Lao DECIDE Info

Progetto concluso

In Lao PDR, the lack of integrated information and data analysis across thematic sectors continues hindering sustainable planning and decision-making. Lao DECIDE Info has fostered the integration of information from different sectors, data analysis, and development of new policy knowledge for decision making. The final phase 4, will seek for strategic engagement with decision makers, involving them in the identification of key policy issues, development of knowledge products, and incorporation of the knowledge products into national policies.

Paese/Regione Periodo Budget
Laos
01.06.2018 - 30.06.2021
CHF  3’100’000
Contesto

Smooth Graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status is a central development goal of the Government of Laos (GoL). The 8th National Socio-Economic Development Plan (NSEDP) provides guidance in addressing the following priorities of the graduation: inclusive economic growth and the reduction of vulnerability, poverty reduction across all ethnic groups and sexes, improved access to quality education and health services and the protection and sustainable use of natural resources, while ensuring the enabling conditions for climate change adaptation.

Addressing these competing socio-economic development priorities while facing major social, economic, and ecological changes remains a continuous challenge decision-makers face. Furthermore, the lack of strategic coordination among public-sector agencies leads to a critical shortage of clarity regarding government socio-economic development priorities, which compete and duplicate one another. 

In response to these challenges, the GoL launched 2 initiatives to foster cross-sectoral research and analyses in order to complement the thematic sector ministries’ information management offices and research bodies: the establishment of the National Institute for Economic Research (NIER) and the Institute for Legislative Studies (ILS).

NIER is the Government's primary think tank, reporting both to the Prime Minister and the Party Central Committee. Its main mandate is to provide the GoL with specific knowledge in support of the monitoring and implementation of the country’s 8th National Socioeconomic Development Plan, smooth graduation from LDC status and towards the achieving of the internationally agreed-upon Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). 

ILS is tasked to conduct policy-relevant research and the prepare evidence and information to inform National Assembly’s members.

Obiettivi Policies are shaped by making use of available quality information and knowledge on the dynamics and the interplay of economic, social and ecological dimensions in support of equitable socio-economic development and ecological sustainability, while fostering the accountability of decision makers.
Gruppi target

Direct beneficiaries:

  • At least 12 data producing and managing institutions within thematic sector ministries and 6 research institutions.
  • Lao policy and decision-makers of GoL (the Office of the Prime Minister) and thematic sector ministries at national level (at least six different line ministries).

Indirect beneficiaries:

Indirect beneficiaries: Poor and marginalized people (est. 1.55 million people) in underdeveloped areas[1].

[1] A number of indirect beneficiaries is based on census-based estimation of population in disadvantaged areas across the country benefiting from more inclusive development policies.

Effetti a medio termine

Objective: (1) enhance continuous cross-sectoral and vertical integration of national information from a broad range of thematic sectors and (2) develop and feed new knowledge products into the nation’s policy dialogue that informs key strategic decisions and policies in support of a smooth graduation from the country’s LDC status and for reaching the targets of the 8th NSEDP and SDGs. 

Outcome 1. Thematic sector ministries and selected sub-national offices continuously share key national data and information on a common platform for integration of relevant and up-to-date information. 

Outcome 2. Lao decision-makers and research institutions jointly identify strategic knowledge gaps for policy and decision making, engage in integrated information analysis to fill the identified gaps, and effectively apply gained knowledge in supporting of the smooth graduation and for reaching the 8th NSEDP and SDG targets.

Risultati

Risultati principali attesi:  

Output 1.1: A web-based functional and sustainably managed integrated development resources platform, 

Output 1.2: Cross-sectoral collaboration agreements between governmental institutions clarifying tasks and mandates for information sharing and integration, 

Output 1.3: Tools, processes, and guidelines for information integration onto the information platform across sectors and administrative levels, 

Output 2.1: Established practices and mechanisms for multi-stakeholder consultations on identifying policy priorities, respective knowledge gaps and prioritizing respective research needs, 

Output 2.2: Established practices and mechanisms for conducting interdisciplinary research on identified priority topics, 

Output 2.3: Interdisciplinary research results on key issues for sustainable development are discussed and taken up in on-going development policy debates.


Risultati fasi precedenti:  

  • Capacities, processes, and mechanisms for cross-sectoral information sharing and integration have been fostered and established.
  • Technical and institutional solutions for cross-sectoral information management have been realized.
  • Key integrated development analysis and knowledge products guiding planning and decision-making processes have been developed, for example:
  1. Socio-Economic Atlas,
  2. The National Population and Housing Census,
  3. Land concession inventory,
  4. Quality investment assessment,
  5. Poverty maps,
  6. Socio-economic disparity map and
  7. ODA coordination map.
  • Relationship of trust and open communication with high level decision makers have been cemented and extended.


Direzione/Ufficio responsabile DSC
Credito Cooperazione allo sviluppo
Partner del progetto Partner contrattuale
Instituzione universitaria e di ricerca svizzera
  • Unversität Bern

Partner attuatore
Autorità di Stato centrale

Coordinamento con altri progetti e attori TABI, PEI, PTT, LURAS and MRLG
Budget Fase in corso Budget Svizzera CHF    3’100’000 Budget svizzero attualmente già speso CHF    1’190’000
Fasi del progetto

Fase 4 01.06.2018 - 30.06.2021   (Completed)

Fase 3 01.11.2013 - 30.06.2018   (Completed) Fase 2 01.07.2009 - 30.11.2015   (Completed)