The rapid economic transformation in Laos is having a profound impact on all aspects of society, particularly in terms of how land is used, managed and accessed by local people, the state and private investors.

Farmers are struggling to adapt their farming systems and livelihoods strategies to a market based economy and there is a widening gap between rich and poor. Likewise, communities face greater conflict and competition over natural resources and land use. Local government officials are also under pressure to make decisions on investment opportunities where they have no real understanding of the costs and benefits of such development activities. Even national policy makers are struggling to make informed choices about national investment and regional integration as they lack information, experience and knowledge in negotiating such deals.

What is clear is that it is not just a technical or structural issue. Rather the way to address this is to focus on capacity development, knowledge, communication and improving coordination at all levels. The emphasis must be on the facilitation of learning and knowledge to assist citizens of Lao become active partners in development and take advantage of the opportunities emerging from this transition rather than suffer from the negative consequences. For too long farmers have been in isolation, and project and government agencies have worked with little coordination. Information and knowledge are the best way to improve linkages between different actors and agencies and thus increase the effectiveness through collective action.

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OBJECTIVES

• Policy makers at all levels have access to better information to make informed decisions that balance local development, environmental sustainability and macro level integration into the regional economy
• Development organizations (donors, NGOs, INGOs) make strategic interventions to assist in this transition rather than becoming obscured by the large investments being made by the private sector and regional governments into Laos (China, Vietnam and Thailand)
• Farmers, communities and citizens of Lao are assisted in this transition and are better equipped to deal with rapid market and socio-economic changes taking place so they can be active participants in development