Other Actors in Population and Reproductive Health in Lao PDR

	Non-governmental Organizations
	Mass Organizations
	National Coordinating Committee for Population and Development

International Organizations and Bilateral Donors

Several UN agencies operate within Lao PDR. UNFPA collaborates with various members of the UN Country Team, including UNAIDS, UNICEF, UNDP, WHO, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and UNODC. UNFPA also works with bilateral donors and government development agencies AusAID, GTZ (German Development Cooperation) and JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency).

In the past, lack of coordination between donor organizations has been a problem in Lao PDR, leading to duplication, overlap and gaps in programme work. The current UNFPA Country Programme is formulated within the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) for Lao PDR, 2002–2006. The UNDAF is a strategic planning and policy framework for coordinated UN development assistance.

UNFPA co-funds interventions with UNICEF, the European Commission (for the Reproductive Health Initiative for Youth in Asia) and JICA (for contraceptives).

Non-governmental Organizations

Some international and foreign NGOs have substantial programmes in Lao PDR, including Save the Children (UK, Australian, US, Sweden), Population Services International, Lao and Australian Red Cross Societies, the Macfarlane Burnett Institute, the Japanese Organization for International Cooperation in Family Planning (JOICFP), the International Council on Management of Population Programmes (ICMPP), CARE International, Health Unlimited, Norwegian Church Aid, and Youth Fighting AIDS. There are no local NGOs in Lao PDR.

Mass Organizations

Mass organizations are nationwide organizations with strong government connections. The Lao Youth Union and Lao Women's Union have networks that reach down into nearly every community; thus they have much to offer UNFPA as implementing partners.

The National Coordinating Committee for Population and Development

The National Coordinating Committee for Population and Development (NCCPD) plays an important role in promoting the National Population and Development Policy and population issues in the country. In 2002, senior policy-makers were appointed to a new High-level Advisory Board to the NCCPD. The Advisory Board will provide technical advice to the NCCPD and will play a key role in promoting population and development issues in Lao PDR. The NCCPD's standing committee is chaired by the Vice-president of the Committee on Planning and Cooperation and Deputy Chair, the Vice-Minister of Health with national project directors as members.