LAO PDR, Statement for improving nutrition on the Paris Nutrition for Growth

Goal 1. Enhancing dietary diversity through education and sustainable practices:

The government of Lao PDR aims to lower the stunting rate to 25% of children under five by 2030. The impact of food system policies will be assessed through regular surveys, studies, and reports to ensure that those policies are delivering the intended health benefits. Along this process, communities will benefit from targeted nutrition and health interventions aiming at improving health outcomes. This effort supports the broader aim of the National Socio-Economic Development Plan (NSEDP) by enhancing child health outcomes, which are vital for long-term economic growth and development.

To improve diet quality and the affordability, the government will promote agricultural education, crop diversification and the use of fresh local produces in food-based safety nets such as the National School Lunch Programme. Nutrition-sensitive social protection initiatives will be further expanded, including cash for nutrition, vouchers accompanied with social and behaviour change, to support nutritionally vulnerable population, including pregnant and breastfeeding women and girls, children under 2 years of age (1000 days).

The government of Lao PDR will improve the delivery of nutrition services through the primary health system to address malnutrition with a particular focus on remote areas.

Social and behaviour change interventions across the programmes will be designed to sensitize the various stakeholders on healthy diets as well as on the consequences of consumption of unhealthy foods on the population’s health and the economy of the country.

Integration of Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) interventions into all health facilities will improve early childhood nutrition, including exclusive breastfeeding, timely initiation and appropriate complementary feeding practices and dietary diversity

Goal 1. Increase nutrition budget by 5% annually:

The government of Lao PDR commits to increase domestic spending on nutrition, across relevant sectors (health, education, agriculture, social protection) by at least 5% on a yearly basis, aligning with economic growth and budget planning processes. This increase will be monitored and reported annually to ensure transparency and accountability. The initiative supports the prioritization on nutrition to enhance public health outcomes. The goal is to achieve this budget increase from 2026 to 2030.

The government of Lao PDR will publish an annual report, detailing budget allocations, expenditures, and progress on nutrition-related initiatives. This report will be based on data from the budget tagging system and collaboration with stakeholders. The goal is releasing the annual report every December, from 2026 to 2030,