Lao Government and UNICEF celebrate 2025 achievements and set vision for next 5-year programme for children

Vientiane, Lao PDR – 18 February 2026 – The Government of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and UNICEF opened a programme-wide consultation to set the direction of their next Country Programme, covering the years 2027 to 2031, while Government partners presented results and achievements in 2025.

Participants included representatives from the Ministries of Finance, Health, Education and Sports, Justice, Foreign Affairs, Labour and Social Welfare, Public Security, Agriculture and Environment alongside the People's Supreme Prosecutor, People's Supreme Court, the National Commission for the Advancement of Women and Mother and Child (NCAWMC), the Lao Academy of Social and Economics Sciences (LASES),  Propaganda and Training of Party Central Committee, Lao Statistics Bureau, the Lao Front for National Development, the Lao Women’s Union, and the Lao Youth Union.

“Lao PDR is prioritising effective, coordinated investment in human capital and stronger systems that deliver results,” said H.E. Vice Minister of Finance Mr. Soulivath Souvannachoumkham. “Our long-standing partnership with UNICEF continues to provide valuable technical support and international experience, and this consultation ensures that our cooperation remains closely aligned with national priorities and focused on practical implementation.”

In 2025, the Government advanced key reforms and services with UNICEF support. A costed National Immunization Strategy for 2025–2030 was adopted, nearly 36,000 children were vaccinated in outbreak-affected provinces, and 1.6 million polio doses were secured for 2026 campaigns. With UNICEF technical assistance, a national digital system to register newborns and track vaccinations was expanded nationwide, with nearly nine in ten newborns recorded by November 2025.

In nutrition,  Government-led efforts supported by UNICEF improved child feeding practices such as EBF that rose to 57%, and access to life-saving treatment for severe acute malnutrition expanding treatment sites from 205 to 392 across the 18 provinces.

Child protection systems were strengthened with the promulgation of the Law on Social Work, establishing a foundation for a professional social service workforce, while more than 1,650 child survivors of violence received justice and social services.

In education, UNICEF supported the development of the 10th Education and Sports Sector Development Plan, with quality standards expected to benefit nearly 3,400 pre-primary and ECE centres and over 8,600 primary schools. 81 Community-Based School Readiness Programme benefited 1,500 children, many from remote areas and non-Lao speakers. The Khang Panya Lao digital learning platform reached almost 160,000 users, whilst Project Sinxay engaged more than 1,000 adolescents in skills building, innovation and advocacy.

The Love and Care for Every Child parenting programme also expanded, reaching more than 69,000 parents and caregivers through over 2,000 trained facilitators.

Mr. Bilal Aurang Zeb Durrani, UNICEF Country Representative to Lao PDR, said the next programme cycle would aim to protect gains while addressing persistent inequities. “In a constrained environment, we need to prioritise what delivers the greatest impact for children, especially those most disadvantaged,” he said. “This consultation is about Government leadership and shared ownership - with UNICEF bringing technical support, evidence, and practical approaches that strengthen national systems.”

The consultation also focused on shaping the 2027–2031 Country Programme, reaffirming the long-standing 53-year partnership between the Government of Lao PDR and UNICEF. Participants reviewed proposed priorities for the next cycle and discussed how UNICEF can continue to support Government leadership with targeted technical assistance, evidence and innovation, aligned to the 10th National Socio-Economic Development Plan and national sector strategies.