Vientiane 15 November 2016 – A Meeting on enhancing partnerships for effective development cooperation was held in Vientiane Capital with representatives from the Government agencies and local and international development partners in the lead up to the Round Table Implementation Meeting (RTIM) on 24^th and 25^th November 2016.

The objective of the meeting was to consult between the Government and its development partners on enhancing partnerships for effective development cooperation. The meeting successfully proceeded with dialogues on the emergent Country Action Plan of Vientiane Declaration on Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation VDCAP (2016-2025) and the progress of revising the Prime Minister Decree No. 75 on Official Development Assistance (ODA).

The meeting was chaired by His Excellency Dr. Kikeo Chanthaboury, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment and co-chaired by Madame Kaarina Immonen, United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative.

At the opening session, Dr. Kikeo Chanthaboury said “Realising the importance of greater partnership, the Vientiane Declaration helps to break the mould of the traditional donor-recipient approach. It seeks to build a more diverse partnership, which can also expand the envelope of resources available for development”.

Madame Kaarina Immonen as co-chair emphasized ‘As a development cooperation partner, we welcome the VDCAP as a practical and measurable guide for all of our development endeavors in Laos.’

The endorsement of Vientiane Declaration on Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation by 28 development partners was witnessed by 300 delegates from local and international partners in the 12th High Level Round Table Meeting on 27 November 2015.

To guide the implementation of the declaration, the Government and its partners have developed a Vientiane Declaration Country Action Plan (VDCAP 2016-2025). This VDCAP (2016-2025) will provide sectorial and provincial counterparts with key actions, indicators and targets for enhancing greater partnership for effective development cooperation. This in turn will help accelerating the 8th National Socio-Economic Development Plan (2016-2025) and achieving the global Sustainable Development Goals.

Today’s session also updated national and international stakeholders on the revision of the Prime Minister Decree No. 75 on the management and utilization of Official Development Assistance (ODA) for its finalization in 2017. The Decree will administer and ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of ODA.

The Meeting outcomes are expected to contribute to the RTIM 2016 in particular its plenary sessions on progress and activities to promote greater partnerships for effective development cooperation. RTIMs are part of the national Round Table Process (RTP), a mechanism to ensure maximum impact of development efforts.

More information

• 12^th High Level Round Table Meeting: https://rtm.org.la/high-level-round-table-meeting-2015/
• The Vientiane Partnership Declaration: https://rtm.org.la/the-vientiane-declaration-2015/
• Round Table Implementation Meeting 2016 https://rtm.org.la/resources/key-documents/

Contacts

• Kheuakham Bounvilay, Senior Officer of Aid Effectiveness Division, Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Planning and Investment: Tel: 021 214062, Email: kheua.dic@gmail.com