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Stakeholder Consultation Workshop on Sustainable Solid Waste Management Strategy and Action Plan for Vientiane 2020-2030

Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR, June 12, 2020 – Vientiane City Office for Management and Service (VCOMS), Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Environment Protection Fund (EPF) and Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) co-hosted the stakeholder consultation workshop to validate a 10-year strategy on “Sustainable Solid Waste Management Strategy and Action Plan for Vientiane 2020-2030.”

The workshop was opened by the Vice Mayor of Vientiane, Mr. Phoukhong Bannavong and attended by 60 multi-stakeholders from national/sub-national governments and international development partners who are major players in the waste sector in Lao PDR.

With the technical support from GGGI, VCOMS has developed the strategy 2030 which presents vision, six strategic outcomes, medium and long-term targets, and associated workplan to improve the waste sector. It also lays out a basic framework for a paradigm shift from waste management toward resource management approaches that can eventually maximize waste-to-resource opportunities in Vientiane, Lao PDR.

The strategy includes six strategic outcomes: i) increase access to adequate waste collection services by ensuring 100% collection rate, ii) maximize waste-to-resource opportunities through an adoption of source separation, iii) maximize the material recovery rate by increasing the waste treatment capacity, iv) minimize waste generation, v) improve the financial and operational efficiency of the sector, and vi) foster green/decent job opportunities for informal sector in the waste management.

The Deputy Director General of VCOMS, Mr. Bounpakop Phomhalath presented the current situation and challenges faced by the local government, which was followed by the presentation on strategic outcomes, action plan and implementation mechanisms delivered by Ms. Shomi Kim, Senior Green Cities Analyst. She also emphasized 3E (Endorsement, Enforcement, Engagement) to turn this strategy into actions through collective efforts.

The local stakeholders including the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), Ministry of Public Work and Transport (MPWT) and district governors provided positive feedback and expressed their commitment to supporting VCOMS to implement the strategy. The international development partners from the World Bank (WB), European Union (EU), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), GIZ and Swisscontact also joined the workshop to share their work plan and partnership mechanisms to achieve the strategic outcomes stated in the strategy.

“The solid waste management is one of the most pressing urban issues in Vientiane. I am very pleased to witness that a solid 10-year strategy for sustainable solid waste management for Vientiane has been developed and ready for endorsement. I will ensure to provide political support for endorsement and enforcement of this strategy to realize Clean, Green, and livable Vientiane” said Mr. Phoukhong Bannavong, the Vice Mayor of Vientiane.

The finalized strategy will be presented to the local assembly of Vientiane and endorsed by the mayor of Vientiane.