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The Department of Meteorology and Hydrology of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has organized local-level consultations with civil society organizations working in the agriculture and rural sector to gather their input on the development of a new climate resilience project for Laos. The project, known as Scaling-up Local and National Level Decision Making for Climate Resilience in the Agricultural Sector of Lao PDR (SAMIS-2), will be financed by the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

The consultations, which were held in Luang Prabang and Savannakhet, brought together representatives from 24 civil society organizations representing different sectors, including agriculture, environment, education, health, labor, gender, social protection, and community development. Participants discussed the potential of the SAMIS-2 project to enhance climate resilience in the Lao PDR agricultural sector and provided recommendations for its implementation.

“The SAMIS-2 project has the potential to make a significant contribution to the modernization of the meteorological sector, improve information for farmers, and help achieve the targets of the 9th National Socio-Economic Development Plan (NSEDP),” said Mr. Viengxay Manivong, Deputy Director General at the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology

Mr. Chanthalath Pongmala, Assistant FAO Representative - Programme in Lao PDR, highlighted the importance of collaboration and knowledge and information sharing in the implementation of the SAMIS-2 project. “The scope of the consultations was to maximize discussion and collaboration for the successful implementation of the project,” he said.

Civil society organizations participating in the consultations stressed the need for stronger partnerships, tailored information, and capacity building to enable them to effectively utilize weather data for agricultural planning and decision-making. They also suggested that the SAMIS-2 project should focus on promoting climate-smart agriculture practices and building the resilience of vulnerable communities.

FAO is committed to working with the Lao PDR government, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the SAMIS-2 project and contribute to the achievement of the country’s climate resilience goals.