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Cases at local-level activities
1. Case Study on UXO Vulnerability and Poverty in Selected Villages of Kaleum District, Sekong Province:Summary Few countries in the history of warfare have withstood the type of aerial bombardment that Lao PDR had from 1964 to 1973. UXO decontamination is an integral part of national development policy and strategy. The study on UXO Vulnerability and Poverty Eradication was taken place in six selected villages in Kaleum District, Sekong Province, and Southeast part of Lao PDR. These targeted villages are namely: Pak Xay, La Kai, Kroung (Kroung Ta Seng), Bak, Ta Lang Mai (Proy), and Trak located in the western part of Kaleum District, where the mostfrequent aerial bombing missions took place and more serious of UXOs presented The selection of study area is based on national criteria on poverty level and UXO contamination of the Lao Government and the researching guidelines agreed between the Lao PEN2 Team and the World Bank Team. Since the war ended, visible UXOs have continuously removed from agricultural areas by the villagers in the study villages and kept at places where they thought to be the safety, without having had any consultations or technical supports from the authorities concerned. UXO contamination is one of the main causes of poverty and restricts the local potentials to increase their livelihood condition. UXOs restrict land uses, Non-timber Forest Products (NTFP) exploitation, fishing, infrastructure development, environmental destruction, etc. UXOs also generate handicap and loss of life. In another dimension, UXOs presented could limit logging, NTFP exploitation, encroachment on protected areas, in some cases. UXOs threat and harm villagers directly and indirectly through harvesting of UXO parts for their daily utilities and commercial purpose, and through daily live activities, respectively. These people have influenced from the UXO contamination for several decades. Most of their daily activities have been threatened and harmed by UXOs, eg. practicing cultivation and extension, harvesting forest products, bathing and extracting water, etc. These people have to locally learn and adapt themselves to avoid dangers which might occur caused by UXOs. They have to keep in minds in every step of their movements on UXO threatens and harms. UXO clearance can not take actions on time, funding for the Lao UXO program was limited and uneven, and attention from donors was still insufficient. Since the first mission of UXO LAO officials visited the Province in late 1997, UXO caused accidents have significantly reduced. However, people living in the study areas are still having a high UXO risks. There is a lack of comprehensive information about impacts of UXO to the community, eg: up to date, there is no any exact data and information on where the most density of UXOs is available in the study villages. It is believed that during the period of nearly 30 years after heavy bombardment, especially at early stage, without any technical assistance on UXO clearance and awareness raising programs from outsiders, number of injuries and dead must be at a considerable level. These outstanding problems contribute a high degree in prolonging the poverty status of the locality in particular and restricting socio-economic development of the country in general. Due to the remote status of the study villages, the Study Team was facing a lot of constraints during the site visits. Nevertheless, the Team analyzed that the collected data and information from the studied villages were considerably acceptable. Solution to the UXO problem can only be in the very long term. UXO clearance can only be very slow, but well targeted interventions can be speeded up with international assistance. Natural resources are less accessible because of the UXO contamination, and agricultural development is impeded. Income diversification is therefore needed for poverty reduction. The lower education level in highly contaminated districts is not helpful towards this aim but case studies at village level clearly indicate significant progress in this direction. Government policy to link UXO clearance to village consolidation and paddy field development raise issues that are analyzed at case study level while villagers have adapted to UXO contamination over the last 3-4 decades - albeit at a high cost to health and livelihood - there might still be room for improvement in coping strategies. Background The Millennium Development Goals (MDG), 2004, reported that few countries in the history of warfare have withstood the kind of aerial bombardment that Lao PDR did from 1964 to 1973. Approximately 580,000 aerial bombing missions dropped over two million tonnes of explosive ordnance. Around 30% of explosives failed to function and as a result have contaminated Lao PDR with huge quantities of unexploded ordnance (UXO). A study in 1997 was found that 15 of the country’s 18 provinces were significantly contaminated, particularly the provinces of Savannakhet, Xiengkhouang, Saravane, Khammouane, Sekong, Champasack, Houaphanh, Attapeu, and Luang Phrabang, and that 25% of