New York, 22 September 2010 - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) presented today the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Acceleration Framework, an innovative approach designed to help countries identify and resolve barriers to eradicating extreme poverty, and achieving sustainable development. 

The Framework was presented at an event entitled Turning evidence into practice: Learning from what works to accelerate MDG progress held during the world leaders’ Summit to review progress on the MDGs, eight internationally-agreed goals aimed at reducing poverty and improving education, health, gender equality and environmental sustainability by 2015.

“I look forward to seeing the MDG Acceleration Framework play a successful role in helping to deliver a better life for billions of people around the world,” said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon during his keynote address. Read more

To access Unlocking progress: MDG acceleration on the road to 2015, visit here

Here are the photos of President and the Lao delegation at the High-level Plenary Meeting of the UN General Assembly: “MDG Summit”

And here is the Video of side event

Here is the MDG Acceleration Framework Progress Report for Lao PDR (September 2010)_PDF

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) together with the Department of Personnel of the Ministry of Health (lead agency) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry have joined forces to discuss and agree on a national plan for capacity building for food and nutrition security in Lao PDR.

Around  40 staff involved in planning, program implementation, monitoring and evaluation from the Ministry of Health (MoH), the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), the Ministry of Education (MoE), and the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) as well as several development agencies, mass organizations and civil society organizations participated in the meeting in Vientiane Capital on Thursday. Read more

For the past three days 20 students from across Lao PDR have been in Vientiane attending a national forum on human trafficking. The students came from Bokeo, Saravane, Savannakhet and Vientiane Capital and were selected to attend from over 1,000 students who participated in countrywide forums.

The discussions gave the students the opportunity to share their experiences and voice their concerns, thoughts and recommendations on how to tackle the scourge of human trafficking. The forum will also act as a selection process for the 3rd Mekong Youth Forum to be held in Thailand this October. Five students will be chosen to represent Lao PDR at the regional forum with the possibility of a place at the January 2011 meeting for all members of the Coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiative against Trafficking (COMMIT). Read more

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) organizes a national training course “Strengthening Food Import Inspection and Certification” in Vientiane Capital from 21 to 23 September 2010. The training started on Tuesday morning.

The aim with the three day training course is to strengthen the capacity of food inspectors that are working in Government food control institutions, by strengthening practical methods and techniques for inspection of imported and domestic foods in Lao PDR. Thirty food safety professionals from all provinces and Vientiane Capital, working daily on food inspection issues, are attending the training. Read more

As the International Day of Peace is celebrated all over the world, UNDP Lao PDR wants to highlight the significance of the Cluster Munition Convention in brining peace to the life of people in Lao PDR. The Convention, which entered into force in August 2010, is an important achievement in disarmament.

The new photo essay presents some key provisions of the Convention and also briefly describes the situation in Lao PDR.

Watch photo essay

the Secretary-GeneralMESSAGE ON THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE21 September 2010 Today we observe the annual International Day of Peace – a day dedicated to ceasefire and non-violence.  Peace is precious.  It must be nurtured, maintained, defended.   

That is why, each year on the International Day of Peace, I ring the Peace Bell at United Nations headquarters.  And it is why – every day – I work for peace.  I mediate between antagonists.  I sound the alarm about threats – those we can see clearly, and others that lurk just over the horizon.  I promote tolerance, justice and human rights, and I campaign for harmony among countries and peoples.

This year, Peace Day is dedicated to young people.  We recently entered the International Year of Youth.  Its theme of dialogue and mutual understanding captures the very essence of peace.

Young people today are at home with global diversity; comfortable in an interconnected world.  Yet they are also vulnerable to the forces of extremism.  So I say to all governments and our partners: let us do more for young people.  Let us give them a world of peace and tolerance.

And I say to all young people: join us.  Help us to work for peace.  You are impatient.  You see what we, your elders, allow to persist, year after year: poverty and hunger; injustice and impunity; environmental degradation. 

With just five years remaining to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, I ask all, young and old, to help us to find global solutions to these global problems.  Share your plans and ideas, act with creativity and passion.  Help us fight for peace and prosperity for all.

The bi-annual inter-sessions of the National Assembly provide an opportunity to strengthen the role of NA members and committees. The United Nations Joint Programme on Support to an Effective National Assembly (SELNA) facilitates the important initiative of the NA.

The bi-annual inter-sessions of the National Assembly provide an opportunity to strengthen the role of NA members and committees. The United Nations Joint Programme on Support to an Effective National Assembly (SELNA) facilitates the important initiative of the NA. Over 120 National Assembly members and staff, key government officials and members of the development community have gathered to Thalat in Vientiane Province 13 to 16 September to discuss economic and trade issues, international law and law-making processes. The bi-annual inter-session is organised between the formal NA sessions that take place every year in June and December.

The three-day programme covers a variety of interesting topics, such as the rapidly growing role of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Lao PDR and mobilizing quality FDI to help achieve the valuable goals of the 7th NSEDP. The current situation regarding Foreign Direct Investments will be looked at from different angles: the decision-making process within the Government; benefits, setbacks and fiscal impact from current FDI and the opportunities and challenges the rapidly growing FDI pose to the country. Read more

Opening remarks by Mr Ian Holland, UNDP Resident Representative a.i. on National Assembly Inter-session programme

New York, 14 September 2010 —A photograph of female and male students in Pakistan working together on a circuit board in their engineering class was one of three winning photographs of a global anti-poverty photo contest. The other two winners, judged by UNDP Goodwill Ambassador and internationally-acclaimed actor Antonio Banderas and four photo journalists, feature a boy on his way to school in India and fishermen in Viet Nam bringing in the day’s catch.

“By showing what people around the world are doing to eradicate extreme poverty in their communities, we see that the Millennium Development Goals are not just abstract targets, but are about making a tangible difference in people’s lives,” said Helen Clark, UNDP Administrator. “It is our hope that through showcasing these real and positive actions, more people will be motivated to contribute to this effort.” Read more

For more information on the winners and the photo contest, see: HERE