News 2016
28/12/2016
Sharing experiences and best practices on village banks in Southern Laos
A Vietnamese delegation visited Southern Laos from 07 – 12 December 2016 to learn about best practices on Village Banks from the ‘Access to Finance for the Poor’ (AFP) project.
23/12/2016
Natural resource monitoring according to villager criteria
Since more than one year Thongxam village located in the north of Hin Nam No National Protected Area (HNN NPA) is receiving support for the process of participatory delineation of Controlled Use Zones (CUZ) and Total Protected Zones (TPZ).
20/12/2016
Final consultation workshop on Houaphan's Provincial REDD+ Action Plan
Houaphan's Provincial REDD+ Action Plan has been discussed during the final consultation workshop in Xam Neua
29/11/2016
Patrolling in the Hin Nam No National Protected Area
Evaluating the work of the village rangers of Hin Nam No National Protected Area (HNN NPA) is mainly done via the reports back from the field.
25/11/2016
Australia continues to support Financial Inclusion through Village Banks in Laos
The Australian government has provided additional funding of 1.83 million Australian Dollar to the project ‘Microfinance in Rural Areas – Access to Finance for the Poor’.
24/11/2016
Findings of country-wide Study on the Lao Youth presented to the Public
A wide audience comprising with Representatives from the Lao Government, Development Partners and Civil Society attended a Results Presentation Workshop for the Study on the Situation and Aspirations of the Lao Youth.
24/11/2016
Exchange of Experiences between Managers of Microfinance Institutions under the Microfinance Project Access to Finance for the Poor (AFP)
A meeting to exchange experiences on managing Village Bank Network Support Organisations (NSO) has been conducted from 15-17 November 2016 with the support of AFP project.
20/11/2016
Lao-German intergovernmental negotiations in Vientiane
Germany will support development in Lao PDR in the years 2016-2017 with 45.8 million Euros.
2/11/2016
Making progress towards ASEAN integration in the healthcare sector: Consultation workshop on regulatory reform for healthcare professionals
Lao PDR prepares members of the new Healthcare Professional Council and Boards to improve licensing and registration in accordance to ASEAN requirements
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31/10/2016
BFL Bank, Phu Bia Mining and GIZ bring financial literacy to remote villages
Phu Bia Mining has provided 440 million LAK to 11 villages, to set up village banks.
31/10/2016
Financial Inclusion in Laos and the Evolution of Village Bank Pung
The Access to Finance for the Poor (AFP) programme works towards expanding the provision of financial services to rural population through village banks.
28/10/2016
4th Summer Film School 2016 was a complete success
On the 16th September participants of the 4th Summer Film School proudly presented their three completed films to members and media experts of the ProCEEd project as well as representatives of PADETC and the DEQP.
27/10/2016
Hands-on Training for the Production of Environmental Radio Programs
The ProCEEd project invited several radio journalists from four radio stations of Khammouane (Boualapha District) and Houaphan (Houameang District) to join a training for the production of environmental radio programs.
24/10/2016
Bringing Transparency into the Timber Flow
As part of the Timber Legality Assurance System (TLAS) that has to be developed for the FLEGT Voluntary Partnership Agreement, it is important to monitor the flow of timber along the supply chain.
19/10/2016
Villagers learn about HNN NPA by-laws
From 23 to 26 August 2016, the outreach team carried out the by-law dissemination in Ban Dou cluster including six villages such as Nong Bua, Nong Seng, Dou, Vangmaner and Thongxam.
30/09/2016
ASEAN Business and Investment Summit 2016
Lao PDR hosted the 13th ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (ABIS) from 5th – 7th of September 2016 as part of the Lao ASEAN Chairmanship 2016 and its related summits.
30/09/2016
Strengthening Laos’s Agricultural Sector to produce safer and more sustainable food
Partnership between Germany and DPS has been established to promote safe and organic production of fruit and vegetables, as well as rice and field crops.
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30/09/2016
Germany continues to support the MRC Strategic Plan 2016 – 2020
Germany continues to support the MRC Strategic Plan 2016 – 2020 symbolized by a signing ceremony between MRC and GIZ for financial support of 7 million Euros.
22/09/2016
FLEGT Strengthens Role of Village Forestry to Support Local Livelihoods
The management of village use forests in Laos will be strengthened to better support livelihoods of local communities and enhance forest protection.
25/08/2016
Improving Nutrition and Hygiene in Lao Schools
Agreement on piloting the GIZ Fit for School Approach on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Schools with School Feeding by the World Food Programme in Beng District, Oudomxay Province, Lao PDR.
