Brief Summary of Dissemination of NIPN Results for Provincial Assemblies in Northern Region, Department of Planning and Investment, Oudomxay Province.

The dissemination of NIPN results to provincial assemblies in northern region organized on 4 June 2025, under the chairmanship of Mr. Khampheuy Ngonevankham, Provincial Party Committee, Vice-President of Oudomxay Provincial Assembly. Co-Chaired by Dr. Keovivone Outhachack, Vice-President of Lao Academy of Social and Economic Sciences (LASES). Two provincial assemblies and one provincial health officer from each of nine provinces attended the event. The representative of key sectors (Health, Agriculture, Education, Planning and Finance) as well as mass organization like Lao Women Union, Lao Youth Union and Lao Trade Union, and NGOs in the host province also participated. There were approximately 60 participants in total.

The event was facilitated by the following central level institutions: Lao Academy of Social and Economic Sciences (LASES), Ministry of Planning and Investment, Nutrition Center as well as the NIPN PAU and DAU teams.

 

 

 

The following topics were presented in the event:

• Why Nutrition Matters & Role of Provincial Assemblies in Promoting Nutrition Agenda was presented by Ms. Amphouvone Thongmanilay, Technical Officer, Socio-Economic Policy Research Institute (SPRI), Lao Academy Social and Economic Sciences (LASES). To highlight the meaning and importance of nutrition as well as the consequences of malnutrition. We are the key players in promoting the nutrition agenda of Don Kan province. How can we integrate this work into the regular programs of relevant sectors for ownership and sustainability?
• Brief overview of NIPN and its achievements and short video on NIPN Project was presented by Viengkhone Bouaphachanh, Deputy Director of Development Research Institute, Ministry of Planning and Investment. Overview of NIPN, including organizational structure, role and achievements during the past several years.
• NIPN dashboard and website, live demonstration on NIPN dashboard, and nutrition situation in the province (LSIS, NIPN and other results) and its comparison with region / northern was presented by Mr. Phouthachan Tonpheng, Head of Division, Development Research Institute, Ministry of Planning and Investment. Evidence-based generation by province from the previous Lao Social Indicators Surveys (LSIS) the findings regarding key nutrition related indicators to serve for a five-year provincial plan as well as sectoral plans for each province.
• Summary of key nutrition issues and policy recommendations by province was presented by Ms. Mali Sengkhamyong, Technical Officer, Socio-Economic Policy Research Institute (SPRI), Lao Academy Social and Economic Sciences (LASES). Evidence-base nutrition issue, brief analysis and actionable recommendation for specific province was explained and provided for group activity by province. It was considered as a guide for group work to develop the provincial action plans more effectively.

The presentations were followed by discussion. Generally, it was agreed with the nutrition data presented and acknowledge that malnutrition can be to addressed by multisector efforts and strongly support by the government and all stakeholders at all levels. Malnutrition is strongly related to a number of factors such as socio-economic, food insecurity, poverty, investment, access to health/nutrition service and education, labor as well as early marriage and pregnancy.

The concrete evidence-base of each particular province will influence the provincial authority as well as provincial assemblies and other stakeholders to advocate nutrition agenda to improve the nutritional well-being of population in their entire provinces. They will play a key role in addressing these issues and to consider and/or endorser to advocate funding by increasing investment in nutrition through integration nutrition into provincial development plan as well as sectoral plans towards ownership and sustainability.

In order to gain insights and commitments from the participants, the province wise group work was essential to identify and prioritize key actionable activities based on given key nutrition issues and policy recommendations by province. Then identify their action plans, timelines and responsible actors based on three key areas like enabling environment, nutrition specific and nutrition sensitive for each particular province, and then following by group presentation.

The key take aways and action points were also made by Mr. Ousavanh Thienthepvongsa, Director General of Socio-Economic Policy Research Institute (SPRI), Lao Academy Social and Economic Sciences (LASES) to encourage the participants in prioritizing nutrition. They are as under:

• Increased investment in nutrition-sensitive and nutrition-specific programs
• Integration of nutrition indicators in broader health, education, agriculture, and poverty surveys as well as 5-year Provincial Plans, sectoral plans and align provincial plans and budgets with National Nutrition Strategy and NPAN
• Strengthen multisectoral nutrition governance and coordination
• Advocate for funding to support at the provincial level, especially for research on local determinants of malnutrition
• Use nutrition data and evidence (e.g., stunting hotspots, dietary patterns, early marriage prevalence) to inform equitable resource allocation within provincial budgets for nutrition programming
• Push for dedicated budget lines for nutrition-sensitive programming in sectors like agriculture and education as well as nutrition specific programming in health sector
• Champion policies that embed SBCC activities in schools, health centers, and other available platforms

The Co-Chair concluded that although we have good collaboration but to address nutrition issues, there is a need to further strengthen monitoring, supervision and advocacy through concrete workplan, human and financial resources, and accountability in all sectors.

Finally, the Chair emphasizes that in order to make the dissemination event more effective and achieve ultimate goal, ensure that key nutrition should be integrated into the Provincial Sectoral Five-Year Plans to promote nutrition in the entire provinces and enhance the multisector coordination mechanism. Thank to all participants for their dedicated time and efforts, comments and suggestions, and to the EU and UNICEF for their support.