villages reported a presence of UXO (Final Report on National Survey on the Socio-Economic Impact of UXO in Lao PDR, 1997), and over 50% of all agricultural land (National Growth and Poverty Eradication Strategy, 2004). Apart from causing fear, injury, and death, this has also stunted socio-economic development. Digging, clearing undergrowth or making a fire, all become potentially lethal activities. Since the end of the conflict in 1975 there have been close to 12,000 UXO- related accidents, including 6,000 deaths. Even now, on average there is a documented UXO accident somewhere in the country every two days. Most alarming, accidents involving children appear to be on the increase. For an essentially agricultural economy having more than half land mass contaminated by UXO is a crippling development handicap preventing farmers from using arable land and limiting expansion into new agricultural areas. UXO are also a major impediment to the construction of infrastructure and to economic development projects that Lao PDR urgently needs. UXO decontamination program is one of poverty-related national programs included in the National Growth and Poverty Eradication Strategy (NGPES), 2004. This national program aims to (a) Ensure that planning of operations relates closely to national priorities such as poverty reduction, phasing out shifting cultivation and opium elimination, (b) increase the pace of clearance, thereby opening land for agricultural production, and (c) mobilize resources required for humanitarian UXO action programming. Decontamination is however very expensive. It can only be carried out in areas identified as priority and is proceeding at a slow pace. In August 2003, the Environmental Research Institute proposed to the World Bank for their technical and financial supports to the study on UXO vulnerability in a pilot UXO-effected area in the Lao PDR. And the proposal was accepted and came into practice in early 2004. The study was carried out in Kaleum District by the Environmental Study Center (ESC) in association with the Lao UXO Office, Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, and Sekong Province Authorities. The selection of Kaleum District as study area is referred to Kaleum District is one of the 47 poorest districts identified as priority (National Growth and Poverty Eradication Strategy, 2004) and classified as the fifth among ten provinces with high degree of UXO contamination of the Country (Final Report on National Survey on the Socio-Economic Impact of UXO in Lao PDR, 1997). This selection was also met the World Bank Guidelines as given in the Terms of Reference. Purposes The objectives of the study were to:
Organisers The Environmental Study Center, Environment Research Institute, STEA Contents The eight common steps for case study are agreed among the study teams and the World Bank experts. These steps are:
In order to achieve the objectives specified above, the UXO Study Team was formed. The team was let by the Deputy Director of ESC and the memberships were the technical staff from ESC, UXO offices at national and local levels, and Provincial and District Science Technology and Environment Offices. Details of UXO Team are given in Section 1 of Annexes. Based on the general steps mentioned above, the particular methodology for UXO study was developed. The study activities were undertaken at both national and local levels. At the national level, documentary data and information, which were related to UXO history, statistic, resolving policy and strategies, were collected in the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfares, UXO Lao Office, Committee for Planning and Investment, and the United Nations Development Program. At the same times, discussions with the officials in those organizations were also undertaken. At the local level, two missions to meet the Sekong Provincial Office, Kaleum District Office, and 6 targeted villages were conducted. The first mission was to introduce the objectives of the project to and gain some initial comments from the above-mentioned authorities and grass-root communities. The second mission was to conduct the study activities according to the more reliable methodology which was updated after the first mission. The case study and the related workshops built on results of the consultant’s comment on the UXO Vulnerability and Poverty Eradicationproposal, conducted by ERI in October 2004. The study was carried out on the basis of: (i) respect of local and indigenous cultures where the study took place; and (ii) consultative approach, while acknowledging opinions, comments and recommendations from the stakeholders. During the study, a series of discussions with the provincial and district related officials were organized, while interviewing by using questionnaires were applied to the households in 6 villages. The selection of these 6 villages was referred to following criteria:
Field studies were conducted from 2–14 February 2005. In particular meetings with 6 target villages; the UXO Study Team was separated into two groups. Group 1 carried out a function of interviewing the Village Authorities, while Group 2 conducted a series of interview with village households. These two groups used the same indicators described in the questionnaires, given in Section 5 of Annexes. In the meetings with village authority, carried out by Group 1, the group members had introduced the criteria of household selection in each village. In tern, the village authority had provided their recommendations on which households in their villages had reached the selection criteria. In this process, 8 households in each village had been selected for specific interview. The criteria of selected households in each village were described below:
Regarding the above-mentioned household selection process, Group 2 had conducted the interview. In order to have more reliable data, the general interview was also taken place. All people in each village were assembled. This process aimed to allow all of the villagers to raise their views on UXO impacts to their individual lives freely Outcomes and effects
Note:
2. Case Study on Non Timber Forest Production (NTFP):Summary Lao People Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) is one of the poorest countries in Asia, with rural population, who mainly live in disadvantaged locations with high vulnerability, account for more than 80 percents of the total population. Most of them are mainly found in the uplands with less opportunity to clean water, sanitation facility, education and other Government provided public facilities. These people depend very much on upland farming system and forest produces for food and cash income. In their daily livelihood NTFPs play an important role in food security and is being perceived by the Lao government as an important alternative in basic poverty eradication strategy. However, a rapid decline of these resources is observed as a result of many kinds of human interventions, while struggling to find ways out for more food and income. As a part of these practices, possible negative impacts from the implementation of Government’s policy such as village relocation, focal zone development, and land allocation and land use planning have been observed, but, up to date, clear evidence seems not exist. In addition, many studies suggested the hypothesis that poverty and environmental problems are closely interrelated. In particular, findings from the study on Poverty-Environment Nexus (PEN) Phase I (2002) showed strong linkages between poverty and environment the following environment indicators: deforestation, fragile land, outdoor and indoor air pollution, access to clean water and sanitation. This case study was, therefore, conducted with technical assistance from the National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI), Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) to reach a more comprehensive understanding about the spatial prevalence, and the magnitude of disproportionate burden of environment degradation on the poor, especially between poverty and natural resources, taking NTFP as the case resource. With the purpose this case study is not intended to quantify NFTP resources and its economic values, but to describe its general role; status and trends; contributions to poverty eradication; and possible reversing impacts on the sustainability of the resources from other development practices. Based on findings of the studies indicative recommendations on the improvement of the Government related policy are expected. Due to resources and time constraints, the case study is scoped to take place in two poorest districts which cover contrasted ranges poverty, environmental and socio-economic dimensions: Na Mo (Oudomxay) and Phouvong Districts (Attapeu). Background Lao People Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) is one of the poorest countries in Asia with GDP per capita of US$310 in 2002 and annual GDP growth at about 6 percents. Although poverty incidence has steadily declined in recent years, the country is ranked as one of the poorest in the region with a poverty incidence rate of around 39 percent in 1998. A land area of about 236,800 km2 in relation to the number of inhabitants is considered large with a population density is 23 per km2. The majority of the population is concentrated in limited lowland areas, mainly on the Mekong plain stretching along the Mekong River. Rural population, who mainly live in disadvantaged locations with high vulnerability, account for more than 80 percents of the total population. Most of them are mainly found in the uplands with less opportunity to clean water, sanitation facility, education and other Government provided public facilities. Although the country is known as a rich country in natural resources, with forest areas covering about 47 percents of the total land area in 1992, limited availability of flat lands, shifting cultivation, usually found in uplands, forms a fundamental farming system of the country. A relative high annual population growth at more than 2 percents plus degradation of soil fertility caused by soil erosion resulting in low crop (rice) yield, intensify pressure on natural resources, particularly natural forests. As a result, Non Timber Forest Products (NTFP), known as a fatal