Water resources management in Lao PDR

In general, the progress in the integration of water resources management into economic and social development plans in the Lao PDR was found to be good through the assessment of various integration elements, such as progress in water resources assessment, monitoring and planning, in water supply and sanitation and in mobilization of community participant. The experiences in the Lao PDR showed a wide variety in the modalities and methodologies for the integration. Among these, the most commonly accepted methodologies were the long-term development plans and medium-term development plans (ten years). The most common top priorities in water resources development are the use of water resources for economic growth, food security and poverty alleviation. Information received from the responses was rich with respect to the legal and institutional framework which can be considered as an indicator of important progress in these aspects. The Strategic Planning and Management results indicated that planning information was the most important aspect in the coordination at the line-ministries concerns, but for the provincial/basin level, the water resources information was the most essential.