09/08/2016
Vocational teachers are due to receive technological training
Memorandum of Understanding for Training of Teachers in Computer Numerical Control (CNC) technology has been signed.
29/8/2016
Theater Workshop on Waste Management with Mobile Conservation Unit
Enthusiastic applause and bravos rewarded the young team of the Mobile Conservation Unit (MCU) for a great theatre performance and their effort and commitment during the last seven days.
31/08/2016
New Short Films on Rural Development
The Rights-LINK Lao project has produced a joint production of six mini-drama short films on land, agriculture, and village development. The films have been supported by GIZ on behalf of the German Government.
12/08/2016
Win-win for people and ecosystem in Hin Nam No
This July, the outreach unit of Hin Nam No National Protected Area (HNN NPA) supported the traditional celebration on Fish Release Day at Sa Ang Village, Bualapha District in Kham-mouane Province.
29/8/2016
48th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting
Under the Lao ASEAN Chairmanship 2016, the 48th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting and Related Meetings were held at the Don Chan Palace Hotel in Vientiane Capital (Lao PDR) from July 31st to August 06th 2016.
13/08/2016
13th ASEAN Leadership Forum
The 13th ASEAN Leadership Forum (ALF) was held on August 06th and 07th 2016 at the Don Chanh Palace Hotel in Vientiane Capital.
31/05/2016
Innovative products offer new market opportunities for Lao wood processing industry
The Lao wood processing industry will soon be able to increase their profits and yield, as small diameter logs and lesser known timber species can be used for the production of high value-added wood panels.
25/05/2016
Mekong River Commission and GIZ conclude adaptation pilot project in Khammouane
MRC and GIZ have successfully concluded a pilot project in Khammouane province that reduces the vulnerability to floods in Nongbok district.
19/05/2016
Memorandum of Understanding for ASEAN Food Standards signed
The Standards in the Southeast Asian Food Trade (SAFT) project has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Agriculture under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
30/05/2016
How a school garden can contribute to nature conservation
Environmental education with school students of Nong Ping village, Bualapha District
27/04/2016
Press release ProFLEGT
In a workshop on 26 and 27 April the Technical Working Group of the Lao FLEGT process has elaborated a first draft Timber Legality Definition.
20/07/2016
First Regional Land Forum successfully held in the Mekong Region
The Regional Land Forum held in Hanoi from 21-23 June 2016 was the first international forum on land governance in the Mekong region
07/06/2016
Launching of Hotline 1510 and the Advocacy of Consumer Protection
The Domestic Trade Department, Ministry of Industry and Commerce, officially launched the Hotline 1510 aimed to protect consumers in the Lao PDR.
25.02.2016
Online short films related to GIZ Laos projects
A video about the Mekong River Lower Basin and its diverse but fragile biodiversity, that features the MRC programme in Cambodia, can be watched online on the DW website.
26/05/2016
Book about Hin Nam No National Protected Area published
This month the first book on “The Great Cave of the Xe Bang Fai” in the Hin Nam No National Protected Area has been published.
29.02.2016
Press release ProFLEGT
The Government of Lao PDR, accompanied by the Lao wood processing industry, has highlighted its recent work on the innovative tool "Forestry Legality Compendium" for working towards improved forest governance in Laos.
18/06/2016
Lao PDR presents its efforts on how to progress under FLEGT/VPA in effectively reducing illegal logging at International Chatham House Meeting in UK
Press release about the 26th Illegal Logging Update and Stakeholder Consultation Meeting between 16 and 17 June 2016 in London.
08.03.2016
Useful Resources in the Garbage
GIZ project conducts waste management awareness raising at Sikhottabong Festival.
04.04.2016
Video Clip of GIZ Laos Microfinance Project on YouTube
Video on GIZ efforts to provide Access to Finance for the Poor (AFP) in Laos
29.01.2016
Provincial and District Journalists Trained in Environmental Radio
As part of its support to environmental radio, the environmental communication and education project ProCEEd invited journalists from Khammouane, Houaphan, Sayaboury and Bolikhamxay Province to a seminar and training in Vientiane in December 2015.
15/07/2016
Lao’s pesticide decree uplifted and to be finalised soon
The Department of Agriculture of Laos has recently completed a series of “Government Hearing Consultation Meetings on the Pesticide Decree for Synthetic Chemicals and Biological Control Agents”.
