Good governance begins when people have a voice. After four years of implementation, the Citizen Engagement for Good Governance, Accountability and the Rule of Law Program Phase II (CEGGA II) is approaching the end of its implementation period. Representatives from government institutions, civil society organisations, communities and development partners gathered for a closing ceremony on 23 September in Vientiane Capital to celebrate the journey, its achievements and the people behind the work.
Vilayvanh Bouddakham, Deputy Chief of the Central Committee for the Organisation and Personnel (CCOP), said, “What we have developed and implemented together from the beginning until today is in line with the Government’s direction to promote the participation of all sectors and bring our collective efforts together for the development of the country. We will continue to build on this work, taking forward the lessons learned and the achievements of the program and applying them in practice.”
CEGGA II has been running from 2022 to 2026 as a joint initiative of Switzerland, Germany and the European Union with Laos, and is implemented by GIZ. The program focuses on three closely connected governance areas: strengthening civil society engagement, bringing citizens closer to decision-making, and improving access to justice and understanding of the rule of law.
Through panel discussions, TED-style presentations and reflections from partners, the event highlighted how the program’s work has translated into tangible change.
Across communities, civil society organisations play a growing role in shaping local development. Through the CEGGA Small Grants Mechanism, 32 community projects have been implemented across Laos, benefiting more than 100,000 citizens while strengthening local organisations and supporting vulnerable groups. The initiative has also helped expand dialogue between government and civil society, including through CSO Fairs that provided a platform for more than 70 CSOs to connect with communities and wider audiences.
At the same time, more citizens have gained opportunities to engage with decision-makers. Between 2024 and 2026, Provincial People’s Assemblies in Luang Prabang and Khammouane engaged with more than 87,000 citizens through public hearings, petitions and hotlines. Women accounted for 45 per cent of those reached.
The program has also supported women’s participation in political leadership, with more than 400 women candidates receiving training ahead of the 2026 parliamentary elections. This effort contributed to women securing 29.71 percent of seats in the National Assembly, an increase from 21.92 percent in the previous legislative period.
For many communities, access to justice has become easier to understand. CEGGA II has supported legal awareness activities, mobile legal services and Clinical Legal Education, connecting law students with communities and helping to bridge the gap between legal education and practice. More than 25,000 villagers have received legal information, while more than 2,100 village leaders have received training.
These results are built through collaboration among Lao government institutions, civil society organisations, communities and Team Europe partners. The program’s success goes beyond individual activities and figures. It is reflected in stronger relationships, greater opportunities for dialogue and participation, trust, and strengthened capacities that can continue to support a more inclusive national development process in Laos.
As CEGGA II approaches the end of its implementation period, the work of strengthening citizen engagement, dialogue and responsive governance continues.
