Achieving the MDGs and exiting Least Developed Country Status
Lao PDR aims to meet the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 and graduate from LDC status by 2020. Achievement of the MDGs are fundamental part of the 7th NSEDP, as is adopting appropriate technology and skills and creating favourable conditions for graduating the country from LDC by 2020.
In order to achieve the 2020 goal of graduating from LDC status, the country will need to maintain a high quantity of economic growth in incomes for the people, but also focusing increasingly on the quality of growth as well as the sustainability of growth. Improving the quality of growth requires greater investments in human capital, social sectors and the environment.
Increased and targeted investments in the MDGs can help the country achieve the goals of poverty reduction.
MDG Status and Trends
Lao PDR has experienced many remarkable advances over the decades. Real GDP growth has averaged at 7.9 percent over the past five years, and has achieved higher real GDP growth than any other land-locked, least developed country in the Asia-Pacific region.
Poverty declined steadily from 46 to 26.9 percent, and the country is on course to achieve the MDG target of halving poverty by 2015.
Between 1991 and 2005, net primary school enrolment rose from 58 to 84 percent. Child mortality indicators are also improving satisfactorily; the under-five mortality shows decrease from 170 to 98/100,00 live births, and the infant mortality from 104 to 70/100,00, which indicate a strong potential of Lao PDR to achieve the target by 2015.
The country has made considerable progress in the fight against malaria and tuberculosis.
Between 1990 and 2006, the death rate from malaria fell per 100,000 from 9 to 0.4.
Key challenges
Efforts are being accelerated to attain all the MDGS, particularly improving nutrition for children under the age of five, and ensuring access to education for all boys and girls. To this end, the Government has mainstreamed gender across all sectors.
Health care varies significantly by location and among income groups. The Government is addressing infant and maternal mortality rates through the introduction of a Skilled Birth Attendants training program, which will massively boost trained staff and therefore assist in reducing maternal mortality rates.
World leaders have been expressing their willingness to contribute to environment and climate change initiatives. The Lao PDR has also highlighted its commitment to environmental issues as well as internationally participation in the fight against climate, and this is strongly expressed in plannig plicies and documents, with a directive to achieve sustainable development of natural resources and ensure equitable growth.
MDG progress is non-linear, and achieving the MDGs gets more difficult as it reaches closer to the goals. While countries can successfully reach the 50 percent to 80 percent levels, it is generally much harder to reach 100% target coverage.
The Lao PDR requires significant support and assistance of development partners throughout the coming five years in order to attain both the MDGs, exit from LDC status as well as ensure full and successful implementation of the 7th NSEDP.