15.02.2016
Protecting Hin Nam No National Protected Area
Good Governance Training contributes to improved governance of Hin Nam No
12/07/2016
FLEGT process enforces PM Order no.15 to improve forest governance and fight deforestation to ensure legal timber trade agreement with EU
A remarkable outcome has been witnessed after the Prime Minister of Lao PDR has issued the Order on “Strengthening Strictness of Timber Harvest Management and Inspection, Timber Transport and Business”
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17.03.2016
About the Future of the MRC
Update on the ongoing Mekong River Commission reform
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30/04/2016
German Ambassador Michael Grau visits GIZ projects in northern provinces
A week before the Lao new year celebrations, the German Ambassador Michael Grau started his journey to the northern provinces.
09/06/2016
Say no to plastic bags
On the occasion of the German Action Days for Sustainability 2016, GIZ Laos has organised the event “Say no to plastic bags” on 3 June
20/01/2016
Co-management leads to more effective management of Hin Nam No
On 12 and 13 January 2016, the Hin Nam No co-management team conducted the yearly management effectiveness self–assessment, based on a method developed by the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity.
15/04/2016
New tourism strategy contributes to conservation
In November 2015 the Australian company TRC helped relevant stakeholders to develop the Hin Nam No National Protected Area Tourism Strategy 2016-2020.
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15.03.2016
Exploring Hin Nam No’s outstanding universal value
Experts conduct research on HNNs unique caves and cave biodiversity
11/05/2016
From 300 to 100,000 green farms: Trilateral Cooperation with Laos
After almost five years of implementation, the project Strengthening National Good Agricultural Practice in Lao PDR has now came to an end.
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21.03.2016
Improving the management of natural resources in Hin Nam No
How villagers are regulating the use of natural resources in their area
10/06/2016
Raising Environmental Awareness for young students
A drawing competition for students of two schools in Boualapha District, Khammouane Province was conducted on 26 and 27 May.
19.02.2016
Edutainment for more environmental awareness
ProCEEd develop theater play on Forest protection and natural disasters
10/05/2016
Project Luang Prabang – Handle with Care
The project “Luang Prabang - Handle with Care” has now started and was celebrated with an opening ceremony
03/06/2016
South-south exchange on environmental education between Kyrgyzstan and Laos
Integrated Expert Aline Rosset from the Kyrgyz Republic visited the ProCEEd project in Lao PDR for an exchange on methods and implementation modes of environmental awareness raising.
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04/07/2016
Lower Mekong countries exchange lessons learned from flood risk mitigation pilot project
Following the conclusion of four pilot projects to reduce flood vulnerability in the Lower Mekong Basin, MRC and GIZ conducted a regional workshop on 15 and 16 June in Cambodia
29/05/2016
Lao experts contribute to the ASEAN Regional Guidelines on Soil and Nutrient Management
Lao national expert groups have exchanged good practices on soil and nutrient management.
22.02.2016
Revised Multiplier Training System presented and handed over to Ministry of Education and Sports
As one of the follow-up activities of the Master Trainer of Vocational Education Programme, which has been supported by the GIZ TVET Teacher Education Programme (TTEP), the Multiplier Training System (MTS) has been revised.
01.03.2016
Environmental Tour to Khammouane Addresses Biodiversity
GIZ project conducts biodiversity conservation awareness raising in Boualapha and Thakhek.
23/06/2016
Graduation Ceremony at Vientiane Province Technical Vocational College was a success
On 11 May 2016, there was a graduation ceremony held at Vientiane Province Technical Vocational College (VPTVC).
05/04/2016
Hin Nam No promotes gender equality
End of March, a leadership and gender training of trainers took place in Nong Ping village, Bualapha District.
27/07/2016
Hin Nam No to become Laos’ first natural world heritage
Hin Nam No National Protected Area is officially on the tentative list to become Laos’ first natural world heritage site.
27/05/2016
Impact of village banks on rural households evaluated
The Lao-Australian Development Learning Facility (LADLF) carried out an evaluative study of household responses to changes in access to finance resulting from village banks.
15/05/2016
Up-scaling Hin Nam No’s co-management approach
The Hin Nam No National Protected Area hosted 15 guests from southern Laos to exchange lessons learned on collaborative management of protected areas.
30/04/2016
FSC Forest Certification Pays Off in Vietnam
The benefits of forest management certification in Vietnam according to the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) are two-fold.
20/06/2016
Hin Nam No project organises workshop and high-level meeting
GIZ Hin Nam No project organised a Training of Trainers on co-management structures and a high level meeting
26/07/2016
FLEGT timber legality definition strengthens implementation of forestry legislation
Key parts of the timber legality definition have been drafted to help ensure good forest governance in Laos, under the recent initiative led by the Government of Lao PDR and others