Bolikhamxay Province, 31 August 2021 - The Ministry of Planning and Investments (MPI) and Bolikhamxay provincial authority, with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), disseminated the revised National Population and Development Policy (NPDP 2019-2030), present were provincial representatives from five central provinces (Houaphanh, Xieng Khouang, Vientiane Province, Xaysomboun, and Vientiane Capital) and related departments in Bolikhamxay. The aim is to engage all provinces on population planning. This event is one of four previous launches in Vientiane Capital and Savannakhet for the Southern Provinces.
“Our country has a younger population contributing to more than 60% of the total population, and this trend will last for more than two decades. This is a very good opportunity for Lao PDR to increase economic and social development growth. We need to invest now in our adolescent and youth’s education, health, and vocational development to be skilled and healthy employees with high responsibility for the national and community development, especially adolescent girls in the rural areas,” said Mme. Phonevanh Outhavong, Deputy minister, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, MPI. “I hope that provincial authorities will incorporate the indicators set out in this policy to provincial plans,” she added.
“This policy is a fundamental guide that provides clear direction and information for our province to understand and invest in human development, especially in education, health, and skills development for the youth. The province and district level need to translate this policy into actionable and detailed plans and ensure that all targets set are achievable according to the timeframe” said Mr. Bounseng Pathammavong, Vice Governor of Bolikhamxay Province.
The NPDP is a revision of the 1999 and 2006 population policies. It was developed with multiple sectors and the analysis of the population issues based on the recent census and survey data. This revised version also included an implementation matrix to help translate the policies into action and incorporate them into sectoral plans.
Laos is in the early stages of a demographic transition, meaning it will have the largest share of the working age population and fewer dependents (i.e. those below 15 years and above 65 years). According to the projection, the working-age population will continue to rise from 62 percent in 2015 to 69 percent in 2030; this NPDP is thus an essential guide to foresee and mitigate challenges and yield the benefits from the demographic dividend.
“I congratulate MPI for its leadership in the revision and dissemination of this policy. This policy will guide sector plans to contribute optimally to the 9th NSEDP and to the ICPD25 commitments as an essential milestone to the 2030 agenda. The population policy allows planners to take a people-centered approach for budgeting and ensuring the right investments in health and education are made. I believe that under the leadership of MPI, this policy will be implemented in all provinces,” said Ms Mariam A Khan, UNFPA Representative.
The population policy was first developed following the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), calling to integrate population into development planning towards achieving sustainable development. At the ICPD25, the Lao government reaffirmed its commitment to invest in the quality of data to inform the national development plans. The Department of Planning of MPI led the process of NPDP revision incorporating population dynamics and building on the results of assessment of population issues. After the launch in Bolikhamxay, MPI will continue to disseminate the policy in LuangPrabang province with participation from the remaining provinces.
UNFPA, the UN's sexual and reproductive health agency, works in over 150 countries including Lao PDR, to achieve zero maternal deaths, zero unmet need for family planning and zero gender-based.
For more information please contact:
Mr. Phonexay Sithirajvongsa
Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, UNFPA Laos
Ms. Vanly Lorkuangming
Communications and Partnerships Analyst, UNFPA Laos
