Vientiane: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Lao government have initiated the development of a new Country Programming Framework (CPF) for 2027-2031 to guide cooperation on agriculture, rural development, and environmental sustainability.
According to Lao News Agency, the framework was officially launched at an inception workshop attended by over 60 representatives from government ministries, UN agencies, development partners, civil society, the private sector, academia, and farmer organizations. The initiative comes as Laos prepares to transition from Least Developed Country (LDC) status in November 2026. The CPF will align with the country's 10th National Socio-Economic Development Plan (2026-2030), aiming to support green, inclusive, and high-quality economic growth while addressing the evolving development landscape.
During the workshop, participants discussed strategic priorities for the coming five years, acknowledging that LDC graduation will gradually reduce access to concessional financing. Consequently, future programs will concentrate on targeted investments, stronger partnerships, and catalytic initiatives to maximize development impact.
The 2027-2031 CPF will be FAO's final full country programme before the 2030 deadline for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Guided by the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-2031, it aims to promote the transformation of agrifood systems, improve food security and nutrition, strengthen climate resilience, and enhance environmental sustainability.
The framework is structured around FAO's "Four Betters" vision: Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment, and a Better Life, supporting sustainable development while ensuring inclusivity.