Lao People's Democratic Republic : Alternative Livelihood for Upland Ethnic Groups in Houaphanh Province

Sovereign Project | 41096-012

The Asian Development Bank is working with the Lao People’s Democratic Republic to help people in Houaphan, one of the poorest provinces in the country. The project is improving the livelihoods and rice self-sufficiency of upland ethnic groups in 26 villages in the province. 

Project Details

  • Project Officer
    Souannavong, Souadalay
    Southeast Asia Department
    Request for information
  • Country/Economy
    Lao People's Democratic Republic
  • Modality
Project Name Alternative Livelihood for Upland Ethnic Groups in Houaphanh Province
Project Number 41096-012
Country / Economy Lao People's Democratic Republic
Project Status Closed
Project Type / Modality of Assistance Grant
Source of Funding / Amount
Grant 9117-LAO: Alternative Livelihood for Upland Ethnic Groups in Houaphanh Province
Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific US$ 1.82 million
Strategic Agendas Environmentally sustainable growth
Inclusive economic growth
Drivers of Change Gender Equity and Mainstreaming
Sector / Subsector

Agriculture and Natural Resources / Agriculture, natural resources and rural development
Gender Gender equity
Description

(i) Provide a sound foundation by builidng community capacity in development planning and natural resource management.

(ii) Support detailed preparation and implementation of alternative livelihood opportunities.

(iii) Improve local infrastructure to facilitate introduction of alternative livelihood activities and access to social services.

(iv) Provide facilities and organizational management.
Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy The Lao PDR is classified as a highly indebted poor country (HIPC) and is currently eligible to receive 50% of total project financing from ADB as grants. In this context, Houaphan is one of the poorest provinces in the country, and the villages to be targeted by the project are among the poorest in the province.
Impact Poverty reduction for upland ethnic groups in Lao PDR.
Project Outcome
Description of Outcome Improved livelihoods of upland ethnic groups in 26 villages in Houaphanh Province
Progress Toward Outcome Main outcome achievements are: (i) total wet season production was 1,370 tons showing an increase of 30.4% from the 2007 baseline; (ii) families with rice sufficiency increased by 11.42% compared to the baseline and the number of households with a marketable surplus increased by 100% from 2007, (iii) Natural resource management (land use, forest management, NTFP extraction) regulations adopted in all project villages ; (iv) production of crops other than rice increased by 111% from the baseline, and the overall paddy area increased by around 26% as shifting cultivators adopt alternative production systems and livelihood activities. Overall the number of poor families in the target villages has been reduced by 20.11% from the baseline. Vegetable and rice production have been the main drivers of the improvements.
Implementation Progress
Description of Project Outputs

Strengthened Village Capacity Development

Generated Alternative livelihoods

Improved infrastructure in access to market and social services.

Efficient Project Management
Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues)

The Project has made good progress, with the physical progress of 91% and financial progress of 99%. It is considered to be on track and satisfactory.

Component A: The Project has established 26 Village Development Committees (VDCs), and 26 village develpment plans. The VDCs have a total of 132 representatives that include 41 women (31%). Land use planning completed in all project villages and family level land allocation completed in 12 villages.

Component B: Main acheivements include: (i) 54 village agriculture volunteers, 39 village veterinary workers, 143 village foresters were elected and trained; (ii) 143 agriculture production groups, 36 livestock and fishery production groups were formed and supported by the Project. Three Community enterprise groups (CEGs) with total members of 80 families have been formed in the Project area. The CEGs are collecting savings from the members and start to collect the local products to supply to the local market in district town.

