SUNWIP TARGET AREAS
The project targets Southern Lao, where improved sanitation is lower than in the rest of the country. Two provinces Savannakhet and Khammouane, 6 districts (4 in Savannakhet, 2 in Khammouane) and 62 villagers were jointly designated as targets by the GoL and the EU Delegation, for reasons of consistency with other components under the EU-funded program and other donor initiatives.
NUTRITIONAL SITUATION IN THE LAO PDR Lao PDR faces concerning nutrition issues, showing the highest Global Hunger Index (GHI) in South-East Asia in 2017. Lao PDR nutrition status is still qualified as “serious hunger�, with a current score of 27,5 out of 100. Hence, hunger- and malnutrition are one of the major undermining factors of the development of Lao PDR. In order to meet the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) targets that were agreed at that time, Lao PDR joined the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement in 2011. Additionally, the Government of Lao PDR (GoL) is putting efforts in leaving the category of Least Developed Countries by 2030, and it is acknowledged that improved nutrition is the main lever to achieve such a goal. The GoL, through the National Nutrition Committee (NNC) and its Secretariat, continue to coordinate and engage nutrition stakeholders through periodic meetings and high-level events. It has also put in place the national policies on nutrition, which includes the National Nutrition Strategy to 2025 and the subsequent Action Plan from 2016 to 2020. The Action Plan lists 22 priority interventions areas, to be addressed in highly affected districts, of which 14 deal with Health, Nutrition and WASH while others revolve around Education and Food & Agriculture. This set of 14 interventions areas include provision of goods and infrastructures but also institutional and WASH measures. On the other hand, the European Union (EU) global cooperation policy seeks to contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). A full joint programming document for the Lao PDR 2016-2020 was developed under the overall framework of the 8th National Socio-Economic Development Plan 2016-2020, which formalised the partnership with the GoL to improve nutrition in the Lao PDR. The European Joint Programming for the Lao PDR is built around three pillars:
THE EU PROGRAM IS BUILT ON THREE PILLARS PILLAR 1: ‘’Strengthening Nutrition Governance’’ by supporting multi stakeholder platforms to align and coordinate nutrition priority interventions across sectors to ensure unified action and sustainable outcomes for nutrition. PILLAR 2: ‘’Scaling-up Nutrition Specific Support’’ by effectively improving outreach and delivery mechanisms thus improving the nutrition status of vulnerable communities, especially women and young children. PILLAR 3: ‘’Scaling-up Nutrition Sensitive Support’’ by seeking longer-term and sustainable impacts through the promotion of diversified food production and sustainable value chains, rural infrastructure (mainly water and sanitation: subject of the fact-finding mission presented in this report), and education/behavioural change communication with a strong focus on women’s empowerment. Under the EU Joint Programming, the WASH indicators are defined as follows:
SUNWIP IN BRIEF The Scaling-Up Nutrition and WASH Infrastructure Project (SUNWIP) is part of this broader EU-funded program and addresses Pillar 3, dealing with provision of rural infrastructure supporting water and sanitation as well as training activities to support related socio-behavioural change and communication.
SUNWIP PROJECT APPROACH PROJECT OBJECTIVES The project objective aims to contribute to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the Lao PDR, mainly, SDG 2 “End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture” and SDG 6 “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all”. Furthermore, the project directly contributes to the achievement of Priority Intervention 14 of the Lao National Nutrition Strategy (NNS 2025) and National Plan of Action on Nutrition (NPAN 2016-2020) to ‘’Strengthen water sources and supply systems; and improve sanitation in households, communities, health facilities and schools’’. PROJECT APPROACH The Department of Water Supply (DWS) at the Ministry of Public Works (MPWT) is the leading Implementing Agency, which works in close corporation with the National Nutrition Committee Secretariat NNCS and an international implementation consulting firm. The Scaling-Up Nutrition and WASH Infrastructure Project (SUNWIP) aims to directly support the Lao PDR in achieving National Nutrition Strategy to 2025 and the Sustainable Development Goals in improving access to water and sanitation to households, communities, healthcare facilities and schools. The project duration is four years from 2018-2021. The project will focus on three main result areas: • RESULT AREA 1 – Improved access to clean water Construction of clean water supply facilities in small rural towns, for a total investment of 11,76 million euros benefiting up to approximately 90.000 end-users. • RESULT AREA 2 – Improved WASH awareness WASH awareness campaigns towards the beneficiary households and neighbouring communities and other soft measures.
