Sustainable Consumption and Production in Lao PDR (SCP Lao)

The goal of the project is to enable environmental Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), particularly those focusing on youth and women, to contribute to green and inclusive economic growth in the Lao PDR. This will be achieved by strengthening their capacities in three main areas: policy dialogue, awareness raising, and income generation.
invalid
Luang Prabang Province
20.0656229
102.6216211
invalid
Vientiane
17.9757058
102.6331035
Project duration
2024 - 2027
Financed by
  • European Union EU
  • Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC

The SCP aims to address the country's environmental challenges, including low rates of waste collection and recycling, low levels of source separation by waste generators, and poor coordination between key public, private and civil society stakeholders. The project proposes to strengthen the technical capacity of Lao civil society organisations to promote sustainable consumption and production, with a particular focus on youth and women. 

The Project

The overall objective of the SCP Lao project is that local civil society organisations, Lao youth and women's associations and local authorities contribute to green and inclusive economic growth in the Lao PDR.

The specific objectives are grouped into three outcomes:

  1. The role of youth and women CSOs in environmental policy processes is enhanced, with a particular focus on sustainable consumption and production, through the development of more and better evidence-based research and regular policy dialogue.
  2. Improved environmental behaviour of the wider population, with a focus on youth and women, through increased membership of environmental CSOs and active participation of youth and women in awareness-raising campaigns.
  3. Improved recycling systems, employment and income generation from green and upcycled products, resulting in the creation of green jobs and an increase in the amount of better managed waste through innovative and localised solutions.

The SCP Lao project will be implemented using a systemic approach to build the capacity of environmental CSOs and other target groups within the system to take on new or improved roles to contribute to sustainable consumption and production practices, particularly in the waste sector and among youth and women.

Project Goals

  • Policy dialogue and research
    - Local CSOs are strengthened in environmental advocacy and environmental policies, regulations, strategies and action plans are discussed in biannual policy dialogues with the project's public and private partners;
    - Local CSOs have improved their research skills by producing publications, research papers or studies.
  • Awareness raising and networking
    - The capacity of CSOs and other target groups to design and implement environmental awareness-raising campaigns was strengthened;
    - A CSO working group has been established to improve access to support services, ensuring regular coordination with mass youth and women's organisations and local authorities.
  • Income generation and waste management
    - Local CSOs have increased technical capacity in upcycling and other green product development;
    - Local CSOs improve access to green marketplaces for green and upcycled products, fostering regular and ongoing cooperation between CSOs and informal waste pickers to provide recyclables and improved business opportunities for young women entrepreneurs;
    - Local CSOs and other target groups gain increased skills in developing waste management solutions related to waste segregation, collection, storage, recycling and disposal, and these solutions are piloted in coordination with local authorities, youth and women's mass organisations.

Project Partners

  • The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment

Implementing Partners:

  • STELLA Social Enterprise
  • Sisterhood for Development Association

Expected Results

  • 50 000 households benefiting from waste management solutions introduced
  • 20% increase in net income from upcycling or other green products and 100 green jobs supported or maintained
  • 200 000 people actively engaged in social media and events related to sustainable consumption and production
  • Four CSOs influencing environmental policies/regulations/strategies/action plans implemented by local authorities
  • Strengthened the environmental capacity of 50 CSOs, mass organisations and local authorities

News

Laos
Green cities
14.06.2024
New partnership signed for Sustainable Consumption and Production project in Lao PDR
Vientiane, June 14, 2024 – This afternoon, the Lao Ministry for Natural Resources and Environment and the Swisscontact organisation signed a Memorandum of Understanding, marking the official start of a new cooperation co-funded by the European Union and Switzerland for 2,499,580 (Two million four hundred ninety-nine thousand and five hundred eighty) EURO. The purpose of the new project “Sustainable Consumption and Production in the Lao PDR (SCP Lao)” is to significantly support the Lao PDR’s green endeavor while creating employment opportunities for the communities through awareness raising, enhancing the role of youth and women's organizations in environmental policies, and improving waste management solutions to generate green jobs.