of effective and efficient service delivery to the most vulnerable children and women. In the spirit of aid-effectiveness, I encourage all development partners to support the efforts of the Government in achieving sustainable and equitable development” said Mr. Tim Schaffter, UNICEF Representative speaking on behalf of all the UN agencies that supported the LSIS, acknowledging the continued support of the UN and other development partners.

© UNICEF Lao PDR/2013/Verweij

This joint initiative had an approximate cost of USD 1.6 million. In addition to Government’s own resources, funding and technical support for the LSIS was provided by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Government of Luxembourg, USAID, AusAID, the Swiss Development Corporation, the UN Development Programme, the World Health Organization, the World Food Programme, UNAIDS, JICA and the DevInfo Support Group.

Read the full report in pdf here: www.childinfo.org/files/Lao_2011-12_MICS-DHS.pdf

LSIS VDO on YouTube, please click link LSIS VDO

For more information please contact:

Mr. Tabongphet Phouthavong, OIC Communication Section UNICEF,

tel: (+856 21) 315200, mobile: 020 55519682, tphouthavong@unicef.org