Component C: A total of 16 water supply schemes (gravity-fed system) had been constructed and water user groups were formed; 946 latrines have been constructed. 11 irrigation schemes have been improved by the Project. The irrigation improvements are leading to increased crop diversification and also dry season cultivation of rice and other crops such as vegetables. Village access road opening have been completed for 20.15 kms. Village track improvement schemes planned for total 74.08 kms (10 roads), 8 roads have been completed with a total lengh of 63.5 km with operation and maintenance trainings provided to the villagers;

Component D: The Project has 34 staff including 19 Provincial Project Office staff and 15 district-based staff. The Project Coordination Committee has met regularly.
Geographical Location
Safeguard Categories
Environment C
Involuntary Resettlement C
Indigenous Peoples C
Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects
Environmental Aspects The project will support the construction of some village infrastructure, including village tracks, rural water supply systems, latrines, small-scale community-managed irrigation systems, and construction of a Local Development Center (LDC). The construction sites will be determined by villagers during participatory consultation meetings. No negative environmental effect is expected. The site selection for construction of these infrastructures will be carefully addressed to avoided or minimized environmental impact wherever possible.
Involuntary Resettlement No IR impact, no actions are required.
Indigenous Peoples The Project has been prepared with close coordination with ethnic minority villagers and they will be solicited from the earliest stages of project implementation in view of extending its positive impacts on ethnic groups' livelihood without negatively affecting their customary rights of use and access to land and natural resources, cultural and communal integrity, and the recognition of their indigenous knowledge. All project beneficiaries belong to an ethnic group and with no group being predominant over the other. As the Project beneficiaries and indigenous peoples are synonymous, the Project itself serves as an Indigenous Peoples' Development Plan (IPDP). Therefore, no separate IPDP is required.
Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation
During Project Design

(i) The project was prepared in consultation with representatives from the ethnic groups in the project area, villagers, relevant provincial and district staff.

(ii) The concepts and drafts have been shared with the Japanese Embassy in Vientiane through email exchanges since December 2006 with Minister Counselor and Advisor.

(iii) Representative of UNODC, WFP, WB, JICA and CCL.
During Project Implementation During project implementation, government, UNODC and ADB joint project reviews.
Business Opportunities
Consulting Services The selection of consultants will be carried out by the EA according to ADB's Guidelines on the Use of Consultants (2007, as amended from time to time). A total of 94 person-months of consulting services (10 person-months of international, and 84 person-months national) will be provided for the services of project implementation specialists/agronomist, community development specialist, agriculture extension specialist, and community health specialist.
Procurement All goods and civil works will be procured in accordance with ADB's Procurement Guidelines (2007, as amended from time to time). National competitive bidding (NCB) and Shopping will be the procurement methods to be used. ADB will make direct payments to consultants based on recommendations by the EA. Goods and civil works equivalent to or below $100,000 will be procured using ADB's shopping procedure, and above $100,000 will be procured using ADB's NCB procedure. No International Competitive Bidding is envisaged under the project.
Responsible ADB Officer Souannavong, Souadalay
Responsible ADB Department Southeast Asia Department
Responsible ADB Division Lao Resident Mission
Executing Agencies
Provincial Government of Houaphanh
Mr. Siviengxam Phengphomma
[email protected]
Xamneua, Houaphanh Province
Provincial Government of Houaphanh
Phonesane Vilaymeng
Xam Neua (Office of the Secretary of the Governor) Vientiane Lao, PDR
Timetable
Concept Clearance 22 Feb 2007
Fact Finding 26 Mar 2007 to 11 Apr 2007
MRM -
Approval 13 Feb 2008
Last Review Mission -
PDS Creation Date 30 Jun 2008
Last PDS Update 15 Dec 2011

Grant 9117-LAO

Milestones
Approval Signing Date Effectivity Date Closing
Original Revised Actual
13 Feb 2008 09 Apr 2008 09 Apr 2008 08 Apr 2011 29 Feb 2012 27 Jun 2012
Financing Plan Grant Utilization
Total (Amount in US$ million) Date ADB Others Net Percentage
Project Cost 1.82 Cumulative Contract Awards
ADB 0.00 17 Jun 2022 0.00 1.82 100%
Counterpart 0.00 Cumulative Disbursements
Cofinancing 1.82 17 Jun 2022 0.00 1.82 100%

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