• RESULT AREA 3 – Strengthened WASH governance Setting-up of a sustainable O&M organization for each of the investment made under Result Area 1, along with broader capacity building at all administrative levels (district, province and state) to ensure better planning, implementation, operation and evaluation of water and sanitation programs. PROJECT FUNDING The total financial commitment for the project amounts to EUR 16,95 million. Of this amount, EUR 15 million is granted by the European Union through KfW and EUR 1,95 million is contributed by the Government of the Lao PDR.
Stunting affects 51% of young children from household with poor sanitation, compared to 34% of those using improved water and sanitation.
PROJECT TARGET AREAS The project targets Southern Lao, where improved sanitation is lower than in the rest of the country. Two provinces were jointly designated as targets by the GoL and the EU Delegation, for reasons of consistency with other components under the EU-funded program and other donor initiatives. These are Savannakhet and Khammouane provinces, comprising of 6 districts (4 in Savannakhet, 2 in Khammouane). Approximately 62 villages will benefit from SUNWIP. PROJECT IMPACTS As a result, the access, quality and reliability of water supply and sanitation services will be improved for up to 90.000 residents in small and medium sized towns in the provinces of Savannakhet and Khammouane. Additionally, local communities, key officials and policy decision makers will benefit from the capacity building, trainings and awareness measures.
SANITATION CHALLENGES IN RURAL AREAS THE WASH-NUTRITION LINK The “WASH-Nutrition link” is finding increasing recognition. It is defined by two causal relationships: • Lao PDR faces concerning nutrition issues, showing the highest Global Hunger Index (GHI) in South-East Asia in 2017. With a current score of 27.5 out of 100, Lao PDR nutrition status is still qualified as “serious hunger”. • Poor hygiene & sanitation and nutrition status are closely linked, waterborne diseases being one of the primary causes of malnutrition.
The role of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene is reducing malnutrition in Laos
FOR SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE SANITATION FACILITIES, FAECAL SLUDGE MANAGEMENT IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE.
CURRENT SITUATION IN RURAL AREAS The water supply must be linked to sustainable sanitation facilities. • Thus far only one latrine type has been advocated (pit pour flush latrines, suitable for areas with regular water supply) KNOW YOUR TOILETS • There are other types latrines that are suitable for different terrains (flood-prone, high ground water, rocky land).
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2564 | 2021
Lao Lao PDR PDRNutrition, Nutrition, Sanitation Sanitation and & Hygiene Issues Hygiene Issues
Poor hygiene & sanitation and nutrition Poor hygiene & sanitation nutrition status are closely linked,and waterborne status arebeing closelyone linked, waterborne diseases of the primary causes diseases being one of project the primary of malnutrition. The areacauses includes of malnutrition. The project area includes 6six districts, 2 provinces and 8 working districts, two provinces and 8 working locations. Theseareas areas show high locations. These show a high demand demand for reliable safe and reliable water for safe and water supply. Up to supply. Up to90,000 residents in 62 90,000 residents in 62 villages will benefit villages will benefit year-round from a year-round safefrom watera supply. safe water supply.
26%
Poor sanitation and hygiene are the Poor sanitation cause of more than
[1.8 million]
of the population have no access % to improved sanitation – Country Analysis Report: Lao PDR (2015) United Nations Partnership Framework (2017-2021)
Percent of the population without access to improved sanitation with 23% practicing open defecation
More than More than
6,000 6,000
premature deaths premature deaths ininLPDR by LPDR caused caused by poor poorsanitation sanitation – Lao Statistics Bureau, 2012
3,000,000 disease cases a year 3,000,000 disease cases a year
and hygiene are the cause of more than
26
24% 24%
– Lao Statistics Bureau, 2012
of the LPDR
of the LPDR population population [1.7 million] relies on [1.7 million] drinking relies on unimproved unimproved drinking water resources
water resources
% 31% 14 Urban Rural 14% 31% population population
urban population
rural population
LPDR has the LPDR has the highest highest Global Hunger Global Hunger Index score Index in in Southscore East Asia Southeast Asia
27.5/100 27.5/100
– http://lao.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/resource -pdf/LSISReportEnglish2011-2012% 20%281%29.pdf
Additional water supply systems or improvement an improvement of the existing Additional water supply systems or an of the existing system in expected target is expected support GoL forall-year improving insystem target is to supportto GoL priorities forpriorities improving access access water and use a better-informed use of to all-year clean water andtoa clean better-informed of water sanitation andwater hygiene sanitation and hygiene practices (WASH) to mitigate the nutritional practices (WASH) to mitigate the nutritional impact of diarrhoeal disease impact of diarrhoeal disease and accelerate nutritional gains. and accelerate nutritional gains.
Malfunctioning of the rural
Malfunctioning of the rural water water supplyare systems are to supply systems mostly due mostly duepipe to insufficient size insufficient size or the drying of theup pipes or the drying up of water sources
of water sources.
GHI
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