resource for rural food security and income source, rapidly decline along with the speed of forest degradation. In spite of the absence of clear evidence to what extent rural poverty is exacerbated by environmental degradation, especially forest degradation, local experiences show that forest decline, particularly the decline of NTFPs both quantitatively and qualitatively means for rural forest depending people less food and income. The examples above illustrate a fairly clear indication that poverty and environmental problems are closely interrelated. In general, the nexus has been recognized for long time by the Government of Lao PDR (GOL). Clear evidence can be seen in the government poverty eradication policy and strategies, more recently known as NGPES where forest resources, particularly NTFP is viewed as a fatal alternative resources for food security and income sources of the rural poor. A deeper insight about the spatial relationship between selected environmental and poverty indicators at a provincial level were reported in the Poverty-Environment Nexus (PEN) Phase I report, completed in October of 2002. The finding showed strong linkages between poverty and environment the following environment indicators: deforestation, fragile land, outdoor and indoor air pollution, access to clean water and sanitation. PEN Phase I emphasized the studies on a broader scale, mainly touching the aspect at national and provincial levels. In order to reach a more comprehensive understanding about the spatial prevalence, and the magnitude of disproportionate burden of environment degradation on the poor, case studies are needed to clarify poverty-environment linkages at lower levels of poverty (i.e. district, village and households). For this purpose, as a result of a close consultation with the World Bank expert team and under leadership of the Acting Director of the Environmental Research Institute (ERI), an interactive National PEN II Study Team which comprises of representatives from four relevant ministries: (1) Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF); (2) Ministry of Public Health; (3) Ministry of Communication and Transport; and (4) the Science, Technology, and Environmental Agency (STEA) under the Prime Minister’s Office was formed at the end of 2004. The study team is subdivided into four case study teams to deal with four subject areas which are found directly associated with poverty eradication, namely natural resource; rural road access; sanitation and UXO. An appointed national expert takes the role to lead each case study team. To ensure a good coordination and consultation between case study teams, ERI and the WB expert team, the director of Environmental Training Centre under ERI was assigned to perform as the project coordinator. With regard to linkages between poverty and forest resources, a technical team from the National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI) was sub-contracted to assist the national technical team from the Environmental Research Institute (ERI), STEA in carrying out a more specific study and providing inputs related to linkages between poverty and access to natural resources, particularly linkages between NTFPs and rural poverty, which will be incorporated in a country report. This report summarizes findings of case study on the linkages between access to natural forest resources and poverty reduction, emphasizing the specific case of NTFP. The case study is not an intensive study to quantify NFTP resources and its economic values, but to describe its general role and values which could be used as fundamental indication for policy responses. More specifically, the study focuses on the examination on two main types of research questions:
Recognizing the fact of resource and time constraints, the case study is scoped to take place in two poorest districts: Na Mo in Oudomxay Province in the North and Phouvong District in Attapeu Province in the South which cover contrasted ranges of NTFPs and human environments. In order to have an general overview of NTFP related status and trends at national level, document reviews and a simple national NTFP survey were also conducted. At the end, the case study is expected to provide the following results: (1) a quality database at national level and in the two districts for the main commercial NTFPs, (2) quantitative analysis of NTFP-poverty-environment linkages at these two levels, and (3) recommendations on how landuse planning and shifting cultivation policies can best support sustainable incomes from NTFPs for poor upland communities. Proposes
Organizers National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute, MAF Outcomes and effects Policies
Legal framework:
Institutional framework
Note:
