Summary

The project aims to build climate resilience in small towns along the east-west economic corridor in the central region of Lao PDR. This will be achieved through the provision of climate-resilient water infrastructure and the mainstreaming of climate change into urban planning. The intervention directly benefits 57,144 individuals from its infrastructure component, 29,669 of whom are women.

AF2 Riverbank 3D Model

Components

Component 1

Develop town level master plans that integrate climate change adaptation into socially inclusive infrastructure, spatial planning and land use management in and beyond the project area. Capacity built at District, Provincial and National levels to plan for climate-resilient infrastructure development and to maintain and manage
infrastructure

Component 2

Build socially inclusive infrastructure in target towns that protects people from
climate change-related impacts and provides continuous services despite current and
anticipated future changes in the climate

Component 3

Enhance knowledge and awareness from national to local levels along the
economic corridor, ensuring sustainability and potentially leading to policy changes at
the national level

Background

Lao PDR has been increasingly affected by extreme weather events. This is particularly problematic due to its high sensitivity, resulting from dependence on climate-sensitive natural resources and its low adaptive capacity. The impacts of extreme weather events have been severe to the point that in 2013 Lao PDR was named the 7th most severely affected country in the world by climate change. Irregularity in rainfall has led to both floods and droughts, with a variation in severity from year to year. Projected increases in flooding and droughts are expected to impact livelihoods, health, physical infrastructure, and the economy in general. In addition to extreme events, variation in the seasons has disrupted cropping, causing food insecurity.

Project Details

  • Project Title: Building climate and disaster resilience capacities of vulnerable small towns in Lao PDR
  • Status: Project Under Implementation
  • Geographic Coverage: Sayphouthong and Sethamouk towns, Savannakhet province
  • Duration: Jun 2020 – Jun 2024
  • Budget for UN-Habitat component: $5,500,000
  • Partnership: MPWT,NPSE
  • Donor: The Adaptation Fund
  • Shortened Project Title: Climate Change and Basic Services

Interview