Two leading development associations in Laos have teamed up with the Ministry of Health to combat malnutrition under the Food and Agriculture Organisation's Capacity Building for Food Security and Better Nutrition.
The FAO signed Letters of Agreement in Vientiane last week with two of the project's implementing agencies - the Poverty Reduction and Development Association (PORDEA) and Sustainable Agriculture and Environment Development Association (SAEDA).
According to a statement issued by FAO, the agreement was signed by FAO Resident Representative Serge Verniau and representatives from PORDEA, SAEDA and other involved sectors.
In an interview with the Vientiane Times last week, Project Director Dr Somchit Akkhavong said the 18-month multi-stakeholder project would be implemented in Luang Namtha, Borikhamxay and Xekong provinces, with financial support from the government of Italy.
Dr Somchit said funds would be made available to each organisation to enable them to conduct training on sustainable home food production in those provinces, with the aim of boosting the country's food and nutrition security.
Another major goal is to conduct training of provincial and district officials for effective delivery of food, nutrition and related interventions.
Training courses will include Strengthening Technical Capacity for Nutrition Education, Building Capacity for Effective Management of Food and Nutrition Security Programmes, and Home Food Production and Food Processing.
Another course will be Trials of Improved Practices, a methodology focusing on complementary feeding from infant to young child (ages 0 to 24 months), as well as improving a mother's nutritional status during pregnancy and lactation.
The project team will work closely with the National Agricultural and Forestry Extension Service throughout the project.
PORDEA, formed in 2005, is a community-based, non-profit, civil society organisation that acts on poverty alleviation in underdeveloped areas of Laos. Its core activities support food security programmes, environmental sustainability and gender equality, and promote community ownership and improved livelihoods.
The association also serves as a local implementing agency for international NGOs and involves youth groups in their projects.
SAEDA, formerly known as the Sustainable Agriculture Forum, is a non- profit civil society organisation which promotes sustainable food security through developing environmentally sound and gender-inclusive participatory community approaches.
