On Thursday 24th August 2023, 22 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) closed their 3-year, European Union-funded COVID response project. The ‘Civil Society Action to Prevent and Mitigate COVID-19’ (CiSAC) project responded to the COVID-19 pandemic with 1,150 prevention and livelihoods recovery activities.

The CISAC project helped over 164,000 people by preventing the spread of COVID across 10 provinces during the pandemic period. In partnership with government at all levels, civil society have spread COVID prevention messages across 218 villages and 34 districts. This included awareness actions in 130 schools, 40 health centres and 8 markets, as well as building over 300 handwashing basins and providing vaccination awareness and access to thousands of people.

The European Union Ambassador to Lao PDR, Ms. Ina Marčiulionytė, highlighted the important role of civil society in supporting the national response project: “The CiSAC project provides strong evidence of how the partnership between EU, Govt., INGOs and civil society, can deliver successful and quality results that have a tangible impact for Lao communities. The project helped to strengthen relations and foster trust between local authorities and local CSOs, demonstrating that CSOs could effectively contribute to the SDG agenda and during the emergency crisis. This project not only reduced deaths and prevented illness, but it has also supported the economic recovery of thousands of families across Lao PDR.”

The Vice-Minister for Health, Dr. Phaivanh Keopasert, stated: “The Ministry of Health appreciates the partnership between the government and Lao civil society to respond to the COVID pandemic. This partnership is an example of how working together, we can successfully respond to global challenges.”

The Country Director for Plan International, Ms. Carol Mortenson, praised the results from all partners: “The CISAC project has been very successful in helping families reduce the impacts of COVID. Plan International is proud to partner again with Lao civil society in this action and wish to thank the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, for their strong support at the national, provincial and district levels during this project.”

Over the past 12 months, these Lao CSOs have focused on livelihood recovery to address the economic impacts of COVID and inflation on working families. More than 5,100 people were supported to recover their livelihoods, with activities ranging from shade-houses for vegetable gardens, small TVET scholarships and frog raising, as well as handicrafts, soap and jam production. These livelihoods are helping people to earn extra incomes.

Dr. Chansy Phimmachan, the Chairperson for the Lao Civil Society Coordination Committee (LCCC), said at the event that “Civil Society Organisations have been responding to the prevention of COVID since 2020, and have implemented over 1,150 activities since the CSOs received funding under the CISAC project in May 2021. These projects not only supported communities to prevent COVID through better hygiene and increased vaccinations, but it also focused on reversing some of the negative impacts from COVID, including financial and social burdens on Lao families. These projects helped women, girls and their communities to prevent and recover from COVID-19.”

The CiSAC project was implemented in partnership between the Ministry of Health, Sustainable Agriculture and Environment for Development Association (SAEDA), Community Health and Inclusion Association (CHIAS) and Plan International in Lao PDR, under direction and coordination with the Lao Civil Society Coordination Office (LCCO).

The other Lao associations responding during this project include: Maeying Houamjai Pathana (MHP) and Community Association for Mobilizing Knowledge in Development (CAMKID) in Bokeo; The Promotion of Family Health Association (PFHA) and Social Development Alliance Association (SODA) in Luang Namtha; Sustainable Development Association (SDA) and The Association for Mutual Assistant (AMA) in Luang Prabang; Promote Sustainable Natural Resources Use Association (PSNUA) and Huam Jai Asasamak Association (HJA) in Xayabouly; Rural Research and Development Promoting Knowledge Association (RRDPA) and Gender Development Association (GDA) in Vientiane Province; Association for Development of Women and Legal Education (ADWLE) and Informal Worker Advancement Association (IWAA) in Vientiane Capital; Learning for Development Association (LDA) and Association for promotion good life to children-youth (APPREN) in Bolikhamxay; Namjai Community Association (NCA) and Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS (APL+) in Khammouane; Community Development Association (CODA) and Takienglao Association (TKL) in Savannakhet, and; Lao Disable People's Association Champasack Branch (LDPA.CPS) and Khong District Community Development Association (KCDA) in Champasak.

The CISAC project funding is part of the Team Europe response to COVID-19, provided by the European Union. It aims to support the government of Lao PDR to mitigate the health, social and economic impacts of the pandemic, and it enhances the effective cooperation with Civil Society Organisations. The funding provided under this project is specific for civil society organisations. The European Union has also implemented projects with the Ministry of Health and WHO that included funding to support the government’s direct response to COVID-19. This is a global effort and the European Union is proud to partner with the Lao government and Lao civil society to reduce the negative impacts from this disease, both health impacts as well as impacts to livelihoods.

More information about

CISAC Project Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/CISAClaos

 
Communication Centre for Education and Health

https://www.facebook.com/CIEH.MoH.Lao

Department of Communicable Disease Control

http://cdc.gov.la/index.php/en/home/

 
The European Union in Laos

https://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/lao-pdr_en

https://www.facebook.com/EUinlaos/

Plan International Laos

http://plan-international.org/laos/

https://www.facebook.com/planinlaos/

 
Community Health and Inclusion Association (CHIas)

https://www.facebook.com/chiaslaoscso.org/

Sustainable Agriculture and Environment for Development Association (SAEDA)

https://saeda.net/

https://www.facebook.com/Saedalaopage/
 
Lao CSO Coordination Office

https://laocso.org/covid-19

https://www.facebook.com/lccolaos

Contacts

Contact: Mr. Nalongsak Xayalath

Email: nalongsak.xayalath@plan-international.org

Mobile: 020 5894 7789