VIENTIANE — Representatives from the Lao Civil Society Coordination Committee (LCCC) and various local civil society organisations (CSOs) met with a high-level delegation from Germany on Thursday to review nearly a decade of cooperation and discuss the future of the sector as Laos prepares for LDC graduation.
The visit, held at the LCCC Office in Vientiane on January 15, 2026, welcomed officials from the Federal German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the German Embassy to Lao PDR.
The delegation included the Deputy Head of Division 311 at BMZ, Ms. Michaela Henning and the Head of Cooperation at the German Embassy, Mr. Ulrich Geringer.
Chairperson of the LCCC, Mrs. Minavanh Pholsena, expressed profound gratitude to the German government for its unwavering support over the past eight years. She noted that the partnership has been instrumental in strengthening the capacity of local organisations to contribute to the nation’s development.
“We extend our sincere gratitude to BMZ and the German Embassy for the continuous support which has allowed us to support community development,” Mrs. Minavanh said.
During the meeting, leaders from several prominent Lao CSOs highlighted their ongoing work in inclusive development. Representatives included Mme. Chanpheng from the Women Development Association (WDA), who spoke on gender equality; Mr. Airkeo from the Vocational Development for Blind Association (VDBA); Mr. Samieng from the Lao Disabled People’s Association (LDPA); and Mr. Souliya from the Association for Autism.
A central theme of the dialogue was the impact of the Citizen Engagement for Good Governance, Accountability, and Rule of Law (CEGGA) programme. Mr. Viengakhone, representing the LCCC Secretariat, provided a briefing on the milestones achieved under the programme, while also outlining the challenges that remain as the sector looks toward the next five years.
The discussions also touched upon the critical transition period as Lao PDR prepares to graduate from Least Developed Country (LDC) status. The LCCC emphasized the role of CSOs in supporting this transition by ensuring that development remains equitable and that the most vulnerable populations are not left behind.
In response to queries regarding sustainability, the LCCC outlined its strategies for becoming increasingly independent from development partners. The committee also discussed ways to make the Good Governance working group—specifically its engagement with Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs)—more effective.
While acknowledging well-established processes in cooperating with the Government of Lao PDR (GoL), the participants also identified areas for improvement to ensure more streamlined and effective collaboration.
The meeting concluded with a call for continued technical and financial assistance from German partners. Mrs. Minavanh emphasized that such support is vital to empower Lao CSOs to act as “changemakers” for effective, just, and sustainable development, both within the country and the wider region.
