lao pdr 2016-2018 cso action plan-draft.docx

7/25/2019 Lao PDR 2016-2018 CSO Action Plan-DRAFT.docx

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2016 LAOPDRRESIDENT MISSION2016-2018 CIVIL SOCIETY PARTICIPATION PLAN- DRAFT

I. BACKGROUND TO CIVIL SOCIETY IN LAO PDR

1. Civil society globally refers to groups distinct from the government and the private sector whooperate around shared interests, purposes and values. Of particular relevance to ADB aroundthe world are nongovernment organizations (!Os", community #ased organizations (CBOs",people$s organizations, foundations, professional associations, private research institutes anduniversities, la#or unions, mass organizations, social movements, and coalitions%networ&s ofcivil society organizations and um#rella organizations.1'hese different types of groups togetherare &nown as civil society organizations (COs".

). ADB$s internal glo#al definitions of civil society and related sta&eholder terminology sometimes

conflict with the same terms used #y sta&eholders in the *ao +eople$s Democratic epu#lic(*ao +D".)-n the *ao contet, three main civil society groups are considered to contri#ute tocivil society and are relevant to the terminology for civil society used #y ADB (#ut these termsare not always consistently used #y all sta&eholders"/

).1 Inten!t"#n!$ n#n%#&en'ent #%!n"(!t"#n) (-!Os", including internationalresearch institutes.

).) L#*!$ *"&"$ )#*"et+ #%!n"(!t"#n) (COs", which include local non0profitassociations (+A", foundations, training centers, research institutes, social enterprises,and community #ased organizations (CBOs", which may include agricultural productiongroups, savings groups, micro0savings groups, handicrafts groups, co0operatives,volunteer groups, and others. Often the mem#ers of CBOs are also the #eneficiaries ofthe group.

). Se'"-%#&en'ent!$ #%!n"(!t"#n)which were esta#lished #y government decrees

#ut who remain at least partially independent and that are involved in the socio0economic development of the country, such as the *ao Bar Association (*BA" and the*ao ational Cham#er of Commerce and -ndustry (*CC-".

. ADB recognizes these civil society groups as development actors in their own right whoseefforts complement those of the government and the private sector, and who play a significantrole in development in *ao +D.

2. 3ass organizations, while party0sponsored socio0political structures, do fulfill many civil societyroles and functions. As in neigh#oring countries, there is controversy over whether massorganizations can #e considered civil society, as their primary accounta#ility is to the state, nottheir mem#ers. 4owever, some mass organizations in the *ao +D play a very active role in

development at the su#0national and national levels, including through the provision of trainingand capacity development, organizing community0#ased activities, and acting as facilitators fordevelopment partners in rural areas. 3ass organizations are characterized #y strong verticalnetwor&s, most having a representative in each village in *ao +D lin&ed to the district,provincial, and national levels. 'he main mass organizations are the *ao 5ront for ational

1 ADB. )61).) Chiara +erticucci. )612. 7agner 8 9ongsana. )61.


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Construction, the *ao 7omen$s :nion, the *ao 5ederation of 'rade :nions, and the *ao+eople$s evolutionary ;outh :nion. -n addition to 3ass Organizations, in some sectors, thereis strong government support for community0#ased groups, such as 9illage %+3 on Associations, allowing forregistration of +As for the first time. -t re=uired all organizations to re0register under the newscheme. As of une )61> there were approimately 16 fully registered +As,#ut 2 of thoseare at the provincial level and over 6E of those are for #usiness development, for eample the4otel, estaurant, esort and !uesthouse Association, or the *ao Coffee Association.

. 'here are two main networ&s relating to civil society in the *ao +D, the i!O etwor&

comprising approimately -!Os,and the *ao Civil ociety etwor& (*C" (formerly &nownas the *ao +A etwor& (*"", an informal networ& of +As involved in development wor& inthe *ao +D, which has facilities for training and meetings and houses the offices of some+As #ased in 9ientiane.

II. SUMMARY OF LRM CSO ENGAGEMENT IN 201,

. -n the *ao +D, there are several eamples of successful government0civil society cooperationin ADB0financed pro?ects, many through the !reater 3e&ong u#0region (!3" program.Others, such as the 9ientiane ustaina#le :r#an 'ransport +ro?ect, also include su#stantial civilsociety participation. 'he ADB has a long tradition of interacting with civil society at differentlevels, particularly with those who are formally registered under government decrees.

3inistry of 5oreign Affairs, Department of -nternational Organizations. )612.@ -!O etwor&. )61>. Data provided from 3o4A and +o4A (ova& )612" -!O etwor&. )61>.


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epertise or #oth.3otivated #y missions rather than revenue, civil society groups strive to #erepresent a much0needed chec& for ensuring that development pro?ects achieve their socialvalue.

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perception survey will #e endorsed #y Department of -nternational Cooperation, 3inistry of+lanning and -nvestment. Based on the result of the perception survey, (iii" the consultant


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III. STAFFING

1;. -mplementing this civil society engagement plan re=uires staff time, #oth from 4I and from*3. 'he proposed staff mem#ers are as follows9 P!* t# e&"e7

lao pdr 2016-2018 cso action plan-draft.docx

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