Oxfam in Laos Oxfam Novib Contributes to Oxfam Solidarité/Oxfam Solidariteit (Oxfam Belgium) in Laos for the development of  good governance and the rule of law as a basis for equitable and inclusive growth Lao PDR. This is done by means of the PACE Action of the EU.
Partnership for Citizen Engagement (PACE) builds on Oxfam's established partnership with Lao CSOs and the National Assembly (NA). Oxfam workson several actions to strengthen the capacity of Lao CSOs to promote citizen participationin policy dialogue andinclusive development. Lao CSOs work is often restricted to service delivery at community level. Greater interaction with policy makers is necessary tohave a wider impact. In 2015 Oxfam began a pilot project to support the NA withits legislative priorities: #Support to the NA on the establishment of local councils and amendments of the Lao Constitution towards enhanced people#s participation#. The proposed action engages both the newly established People#s Provincial Assemblies (PPAs) and Lao CSOs. It isdesigned to meet the following objectives:
The overall objective is #To contribute to good governance and the rule of law as a basis for equitable and inclusive growth and development in Lao PDR#. The action recognizes that good governance and the rule of law form a necessary enabling environment forgrowth and development and represent a key dimension to addressing poverty reduction and inequality. The first specific objective is: #To improve the role and capacity of Lao Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to promote and protect the rights of Lao citizens through policy dialogue and accountability processes at local and national level#. CSOs require more direct engagement in governance and development processes to widen their contributions to marginalized and vulnerable groups in Lao PDR. The second specific objectiveis: #To improve the capacity of the People#s Provincial Assemblies (PPAs) for oversight of government agencies, programs, activities, policies and laws implemented at constituency level#. The newly established PPAs have a strategic role as local authorities and representatives of Lao citizens. Their capacity impacts on the participation of Lao CSOs and citizens.
The action engages the following key stakeholders: The People#s Provincial Assemblies (PPAs) are the newly established People#s Assemblies at provincial level. The NA partners with Oxfam and engaged (see above) in preparing this concept note as co-applicant. The action complements the NationalAssembly#s 5yeartraining plan in relation to PPA Members and parliamentary staff, and indirectly benefits the entirety of the NA members. Lao Civil Society Organizations (CSO) include both new and existing Oxfam partners primarily engaged in delivering services to marginalized and vulnerablegroups at community level. The co-applicant Huam Jai Asasamak (HJA) runs a volunteer program for ethnicyouth from rural areas. The action will also support the establishment and build the capacities of Lao CSOs through financial support to third parties. Support for newly established PPAs will provide space for CSOs to engage in policy dialogue and have greater impact. It complements current EU capacity building efforts and Oxfam#s pilot project with the NA. Local Government Agencies and Mass Organisations are the administrative and technical agencies and social organisations of the GoL. Improved oversight by the PPAs and participation of CSOs and Lao citizens will influence policy and practice. The action is consistent with national development goals andinternational commitments. The Lao Citizens include farmers, especially women, youth and ethnic groups from poor rural communities (Bokeo, Khammuane, Savannakhet, Xiengkhuang, Saravane and Vientiane Province # Phase I). The majority are already engagedwith CSOsand/or Oxfam projects. They are also the main final beneficiaries of the action.
Activities are grouped under five results (R0-4): (R0): covers project set up and preparation for implementation. (R1): to build the capacity of Lao CSOs in participatory methodologies to empower citizens and to facilitate dialogue with PPA Members. Methodologies include Oxfam Gender Action Learning System (GALS), Thaibaan Research, public perception monitoring and Most Significant Change (MSC) for video documenting,small grants for policy dialogue initiatives at local level and a community power analysis to map power relations. (R2): to improve PPAs capacity for local representation, coordination and public engagement including annual workshops to consolidate learning, documentation on the PPAs (and NA) role in promoting and protecting the rights of Lao citizens and a citizens# handbook on PPAs (and NA) as a reference for Membersand to support public engagement. PPAs will also conveneoutreach missions with CSO support at constituency level and participate ininter-session sessions to bring provincial interests to national level. Finally, PPAs will convene informal executive-legislative hearings and sharing to improve coordination andservice delivery at provincial level. (R3): to improve the technical capacity of PPAsto inform government policy and practice. It will also serve to increase interaction between PPAs and CSOs. It includes a technicalseminar series (i.e. fiscal accountability), technical trainings (i.e.gender budgeting) and south-south learning exchanges identified through regional networks. Support will also be provided in preparing questions, policy proposals and direction from a provincialperspective and monitoring, evaluating and reviewing previousinitiatives (i.e. LIWG provincial workshops). (R4): to improve interaction between PPA Members and constituents. The Youth-Adult Partnership provincial volunteer program will be implemented by HJA to support embedding of volunteers in the PPAs. Small grants will be provided for projects aimed at strengthening cooperation at constituency level.
The action is planned for 54 months between January 2017 and June 2021 (including 6-months inception). It will follow the current Oxfam-NA action; build on ongoingEU supported actions with CSOs; complement CEGGA, the proposed EU-Germany (BMZ) and Switzerland (SDC) cooperation with the NA; and coincide with the induction of the 8th Legislation (mid-2016).