Vientiane Capital, 29 September 2023. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) signed an agreement on 29 September 2023 to provide technical support to the National Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Secretariat. The key objective is to further enhance multi-stakeholder engagement at national and provincial levels for SDG localization, monitoring and reporting in Lao PDR. The support draws on the capacity of FAO as the custodian UN agency for 21 SDG indicators and is a major contributor to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), 5 (Gender Equality), 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), 14 (Life below Water) and 15 (Life on Land).

Achieving the SDGs requires a paradigm shift in working together and drive transformational changes. “The support that FAO provides, together with wider UN system, to the National SDG Secretariat is strategic. It helps bringing together not only stakeholders at the national and sectoral levels but also provincial authorities and local communities to accelerate progress towards the SDGs”, stated Mr. Daovy Vongxay, Director General of Department of International Organization/Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  There is a need for greater participation and engagement from all stakeholders.  To achieve this, it is crucial to clearly define the roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder, while strengthening their capacities and providing them with appropriate information and tools, Mr. Vongxay further emphasized. The Director General also pointed out that the support from FAO together with wider UN system comes at the right time as the Government of Lao PDR is in the process of preparing its third Voluntary National Review (VNR) on SDG implementation. The 3rd VNR will be presented during the three-day ministerial segment of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) in July 2024. 

Ms. Hang Thi Thanh Pham, FAO Representative ad interim to Lao PDR, acknowledged the significant contribution of SDG progress towards the graduation of Lao PDR from LDC status. She echoed Mr. Vongxay, stressing the importance of greater collaboration and deeper partnerships between governments, civil society, the private sector, UN agencies, development partners, and other stakeholders to ensure that all sectors have the knowledge and skills required to contribute to the achievement of the SDGs. She highlighted that FAO's Strategic Framework 2022-31 aligns with the five basic principles that underpin all SDGs: people, planet, prosperity, peace, and partnership.

Organized at FAO Laos Office, the signing ceremony was witnessed by representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry of Planning and Investment, and FAO colleagues.