Vientiane, Lao PDR – On 2 March 2026, the Government of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, in partnership with the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), launched the National Action Plan on Transition toward Sustainable Food Systems Transformation (2025–2030). The plan was unveiled by H.E. Linkham Douangsavanh, Minister of Agriculture and Environment, and Bakhodir Burkhanov, UN Resident Coordinator, at a national event attended by government officials, development partners, and private sector representatives.
The Action Plan outlines 20 strategic areas and 62 priority milestones aimed at advancing inclusive, resilient, and nature-positive food systems. It aligns with Lao PDR’s broader national development priorities and supports the country’s goal of graduating from Least Developed Country status. The strategy also addresses the “5F crisis” – food, feed, fuel, fertilizer, and finance – which has increasingly pressured rural livelihoods and overall national development.
H.E. Linkham Douangsavanh described the plan as a paradigm shift, moving beyond a sectoral view of agriculture to recognizing food systems as central to national development. The plan integrates production, nutrition, health, environmental protection, climate resilience, and inclusive economic growth. Recent institutional reforms, including the merger of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, enable a more integrated approach to managing agriculture, forestry, land, water, biodiversity, and climate challenges.
Implementation is supported through a USD 4.5 million joint UN programme funded by the Joint SDG Fund, involving seven UN agencies: FAO, UNDP, UNICEF, WFP, IFAD, UN-Habitat, and UNEP. Activities are already underway in Luang Prabang and Oudomxay provinces, promoting green agricultural innovation, healthier diets for women and youth, and enhancing the competitiveness of high-quality Lao products such as Khao Kai Noi rice and Bolaven coffee. The programme is complemented by USD 33 million in ADB co-financing aligned with its agrifood systems and resilient rural infrastructure portfolio.
Bakhodir Burkhanov emphasized that food systems transformation strengthens sustainable livelihoods, supports people-centered rural development, and improves health and nutrition outcomes, contributing to multiple targets of Lao PDR’s 10th National Socio-Economic Development Plan. He highlighted the plan as a pathway for inclusive and sustainable growth that will support the country’s ambition to graduate from Least Developed Country status.
To guide implementation, partners introduced key frameworks including the Operational Approach to Food System Transformation, the 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 Lao PDR as a pioneer in aligning food systems transformation with climate action across government, development partners, and the private sector.
Ms. Kyung-Mee Kim, FAO Representative in Lao PDR, noted that the plan was developed through a methodical, evidence-based process from the National Food Systems Summit Dialogues to the current Action Plan, ensuring it is ambitious, operationally feasible, and technically sound. FAO reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Lao PDR in achieving measurable improvements in food security, nutrition, and rural livelihoods through this comprehensive national initiative.
