Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR – June 4, 2026, The Ministry of Finance (MOF) and Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT) in collaboration with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), convened the second Project Steering Committee (PSC) Meeting to review progress and set strategic directions for the project “Scaling Out Sustainable Solid Waste and Wastewater Management to Improve Public Health and Environment in Lao PDR (Phase II).”

Building on the momentum of the first PSC meeting held in May 2025, the meeting brought together key stakeholders to review project implementation progress, present the 2026 workplan, and seek guidance on strategic direction of the project to ensure effective and impactful delivery of outcomes.

The KOICA-funded project, which has been under implementation since October 2023, aims to strengthen the Government of Lao PDR’s capacity on green growth planning, mobilizing green investments, and developing sustainable urban systems. The project operates both at the national and provincial level. It supports green growth mainstreaming into the national and provincial socioeconomic development plans and contributes to improved public health and environmental sustainability through decentralized solid waste management and improved wastewater treatment services.

To share key highlights from 2025, policy recommendation packages for national green growth mainstreaming were submitted to the Ministry of Finance, sustainable solid waste management strategies for two districts were developed, conceptual designs for waste management infrastructure were approved, an outline of the new National Wastewater Law was prepared, and the initial environmental examination (IEE) was cleared for Pakse City’s wastewater infrastructure.

The PSC meeting was chaired by H.E. Phouvong Kittavong, Vice Minister of MOF and co-chaired by H.E. Detsongkham Thammavong, Vice Minister of MPWT, alongside Mr. Sungsoo Oh, KOICA Country Director, and Ms. Eva Diaz Ugena, GGGI Lao PDR’s Deputy Country Representative. The meeting was attended by more than 40 participants, including vice governors, mayors, and director generals from provinces and national ministries.

The meeting also provided a platform to reflect on lessons learned from Phase I (2019-2025) of the project and discuss how to further enhance the effectiveness of Phase II as well as an opportunity to strengthen coordination among stakeholders. Participants emphasized the importance of continued collaboration and shared ownership to ensure long-term sustainability of the intervention.

The chair of the event, H.E. Phouvong Kittavong, Vice Minister of MOF highlighted the continued importance of strong coordination among stakeholders to ensure the success of the project. He emphasized that sustained collaboration and shared ownership are essential to improving service delivery and achieving long-term sustainability in the waste and wastewater sector.

H.E. Detsongkham Thammavong, Vice Minister of MPWT stressed the importance of sustainable sanitation services for healthier communities and more livable cities. He urged for adequate supervision and cooperation provided by both the Department of Housing and Urban Planning and the Department of Water Supply on this project.

KOICA Country Director Mr. Sungsoo Oh mentioned the project’s meaningful contribution to the Lao PDR’s national planning process, especially mainstreaming green growth into the 10th NSEDP. He also emphasized that beyond infrastructure, this project is strengthening institutions, policies, and capacities needed to sustain improved solid waste and wastewater services over the long term.

Ms. Eva Diaz Ugena, GGGI Lao PDR Deputy Country Representative, highlighted the importance of adopting innovative and sustainable approaches, including promoting circular economy practices and mobilizing investment to scale up solutions. She reiterated GGGI’s continued support to the Government of Lao PDR in achieving its green growth and climate objectives.

The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment from all stakeholders to accelerate implementation in 2026, strengthen cross-sector coordination and maximize the project’s impact on urban communities across Lao PDR.