Laos Government, UNICEF and UNFPA Sign MOU on National Survey on Woman and Child Wellbeing

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The Lao Social Indicator Survey III is a survey tool that will help generate useful national and provincial data to help inform the Lao Government’s policies and track socio-economic development progress in the country.

The round three of the Lao Social Indicator Survey (LSIS III) 2021-2023 signing ceremony was held on Wednesday at the Lao Statistics Bureau Office (LSB).

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by the Lao Statistics Bureau/Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and Sports, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

LSIS is a nationally representative sample survey, combining the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey and Lao Reproductive Health Survey to achieve a set of single national figures for social indicators.

The survey is carried out once every five years. The fieldwork of listing and data collection in 18 provinces will start in June 2022. The Parties expect to disseminate the survey results in the first quarter of 2023.

LSIS III will generate baseline information for the national monitoring and evaluation framework of the 9th National Socio-Economic Development Plan, support the monitoring of Lao PDR’s progress towards the SDGs and its graduation from Least Developed Country status. It will also provide important insights into the impact of COVID-19 on indicators related to children and women as well.

The focus of LSIS is on health, including reproductive health, maternal health, contraception, sexual behaviour, HIV/AIDS, child health and nutrition. It also collects data about education, access to media and use of information, child development, and water and sanitation. The survey will conduct water quality and iodized salt tests at the selected households.

The signed MoU has reaffirmed the Parties’ commitment and joint agreement to conduct the national survey between 2021 and 2023. The event was witnessed by representatives from all parties. The LSIS will receive financial and technical support from partners, including UNICEF, the Australian government, USAID, UNFPA, WFP and ILO.