Update on the Upland Development Strategy 2015 to 2020 and the Draft Action Plan Northern Uplands Development Programme Department of Planning and Cooperation Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Vientiane, Lao PDR Presentation to the Sub-sector Working Group - Uplands 24 June 2014

Outline of the presentation Highlights of the UDS Status update of the UDS Current status of the UDS Action Plan Process Challenges Way forward

Highlights of the UDS Objectives 1.Integrated rural development is established as a process for eradicating poverty in uplands 2.Upland food and nutrition security is derived from improved livelihood and income security – Guaranteed through increased food production and improved incomes; linked to markets 3.Strengthened capacity of local government facilitates decentralization that leads to – Improved efficiency and effectiveness of public services delivery; and, – An enabling environment for private sector and civil society in uplands; – To maximize development of local potential 4.Sustainable natural resources management: conservation and sustainable use of agro-biodiversity Northern Uplands Annamite Uplands Bolovens Plateaux Lao Uplands

Pillars of Upland Development Cross-cutting aspects: Respect for the rule of law Poverty reduction Gender mainstreaming Respect for local culture Economic empowerment Technical innovation Resilience to climate change (sustainable agricultural development, sustainable environmental management, hazardous risk reduction) Cross-cutting aspects: Respect for the rule of law Poverty reduction Gender mainstreaming Respect for local culture Economic empowerment Technical innovation Resilience to climate change (sustainable agricultural development, sustainable environmental management, hazardous risk reduction) Pillar 1: Food security and self- sufficiency Pillar 2: Commercial agriculture, markets, and marketing Pillar 3: Conservation and sustainable use of natural resources Pillar 4: Rural upland infrastructure Pillar 4: Rural upland infrastructure Pillar 5: Human resources and institutional development and public services delivery

Status Update: UDS SSWG-Uplands: – Reviewed and discussed several times throughout 2012 and through mid-2013 Stakeholder consultations in early 2013: – Provincial: 3 northern, 1 central, and 1 southern – District: 1 district in each province Circulation of UDS among members of SWG-ARD mid- 2013; significant feedback incorporated Discussed and endorsed by the SWG-ARD: – 11 July 2013 Draft Final UDS dated 6 August 2013: – Comments from SWG-ARD, key stakeholders, and senior MAF officials Lao version: – Translation into Lao completed in early 2014

Status of the UDS Action Plan

Pillars 1 & 2: Objectives and Activities Pillar 1: Food security and self-sufficiency O1: Food and nutrition security has improved in upland districts O2: PLUP-PALM is being applied to stabilize land use in uplands O3: Opium production is being reduced annuallyA1: Value chain gap analysisA2: Strengthen FO for food & nutrition securityA3: PLUP-PALM in priority watershedsA4: Intensify farming systemsA5: Promote CAA6: Promote SALD Pillar 2: Commercial agriculture, markets, and marketing O1: FO strengthenedO2: GAP improves competitivenessO3: Niche products are certifiedO4: TSCs & FOs are used for technology transferO5: Agricultural micro-credit is available for FOsA1: Application of ASEAN GAP A2: Technology transfer to DAFO/TSCs at focal development centers A3: Promote Lao Coffee StrategyA4: Eliminate agricultural product monopsoniesA5: Certification of managed livestock farmsA6: Strengthening of FOs A7: FO operate as savings and loan units and cooperatives A8: Strengthen agribusiness associations A9: Prepare commodity production and marketing strategies

Pillars 3 & 4: Objectives and Activities Pillar 4: Rural upland infrastructure O1: Improved infrastructure supports agriculture modernization and market access O2: Market access roads and cross-border trade infrastructure are upgraded O3: Upgraded irrigation systems support increased productivity in upland agriculture O4: Improved water supply systems enhance upland quality of life A1: Survey and prioritize rural infrastructure needs in priority upland districts A2: Design of priority rural infrastructure unitsA3: Construction of rural upland infrastructure A4: Design, test, and implement community- based infrastructure maintenance program Pillar 3: Conservation and sustainable use of natural resources O1: Watershed management is integrated and participatory O2: Land cultivation stabilized through resource- based planning O3: Watersheds function to provide water for hydropower O4: Carbon stocks are conserved O5: Climate change risk mitigation/adaptation measures adopted by FOs A1: Implement climate change risk mitigation /adaptation measures A2: Participatory community-based resource and land use planning is used for integrated watershed management and stabilized cultivation A3: FOs organized into ecosystem associations to manage watersheds using ISP A4: FOs conserve carbon stocks

Pillar 5: Objectives and Activities Pillar 5: Human resources, institutional development, and public services delivery: Individual and group capacity development O1: Individual and group capacity have been developed related to: gender, youth, improved nutrition, rule of law, poverty, ethnicity, and culture O2: Institutional structures and processes have been developed related to: governance, rule of law, global and regional trade, technology innovation, local values, and administrative effectiveness A1: HRD needs assessment A2: Implementation of the strategy for reform in the agriculture and forestry colleges towards 2020 A3: Agricultural modernization programs for capacity development of upland youth and young farmers A4: On-farm and off-farm occupational and technical skills development; focus on upland women and youth A5: Nutrition-linked upland livelihood development training A6: Agroforestry extension for upland farmers A7: Gender mainstreaming in upland community development programs Pillar 5: Human resources and institutional development and public services delivery: Institutional structures and processes A1: Establish a baseline database consistent with the MAF ProMIS System, for conditions in priority upland districts against which the output and impact indicators of the UDS Action Plan can be measured for progress, results, and return on investments A2: Improve government management of upland contract farming A3: Strengthen planning and budgeting capacities of organizations to PBA and public expenditure management linked to PBA A4: Improve delivery of public sector rural and agricultural development services A5: Decentralize, modernize, and improve delivery of government services (sam sang) in upland districts A6: Training and accreditation of DAFO personnel for institutional development and modernization

Sample of the UDS Action Plan: Pillar 2

Action Plan preparation process Zero draft completed in March 2014 Focus group meetings to review Pillar 1, Pillar 2, and limited review of Pillar 3 – 20 and 25 March 2014 Bilateral discussions with MAF Vice Minister – 29 April 2014 Bilateral discussions with MAF/DoOP – 2 May 2014 Bilateral discussion with MONRE/DOPC on Pillar 3 – 5 June 2014 Focus group meetings being scheduled to review Pillar 4 and Pillar 5 – Latter part of June 2014

Challenges during UDS and Action Plan preparation UDS: – Numerous stakeholders – Many individual agendas Action Plan: – Need two versions: In-depth and detailed Streamlined – Cross-sectoral: issues of coordination – Consistency with other strategies and plans

Way forward and points for discussion Prepare second draft of the UDS Action Plan Complete Investment Plan and identify investment gaps July 2014: Submission as a package to MAF 1)Draft Strategy 2)Draft Action Plan 3)Draft Investment Plan Incorporate feedback from MAF Present package to the SSWG-Uplands and SWG-ARD in 3 rd quarter of 2014 Endorsement by MAF NUDP will recommend: 1)Inter-ministerial panel -- dialogue to review UDS 2)Dialogue with DPs on formulation of a PBA to implement the UDS Review and endorsement by Government Implementation: FY

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