Empowering Youth To Revitalize Agrifood Systems In Lao Peoples Democratic Republic Stories From Young Agri Entrepreneurs

The Hand-in-Hand Initiative (HHI) was launched by the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, to help tackle the slow and negative trends in achieving the SDG targets, in particular the persistence of extreme poverty, hunger and malnutrition. The evidence-based, country-led and country-owned Initiative seeks to accelerate the agricultural transformation and sustainable rural development and brings an innovative approach to partnering through match-making. Countries and their partners are empowered through sophisticated data sharing and model-based analytics to improve the targeting of policies, innovation and investment. HIHI is an inclusive process that aims to build partnerships, alliances and synergies among public and private actors, as well as the international development partners for the goals of eradicating poverty and hunger and reducing inequalities. It will channel the required resources – technical, financial, institutional and human capital – to where they are needed the most and where the potential for reaching the SDG 1, SDG 2 and SDG 10 targets is greatest. On the occasion of the FAO Director-General’s visit to Lao PDR in March 2020, the HIHI was discussed as an opportunity to address key impediments to achieving the SDG1, SDG2 and SDG10. The Government of Lao PDR (GoL) suggested the HIHI be implemented in the emerging economic corridor along the Lao-China railway line. This key national infrastructure connects the country with the world’s largest market, China and other countries in ASEAN – the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. HIHI enhances the capacity of previously isolated communities to effectively and sustainably take advantage of the emerging opportunities afforded by the railway. This concept note highlights a general approach and process to address key impediments to achieving SDG 1, 2 and 10 targets in Lao PDR. It intends to generate support, partnership and engagement from a wide range of new and traditional partners such as the private sector, international agencies, resource partners and the target communities themselves. The proposed approach and framework are not a blueprint but rather a flexible mechanism that will adapt to emerging opportunities and partnerships, building synergies with relevant ongoing and planned initiatives.`