Nov 2019

Unleashing UnlimitedPotential of

Lao Generation 2030

No time to lose…

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• 20 November 2019 will mark the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC30), one of the world’s most-ratified human rights treaty.

• This important milestone provides an opportunity to secure fresh commitments to fulfilling children’s rights.

CRC@30 – Global Momentum to Renew Commitments

• Public engagement activities

• September: Heads of Government and senior political figures convened a

special event on the CRC during the UN General Assembly week in New

York and pledged to uphold their commitment to realizing child rights.

• 18-20 November 2019: High-level mainstreaming panel on CRC@30

• 20 November 2019: A full day high-level meeting of the General

Assembly on World Children’s Day (WCD).

• A Lao Youth advocate has been invited to give a 3-minute presentation

focusing on education at the General Assembly. This is a great opportunity to

raise Lao children’s voices at global level.

• Member states that have aligned to the CRC@30 Global Pledge will be

announced. Lao PDR has endorsed the Global pledge on 23 October.

• At the meeting, member states will share their national commitments to

improve the situation of children in their respective countries.

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Why Lao Generation 2030?

Why now?

• Graduate from LDC by 2024

• Become an Upper Middle-income Country by 2030

• Implement SDGs by 2030

• Continue growing the economy

National Development Objectives

Source: IMF, 2019

Human capital is crucial to develop the skills that workers need to benefit from technological change

Source: World Bank Human Capital Index 2018.

Notes: Selected economies only.

Brain circuits stabilize with age, making them

increasingly more difficult to alter

Good nutrition and rich experiences affect

brain development

Brain architecture is built in a “bottom up”

sequence: higher capacities are more difficult

to develop if lower capacities have not

emerged appropriately

Equity Gaps Begin Early and Widen ProgressivelyProtective factorsGood nutritionResponsive & nurturing parentingSafe and stimulating environmeantHealth care (prenatal, maternity, new born, infant)Adequate family income

Biological risks Chronic under-nutritionIron and iodine deficiencyIUGRHIV infection

Psycho-social risks Poor caregiver-child interactionMaternal depressionInstitutional rearingExposure to violencePoor learning environment

Source: The Lancet, 2016

Second Decade – Second Chance

• In Lao PDR about 60%

of the population is

below the age of 25,

and approximately 40%

is below the age of 18.

• With education, skills

and empowerment,

young people can make

the most of their talents

and potential and

contribute to the peace

and prosperity of their

communities.

• Adolescents need support to complete primary and secondary.

• Flexible learning opportunities

• Special efforts to attend the needs of most disadvantaged

Secondary-age education

• Young people need access to opportunities to develop skills.

• Support to transition from education to work –internships

• They need digital skills

Skills for learning, employability and decent work

• Support to understand their rights and make life choices.

• Opportunities for civic engagement and to voice opinions

Empowerment, with a focus on girls

3 strategies to maximize impact

Return on Investment in Human Capital (Heckman, 2007)

Data and Evidence in Laos

Distribution of Multidimensional Deprivation for Children 0-17 Years Old and Distribution by Area of Residence

88.3

70.6

50.4

30.6

15.5

6.11.4

97.5

89.9

74.8

50.2

27.9

12.12.9

92.4

76.6

56.2

34.8

17.8

6.91.6

74.4

47.5

25.4

11.44.4

1.40.3

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

He

adco

un

t D

ep

riva

tio

n R

ate

(H

) (%

)

National

Rural without road

Rural with road

Urban

By 2024 Lao PDR has the ambition to graduate to the status of middle-income country.

• That requires a healthy and well-educated labour force through investments in critical periods of

the life-cycle:

-Early Childhood

-School Years

-Adolescent

• The workers of 2024 are leaving primary school today.

• The workers of 2030 are starting primary school today.

Investing in Child Wellbeing is Critical for LDC Graduation and Preventing the Middle Income Trap

• Investments in the Lao Generation 2030 in the first 1,000 days and early childhood,

school age and adolescence will improve the lives of children and adolescents NOW.

• Investments in children and adolescents now will significantly increase human capital for

the FUTURE, benefiting the Lao PDR through enormous dividends to future growth.

• The Lao Generation 2030 will accompany the country’s graduation from LDC status and

contribute to its successful advancement toward a Higher-Middle Income Country.

• Investment in the Lao Generation 2030 should be converging around:

(i) Strengthening national systems to provide quality services for reproductive,

maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health, nutrition specific and sensitive

interventions, quality education and life skills, clean water, hygiene and safe

environment, and protection from abuse, violence, and exploitation, with focus on

most vulnerable and hard to reach. Paying special attention to strengthening the

child protection system to protect children, and to create developmental

opportunities and promote child well-being.

(ii) Demand Generation and Changing Behaviors and Practices, for example

through improving parenting for young children to provide best start in life; and

ending child marriage.

(iii) Strengthening Policies and Expanding Partnerships, including translating the

policy objectives for Lao Generation 2030 into the 9th NSEDP.

Lao Generation 2030 – Call to Action

• Commitments by stakeholders (CRC@30 Commitments) – Lao Generation 2030

Forum Joint Statement.

• Prioritization of investments in Lao Generation 2030 in the 9th NSEDP (Roadmap on

Lao Gen2030)

• Developing investment cases for Lao Gen 2030 (scaling up of system strengthening

solutions, C4D/BCC interventions and provincial investment plans).

• Tracking resources and results on annual basis. Annual stock-taking – Annual Report

on Lao Gen 2030 (based on Commitments and MODA Provincial Profiles as base-

line).

• Annual awarding of champions for Lao Gen2030.

• Involvement/participation of children and young people.

Investing in Lao Generation 2030 – a whole society approach

Thank You! Khob Chai!