The Government of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic has set ambitious targets of transitioning into a middle-income country by 2020, while achieving the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. Although it has experienced strong economic growth over the past two decades, the country is not yet on track to meet the Millennium Development Goals’ hunger target or to address more broadly undernutrition. Wasting among children under 5 has reached 18 percent in one province, the national stunting rate is 40 percent, and micronutrient deficiencies such as anaemia affect more than 40 percent of children.
The Government has recognized the importance of addressing undernutrition in order to achieve its development goals. National policies and frameworks offer the opportunity to take concerted action. WFP’s new country strategy aims to support government efforts to reduce wasting, stunting and micronutrient deficiencies. This country programme will implement the strategy through five components that will reach 751,000 beneficiaries over four years:
Emergency preparedness and response Mother-and-child health and nutrition School meals Livelihood initiatives for nutrition Food fortification and marketing.
