The situation for the management of solid waste and wastewater is weak in Lao PDR. Current policies are focused on promoting full coverage of waste collection without a comprehensive approach to solid waste management. There are no centralized sewerage systems and cities rely on individual investments in onsite sanitation. Poor sanitation is not only bad for the environment, but it also leads to serious public health issues, disease, stunting and economic losses. 

The project objective to support the Government of Lao PDR to operationalize the national priorities on urban development and further guide implementation of the new urban planning through complementary activities that together aim to address both immediate needs to improve access to and quality of urban solid waste and wastewater services as well as build capacity within leading government institutions to guide sustainable urban development into the future. 

Activities of the project are i.) Development of Green Cities Vision and Action Plan for Vientiane and Pakse ii.) Development of implementation strategy for solid waste management in Vientiane iii.) Deployment of waste-to-resource initiatives and facilities in Vientiane iv.) Development of implementation strategy for wastewater management in Pakse v.) Deployment of wastewater management facilities (DEWATS and FSM) in Pakse vi.) Improvement of National Urban Sanitation Strategy .

Impact: Enhancement of Lao PDR capacity to manage green city development and improvement of access to sustainable solid waste and wastewater management services. 

Outcome: N/A 

Project Outputs completed in 2019: 

i. Green Growth Policies:N/A

ii. Green Investments:N/A

iii. Capacity Building and Knowledge Products: 

• 1 Capacity building activity in the form of a workshop to help Lao PDR move toward the development of Green Cities by improving public health and sanitation, increasing access to waste management services and wastewater treatment and creating green jobs. 

Project Manager: Jaeseung Lee 

Annaka Peterson, Christophe Assicot, Shomi Kim, Ankit Bhatt