Our work in Lao PDR focuses on activities with regional and transboundary implications, primarily supporting national environmental, social, and governance (ESG) policies and practices that produce pilot successes for replication at a regional scale. We focus on strengthening ESG standards as applied to infrastructure projects of transboundary scope, which increases the transparency of cross-border investments while strengthening regional energy security and regional sustainable natural resources management. 

Our activities in Lao PDR are primarily led by staff in the The Asia Foundation Lao PDR Country Office, enabling a highly integrated approach to the informal networks and engagements needed to acquire consensus and push development activities forward. Activities in Lao PDR include technical assistance and capacity building for the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment on the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) process and implementation. Successful deployment helps to implement and enforce ESIA for energy and transportation-related infrastructure projects ensuring international standards are applied to avoid and/or mitigate negative impacts to the surrounding environment and communities.