3. Poverty- Environmental Nexus on Road Project:Summary PEN II is gain idea from PEN I, completed in October 2002, and the finding showed strong linkages between poverty and environment such as: deforestation, fragile land, outdoor and in door air pollution, access to clean water and sanitation. This work had carried out by the Environmental Research Institute (ERI), and its study association of line ministries which provide on the job training to staff. This case study mostly relevant data/information and policy guideline for the National and Provincial Committee on Poverty Eradication through the improvement of health care, specific water and sanitation supply, access to roads and development agriculture sector in order to ensure food security to poor villages, to use in a sustainable manner the national natural resources and to steadily a assist in the development and promotion of environment research in Lao PDR. The purpose of this study is to find out the natural resources status in the villages within the road and without the road. It also to find the poverty in the villages there was road access there was no road access. The methodology of the study is following the WB’s guideline which work carried out by interviewed in each relevant Department in Province, District, villages and households. In villages and household use two questionnaires which were difference questions. The study observed real situation of study area particularly road condition, house types, walking time to market in district and others related to cause of poverty. Second data was also collected during the field visit to Province, district and villages, especially socio economic development plan and yearly report in relevant in those places. The limitation of data collection was extensive time because
poor road to go to villages, local people did not much understand
middle language of Lao PDR, it necessary to use local translators. Background Lao PDR is a least Developed Country and according to most indicators is one of the poorest countries in South East Asia (UN Classification). There is 10% of the population experience acute malnutrition with approximately 47% suffering chronic nutrition (Word Food Programme). Therefore, Lao PDR Government had laid the policies for Poverty Eradication in country. The Poverty Environment Nexus (PEN) phase I, completed in October 2002, and the finding showed a strong linkages between poverty and environment the following indicators: deforestation, fragile land, outdoor and indoor air pollution, access to clean water and sanitation which this work had mainly driven by immediate research objectives by the World Bank and in PEN II work had to be undertaken at the disaggregated/local levels like district, village and households in order to clarify poverty environment linkages. In PEN II work had carried out by the Environmental Research Institute (ERI), and its study association of line ministries which provide on the job training to staff. This case study mostly relevant data/information and policy guideline for the National and Provincial Committee on Poverty Eradication through the improvement of access to roads and development agriculture sector in order to ensure food security to poor villages, to use in a sustainable manner the national natural resources and to steadily a assist in the development and promotion of environment research in Lao PDR. NGPES is also mention that Investment in infrastructure particularly road, it continue to be an essential component in promoting economic growth nation wide, comprehensive infrastructure is essential to help farmers access improved services and local, national and regional market. Because on above reasons, this case study has to find out the relationship between the Poverty Environmental Nexus on Road Access, which implemented in both Kaluem and Ngot Ou District. Kaluem District located in the southern part of Sekong Province. Geographically, it shares a border with Viet Nam and is mostly surrounding by mountain. It occupies an area of 351,750 Km2, with a population of 12, 053 of which 6,300 are women, comprising labour 4,223 people. Most of population live along the Sekong River, remote and mountain areas. Almost of land 95% is mountainous area and consist of mainly 8 ethnic groups namely Katou, Ngey, Chatong, Ta Oy, Ta Lieng, Pako, Alak and Lao Loum. They live with shifting cultivation, rice crop and livestock. Because of district locate in remote area; it is limited to communication, education, health care and other need developments. Authority of district classified that 96.4% is poor of 1,613 households within 63 villages. Ngot Ou District is located in the north-western part of the Phonsali Province, is the sole district the provinces sharing a border with China and Viet Nam. It is 134 km far from Phongsali district. It occupies an area of 3,318 km2; there are 91 villages, with population of 27, 235 people and 13, 400 women, 4,328 households, and labour cover 9,055 people. Population density there are 8 people/Km2, population growth rate is 1.4%/year, is population composes of mainly 11 ethnic groups such as Lie, Ho, Yao, Khea, Kor, Tainea, Sida, Yang, Lolo, Hagy and Phounoy. The average household income is 255, 12 kip/year (24 USD) A part from the socio economic condition that previously provided the communication access in the Province is very poor. There was only a main gravel road stretching from Boun Neua District to Ngot Ou District, Which is far from remote residential areas, it needs to develop other road access such as feeder roads. Development of other road access and feeder road will then open access of local communities to markets and other services, creation of local jobs related to road construction and tourism opportunities. These will contribute directly to local income general and hence to poverty reduction and eradication. As Ngot Ou, Kaluem has almost no road access, and access to
