What we do
How UNICEF works to protect the rights of every child in Lao PDR.
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Our work
UNICEF works in partnership with the Government of Lao PDR and partners to promote and protect the rights of children and women in Lao PDR. With over 50 years of service, we are one of the longest-serving international organisations in the country.
Below are four key priority areas for UNICEF in Lao PDR.
The First 1,000 Days
Learn why the first 1,000 days of a child's life is the most vital and how we are helping children make the most of this window.
Learning and Skills
Learn more about how we are helping equip children and youth with the essential skills needed to thrive in the modern economy.
Adolescent Empowerment
Learn more about how we are empowering adolescents by helping end child marriage and other harmful practices threatening their future.
Climate Change
Learn more about how we are helping Lao PDR put children at the front and centre of its national climate policies and plans.
A Call for Equity and Action
Focusing on these four priorities—early childhood, learning and skills, adolescent empowerment and climate resilience—one message emerges: reaching the most vulnerable children first is vital, and the time to act is now.
The data highlight clear disparities—between children and young people in well-resourced urban areas and those in rural communities with limited support, between a boy who can continue his education and a girl who may enter into marriage at 13, or between communities well-shielded from disasters and those more exposed.
These inequalities represent missed opportunities for maximizing human potential. Yet, they can be addressed through strong political leadership, carefully designed policies and active community engagement.
Behind every number is a child—someone lacking proper nutrition, struggling with literacy or facing early marriage.
A well-nourished child is more likely to succeed in school, an educated girl is better positioned to avoid early marriage, empowered adolescents can contribute to their communities and a climate-resilient village safeguards its future development.
Progress in one area has a positive impact across all others.
Children’s formative years—especially in early childhood—are brief and cannot be recovered once they pass. Likewise, any delays in schooling and efforts to address environmental challenges will have lasting effects.
Proactive measures, taken now, will bring transformative changes, paving the way for a Lao PDR where no child faces stunting, every boy and girl completes their education and communities grow stronger despite climate challenges.
For more data on the four priority areas, click the button below.
By working together, we can ensure that no child in Lao PDR is left behind. The result will be a more resilient, inclusive nation—one that truly champions its youngest citizens.
