Lao Women’s Union and The Asia Foundation Reaffirm Partnership to Advance Women, Peace and Security Agenda in Laos

VIENTIANE CAPITAL, Lao PDR, January 13, 2026 — The Lao Women’s Union (LWU), represented by the Cabinet Office, and The Asia Foundation in Lao PDR (TAF) reaffirmed their long-standing partnership with the signing of a memorandum of understanding for the project “Strengthening the Lao Women’s Union in Amplifying the ASEAN Regional Plan of Action on Women, Peace and Security,” funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and a part of the AMPLIFY regional program.  

The January 13, 2026, ceremony in Vientiane Capital marked the official launch of the project, which aims to equip the Lao Women’s Union to implement the ASEAN Regional Plan of Action on Women, Peace and Security and to promote the leadership role of local women in preventing and resolving conflicts. Building on the achievements of previous cooperation between TAF and the Lao Women’s Union, the project will be implemented in 80 villages across eight districts in Bokeo and Savannakhet provinces, which have been selected as model areas for implementation. The project will contribute directly to the Lao Women’s Development Plan 2026–2030, particularly by strengthening multisectoral engagement in community security and conflict resolution. 

In addition, the project will promote regional and ASEAN-level consultation and exchange to review implementation progress and support the development of coherent policies. It will strengthen the capacity of government and civil society organizations to advance peacebuilding and community-based conflict resolution through women’s participation, as well as support research, analysis, and knowledge generation related to peace, security challenges, and women’s safety. The project will also enhance collaboration with village-level conflict resolution committees, village security units, village disaster management committees, and relevant authorities at higher levels. 

In their remarks, Vice President of the Lao Women’s Union Ms. Phanchinda Lengsavad and President and CEO of The Asia Foundation Laurel Miller emphasized the project’s focus on enhancing cooperation among the LWU and relevant sectors at all levels to promote unity, security, and community-level problem-solving. 

The event was chaired by Ms. Lengsavad, Ms. Miller, and Ms. Elizabeth T. Te, Ambassador of the Philippines to the Lao PDR. Representatives from the International Organizations Department and the ASEAN Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (supporting agencies affiliated with the LWU), along with provincial and district Women’s Union representatives from eight target districts and officials from Bokeo and Savannakhet provinces also participated.  

The ceremony included the announcement of the project acceptance decree from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The agreement was signed by Ms. Viengmaly Dalakone, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Lao Women’s Union, and Ms. Khaliungoo Ganbat, Country Representative of The Asia Foundation in Lao PDR.  

AMPLIFY is a five-year Women, Peace and Security (WPS) initiative that addresses the differential impacts of armed conflicts and human security threats on women in Southeast Asia by advancing their meaningful participation in conflict prevention and peacebuilding. This initiative is funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and implemented by The Asia Foundation in partnership with the Lao Women’s Union and local CSOs working in the field.