other services such as health and education facilities and development
is extremely limited. Hence development of communication access
is crucial since it will bring similar economic opportunities
and return mentioned above. Proposes
Organizers Environmental and Social Division, Department of Road, MCTPC. Outcomes and effects
4. Water Supply and Sanitation Situation In Relation To Poverty In Two Urban Districts, Lao PDRThe study is covered 2 center urban Districts of 2 poorest Provinces as Phongsaly District/Province and Lamam District, Sekong Province. There cover 6 villages within 247 households for interview in Phongsaly and 6 villages within 306 households in Lamam district. Beside of this, the study is also focused key representatives from Local Authority, community organizations and other people who live in urban center areas, through interview, and observation. All activities of the study concerned people health as urban environmental management, and there is also one tool that support for national’s policies, particular on Poverty Reduction. Its location situation of two urban districts is quite different as Phongsaly is high land level, but Lamam is quite flat land. Both districts are still rural, which close to nature and traditional culture. Thus, both districts water supply system is Gravity system, but in Phongsaly is quite difficult implementation and more expansive, if compare with other provinces water supply system in Lao PDR, particularly Lamam district. Moreover, Phongsly is not sufficiency water quantity to support water supply system during dry season, but Lamam is sufficiency all the year. Both districts latrine system is same system such as Pour Flush with septic tank, Pour Flush with concrete pipes, and Dry Pit styles. In Phongsaly shown household water supply connection 67%, which 78% of HHI satisfy water supply and 74% of HHI planned to improve. In case of latrine usage in households was approximately 59% of HHI within Pour Flush 66% of HHI, and >53% of HHI plan to improve. In the part of Lamam showed 92% of HHI connected water supply, and 87% of HHI satisfy water supply usage, and 72% of HHI planned to improve. Lamam latrine usage shown 79% of HHI, within Pour Flush covered 76% of HHI, and HH plan to improve >76% of HHI. Accordingly, this study was conducted to find out the possible
way for water supply and sanitation situation in both of urban
districts, particularly on households water and latrine usage
relate people health as well as urban environmental management.
In order to achieve this aim the study proposes some revisions
to the existing water supply and latrine implementation and management
in urban area, particularly in Nam Papa organization and households.
The study is also emphasized to all participation from several
stakeholders, particularly key representative and households suggestion,
in order to recommends possible way for water supply and sanitation
improvement in near future. Background Phongsaly and Lamam districts are among the poorest districts in Lao PDR. Phongsaly is located in the far-northern province of Phongsaly while Lamam is situated in the far-southern province of Sekong. Being classified as poorest districts in Lao PDR, both districts are facing many problems. People are living in quite poor conditions particularly the insufficiency of water for daily use and the lack of sanitary facilities. It is very common to see people in these districts go to the forest in stead of using toilet. This could be very difficult for the controlling the spread of commutable diseases, which cause negative impact to the people’s health. In other words, despite a very high rate of population growth, the two districts still have very low coverage of water supply and low accessibility to clean water. Number of people who have access to hygienic latrine is also still limited. Many people’s habits are somewhat glued with the old and unsanitary behavior. These have resulted in low quality of people’s living conditions especially health issues. The point mentioned above might have impeded the Lao
government’s goal in fighting poverty as stated in
the National Poverty Eradication Program (NPEP),
but now has changed to National Growth and Poverty Eradication
Strategy (NGPES). The situation mentioned
above could be worse in the near future and may lead
to serious problems affecting people’s health and the
country’s human resources if there is no urgent understanding
and/or solution. Therefore, this case study is intended
to study the present situation and find out causes
that main resulted, which relevant to water use and
sanitation in village as well as latrine usage, of the
people in the study areas. Objectives
Organizers Urban Research Institute (URI), MCTPC Outcomes and effects
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