Vientiane, Lao PDR – 2 March 2026 – The Government of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), in collaboration with the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), has officially launched the National Action Plan on Transition toward Sustainable Food Systems Transformation (2025–2030).
The plan was unveiled in Vientiane by H.E. Linkham Douangsavanh, Minister of Agriculture and Environment of Lao PDR, and Bakhodir Burkhanov, United Nations Resident Coordinator to Lao PDR, during a national event that brought together government leaders, development partners, and private sector representatives.
The new roadmap outlines 20 strategic areas of action and 62 priority milestones to advance inclusive, resilient, and nature-positive food systems. It supports the Lao PDR’s national development priorities as the country works toward graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status.
The strategy also responds to the interconnected “5F crisis” – food, feed, fuel, fertilizer, and finance – which has placed growing pressure on rural livelihoods and national development.
“The National Action Plan represents a paradigm shift,” said H.E. Linkham Douangsavanh, Minister of Agriculture and Environment of Lao PDR. “It moves us from viewing agriculture as a single sector to understanding food systems as the backbone of national development, linking production, nutrition, health, environmental protection, climate resilience, and inclusive economic growth.”
He highlighted the recent merger of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment as a major institutional reform that allows the Lao PDR to manage agriculture, forestry, land, water, biodiversity, and climate change in a more integrated way.
“The Government is fully committed to implementing this Plan and to working closely with all partners to translate it into tangible improvements in the lives of our people,” he added.
Implementation of the Action Plan is being supported through a USD 4.5 million joint UN programme backed by the Joint SDG Fund, with core contributions from seven UN agencies: FAO, UNDP, UNICEF, WFP, IFAD, UN-Habitat, and UNEP.
The programme is already delivering activities in the provinces of Luang Prabang and Oudomxay, supporting green agricultural innovation, healthier diets for women and youth, and greater regional competitiveness for high-quality Lao products such as Khao Kai Noi rice and Bolaven coffee.
This investment is complemented by USD 33 million in co-financing from ADB, aligned with its broader agrifood systems and resilient rural infrastructure portfolio.
“The National Action Plan is a true force multiplier,” said Bakhodir Burkhanov, United Nations Resident Coordinator to Lao PDR. “Integrated food systems reform contributes to at least five of the six outcome areas of Lao PDR’s 10th National Socio-Economic Development Plan.”
In his statement, he emphasized that food systems transformation presents an opportunity to strengthen sustainable livelihoods, support people-centred rural development, and improve health and nutrition outcomes across the country.
“This is exactly the kind of sustainable and inclusive growth that supports Lao PDR’s ambition to graduate from Least Developed Country status. The United Nations system stands fully behind this national effort,” he said.
During the launch event, partners also introduced several frameworks to guide implementation of the Action Plan, including the Operational Approach to Food System Transformation, Private Sector Agribusiness Financing Framework, and the Convergence Action Blueprint 2025–2035.
Developed through the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub’s Convergence Initiative, these frameworks position the Lao PDR as a pioneer country, aligning food systems transformation with climate action across government, development partners, and the private sector.
“Today’s launch marks the transition from planning to implementation,” said Ms. Kyung-Mee Kim, FAO Representative in Lao PDR. “FAO has accompanied Lao PDR from the National Food Systems Summit Dialogues through to the development of this Action Plan. This methodical, evidence-based process ensures the plan is not only ambitious but also operationally feasible and technically sound.”
She reaffirmed FAO’s commitment to supporting the Government of Lao PDR in translating the plan into measurable improvements in food security, nutrition, and rural livelihoods.
Original publication: https://www.fao.org/lao-people-democratic-republic/news/detail/lao-people%27s-democratic-republic-launches-national-action-plan-to-transform-food-systems-and-strengthen-climate-resilience/en
Note:
The Joint SDG Fund Food Systems Transformation Window was established through a partnership between the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub and the Joint SDG The fund secretariat supports government-led food systems transformation and accelerates progress across the SDGs.
This joint programme is supported by the Joint SDG Fund in collaboration with the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub. We sincerely appreciate the contributions from the European Union and the governments of Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, the Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland in accelerating progress towards the SDGs.
