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Improving food security and nutrition for rural Lao communities
Lao PDR,
ongoing
Home gardens, small livestock, behaviour change and WASH practices diversify diets while strengthening local capacity in Houaphan and Xiengkhouang.
The Nutrition Programme under the Sustainable Rural Infrastructure and Watershed Management Sector Project (SRIWMSP) aims to improve food and nutrition security among rural communities in Lao PDR, particularly in Houaphan and Xiengkhouang provinces. Running from January 2024 to December 2027, the project builds on programme design and preparation work that began in 2022. It supports rural households in improving food security and diets through nutrition-sensitive agriculture, behaviour change, and WASH.
The Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme (GAFSP) funds the programme, providing a technical assistance budget of USD 4 million. The programme is implemented under the leadership of the World Food Programme (WFP), in partnership with SNV and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF).
The challenge
Rural households in northern Lao PDR face persistent food insecurity, limited dietary diversity, and high levels of malnutrition, particularly among women and children. These challenges are exacerbated by rising food prices, limited access to nutritious foods, and inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure. Agricultural systems are often not nutrition-sensitive, and households lack the knowledge and resources to diversify production and improve diets. Within this broader context, SNV focuses specifically on strengthening nutrition-sensitive agriculture, community behaviour change, and the integration of WASH practices to support improved nutrition outcomes.
The approach
The project adopts a multisectoral and community-based approach to address nutrition challenges. Key activities include strengthening the capacity of district and village-level institutions, promoting nutrition-sensitive agriculture through home gardens and small livestock, and delivering social and behaviour change communication (SBCC) to improve dietary practices. Community-led planning processes, such as Village Convergence Action Plans, foster ownership and align actions across sectors. The project also supports improvements in WASH infrastructure and practices. SNV’s engagement builds on its experience in integrated nutrition, agriculture, and WASH programming, contributing technical expertise and facilitating implementation at the community level.
Anticipated project outcomes
The project aims to achieve three key outcomes: improved dietary diversity and nutrition practices among women and children; increased availability and consumption of diverse, nutrient-rich foods at the household level; and strengthened local systems and capacities to sustain nutrition-sensitive interventions. These outcomes contribute to the overarching goal of reducing food insecurity and malnutrition in targeted rural communities, while promoting more resilient, inclusive, and nutrition-sensitive agricultural systems.
Project team
Alex Grumbley
CD Lao PDR
Ekanath Khatiwada
Sector Leader Agrifood Systems & Energy