09 January 2009

Luang Prabang, Lao PDR: A group of UNV volunteers has spent a year meeting local authorities in eleven districts of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, helping them to find out where development funds are most needed.

In line with the National Socio-Economic Development Plan, the Luang Prabang Provincial Administration aims to reduce poverty by boosting economic growth and improving public services.  This is being carried out through the UNDP and Government of Sweden supported Governance and Public Administration Reform Project, Luang Prabang (GPARLP).

In 2008, the GPARLP Service Delivery Fund (SDF) was launched with a financial contribution from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). Knowing where and how best to allocate this money in an area where quality information on service requirements is scarce requires the help of UNV volunteers, especially people with local expertise.

In January 2008, eight national UNV volunteers were recruited to join two international UNV volunteers: a Communications Specialist and the Service Delivery Fund Manager. The group of 10 volunteers has since been getting out and about among the communities of Luang Prabang Province.

"Both the national and the international UNV volunteers work closely together on a daily basis," comments the UNV Programme Officer in the Lao PDR, Elizabeth Bransfield. "This mix of both national and international perspectives, with staff from different backgrounds, is a very beneficial feature of the project."

To help in the allocation of the GPARLP funds, the UNV volunteers are making full use of a specially-designed Service Delivery Information System (SDIS). Essentially an information database that analyzes where the needs for clean water, maternal healthcare, primary education and agriculture services are greatest, the SDIS will help the Governor of Luang Prabang decide how best to allocate resources.

The UNV volunteers' key role is to ensure that data for the SDIS is properly collected – for example training local government staff and volunteers in rural areas on why such information is important and how to properly collect and enter it – and then to feed it into the computer system. The information is then disseminated to various interested departments, including the Lao National Assembly.

The UNV volunteers come from a range of backgrounds, but their motivations are similar. "I believe in volunteerism as a way to start supporting my country," says 23-year-old former youth worker Ms. Viengsavanh Souphavong; while the oldest in the group, ex-teacher Mr. Ounheuane Thongpadith, says he joined the programme "to be close to communities and help poverty reduction."

Another aspect of the project is telling communities about how it's going to work. "I provide assistance with the overall communications issues of the programme, such as the SDIS board design and development," explains international UNV volunteer Adriana Serdan from Mexico. "These information boards are designed with a rights-based approach and help provide people with access to services."

The public information boards were handed over to the 11 districts of Luang Prabang in June 2008 and give information on health (including HIV/AIDS services), education, agriculture, the Lao Women's Union, and the National Assembly.

The 10 UNV volunteers are also promoting volunteerism within the province. As Ms. Southida Moungkhounsavath explains, “we have been implementing volunteer activities in different districts: for example improving footpaths, bridges, HIV/AIDS awareness de-worming and more recently an anti-littering campaign.”

All activities are jointly-owned initiatives and aimed at strengthening local governance. As national UNV volunteers, says Mr. Champeng Khunsavath, “our volunteer plans are always in partnership with the Government and other organizations."

The GPARLP project began in 2002. It is now in its second phase and will run until the end of 2009.