Development assistance in Laos
To support Laos build human capital, our development partnership will focus on outcomes that deliver:
- Improved teaching practices that are responsive to students' needs – including the needs of ethnic minority children and children with disabilities – and support gender equality
- Improved capacity of targeted Lao organisations to build inclusive human resource development practices in line with the National Human Resource Development Strategy
- Support for health systems to prevent, detect, and respond to emerging infectious and non-infectious disease threats.
Australia will deliver human capital investments that assist Laos' socio-economic development, build leadership capacity, people-to-people and institutional linkages, and strengthen Laos' capacity to effectively engage in the Mekong sub-region, ASEAN and beyond.
This objective will be delivered through Australia's basic education and human resource development programs, including Australia Award Scholarships. Our health sector support will primarily be delivered through regional and global programs, with bilateral support to help address the growing climate-linked problem of dengue fever in urban areas.
A number of global and regional programs also contribute to this objective. See Annex 1 of the Australia–Laos Development Partnership Plan 2024-2029.
Basic Education Quality & Accesss in Lao PDR program Phase 2 (BEQUAL 2)
$33.3 million (2022-2026)
Basic education, including long-term investment in literacy and numeracy, is the critical foundation upon which secondary and tertiary education, skilled employment and economic development is built. Basic education has historically been Australia's flagship program in Laos. BEQUAL 2 aims to improve primary students' learning outcomes by improving teaching quality. The program is working to strengthen its focus on inequality by going beyond gender mainstreaming and social inclusion, promoting inclusive education and supporting long-term change by improving spoken Lao skills for Grade 1 students who do not speak Lao.
Related Documents
| Name of document | Year published | Type |
|---|---|---|
| BEQUAL Investment Design Document | 2014 | Design |
| BEQUAL Mid-Term Review Report and Mid-Term Review Response | 2018 | Review |
| BEQUAL Phase 2 Investment Design Document | 2022 | Design |
Related Link
Basic Education Quality and Access in Lao PDR
Laos Australia Institute Phase 3 (LAI 3)
$32.0 million (2021-2026)
The Laos Australia Institute Phase 3 implements Australia Awards Scholarships, short course training, targeted leadership capacity building, and alumni engagement ensuring future leaders, including women and marginalised groups, are equipped to address existing and emerging development challenges faced by Laos.
Related Documents
| Name of document | Year published | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Laos-Australia Human Resource Development Program: Design document | 2013 | Design |
| Laos Australia Institute Phase III Program Design Document | 2025 | Design |
Related Link
Australia-Lao PDR Human Rights Technical Cooperation Program (HRTCP) Phase 3
$1.8 million (2023-2027)
The Human Rights Technical Cooperation Program assists the Government of Laos in its efforts to protect, promote and advance human rights in the Lao PDR by providing capacity building for government officials to engage in treaty body reporting processes.
Driving Down Dengue in the Lao PDR
$7.5 million (2024-2028)
This program contributes to a reduction of dengue transmission in Laos by using the Australian-developed Wolbachia method. The population of Wolbachia-carrying A. aegypti mosquitoes is increased in target areas through tailored release efforts and community outreach. The investment supports the Lao Government and communities to participate in the Wolbachia method through gender-equitable, inclusive and climate-informed actions.