Rural development and agriculture is pivotal for the development of many developing countries including Vietnam and Lao PDR. As the majority of the poor depends on agriculture and natural resources for their living, acceleration of environmentally sustainable natural resource-based development is therefore critical.

Switzerland assistance to the Mekong Region aims to support the development of livelihood in the uplands and other poor rural areas in terms of increased food security, income and environmental sustainability. Projects which are implemented in Vietnam and Lao PDR as of 2008 include:

Vietnam:

• Small Scale Agro-enterprise Development  in the Uplands (SADU).
• Northern Uplands Livestock Development (PALD).
• Monitoring and Evaluation for Poverty Reduction (MESICAR).
• Public Service Provision Improvement Programme in Agriculture and Rural Development (PSARD).
• Vietnam Sustainable Brick-Making Project (VSBP).
• Hazardous Waste Management.
• Swiss - Vietnamese Clean Air Programme.
• Capacity Building for the Institute for Environment and Resources.
• Environmentally Sound Management & Disposal of PCB in Electrical Systems.

Lao PDR:

• Rice Research and Training.
• Laos Extension Approach Programme (LEAP).
• Poverty Alleviation in Remote Upland Areas (PARUA).
• Small Scale Agro-enterprise Development in the Uplands (SADU).
• Preserving biodiversity in Laos.
• Northern Region Sustainable Livelihoods through Livestock Development Project.(NRSLADP)