Rural development and agriculture is pivotal for the advancement of many developing countries, including Vietnam and Lao PDR. The majority of the poor people, who live in the Mekong Region, depend on agriculture and natural resources for their livelihoods. Therefore an acceleration of environmentally sustainable natural resource-based development is a critical component to poverty reduction.

Switzerland aims to support the development of livelihoods in the uplands and other poor rural areas in the Mekong Region, specifically in terms of increased food security, increased income, and environmental sustainability.

Current Projects

• Poverty Alleviation in Remote Upland Areas in Lao PDR
• Smallholder Agricultural Market Development in the Uplands of Lao PDR
• Reform in the Agriculture and Forestry College in Lao PDR
• The Agrobiodiversity Initiative in Lao PDR
• Northern Region Sustainable Livelihoods through Livestock Development in Lao PDR
• Laos Extension for Agriculture Project
• Northern Uplands Rice-based Farming Systems Research Project in Lao PDR
• Forestry Partnership Support

Past Projects

• Public Service Provision Improvement Programme
• Monitoring and Evaluation
• Poverty Alleviation through Livestock Development
• Rice Research and Training
• Agro-enterprise Development
• Mekong Market Development Portfolio
• Vietnamese Sustainable Brick-making
• Hazardous Waste Management
• Environment Management