Vientiane, Lao PDR, March 9th - The Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Health with international development partners met on 9 March at Don Chan Palace Hotel in Vientiane to discuss the progress of the Lao Social Indicator Survey (LSIS).

The LSIS is a nation-wide household survey to measure social development in Lao PDR applying the technical framework of 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 will be analysed and disaggregated to national and provincial levels.

The LSIS combines two surveys that were previously conducted separately: the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (1996, 2000 and 2006) and the Lao Reproductive Health Survey (1995, 2000 and 2005). The focus of LSIS is on 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.

This survey will allow the country 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). It will generate evidence in a variety of areas including the situation of young people in the country. Provincial analyses will also enable better sub-national planning, monitoring and advocacy.

This joint initiative has an estimated cost of USD 1.6 million. It aims to avoid duplication of efforts by different development partners, improve the quality of the data and use resources in a more effective way. Funding and technical support for the LSIS is provided by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), AusAID, USAID, the Government of Luxembourg, UNDP, WHO, WFP, JICA, UNAIDS and the Swiss Development Corporation (SDC)

In the following months the LSIS team will continue to enter, check and process data. A preliminary analysis will be conducted by April 2012, and initial reports are expected to be ready in June/July, to be followed by consultation workshops in August 2012. The final report is due at the end of 2012.

For more information please contact:
Mr. Diego De La Rosa, UNFPA, tel: (+856 21) 315547, mobile: (+856) 020 7779 1053, drosa@unfpa.org