VIENTIANE – The Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) signed today an agreement with UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, to provide AUD 300,000 support for the Lao Social Indicator Survey (LSIS).

LSIS is a significant nationwide household-based survey on social development. Australia's contribution is earmarked for field data collection, which is planned this September 2011 in 20,000 households in 1,000 villages. The funds will be channelled through UNFPA to support the government to carry out the survey.

The survey is coordinated and led by the Ministry of Health, with technical support from the Department of Statistics of the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and is being supported by development partners, namely UNFPA, UNICEF, USAID, the Government of Luxembourg, UNDP, WHO and JICA. It is a big operation with an estimated total cost of USD 1.3 million. Australia's contribution is timely and will contribute to the government's successful implementation of LSIS.

LSIS combines two surveys that were previously conducted separately: the Multi Indicator Cluster Survey (1996, 2000 and 2006) and the Lao Reproductive Health Survey (1995, 2000 and 2005). It also draws upon the Demographic and Health Survey, which is conducted globally.

The survey focuses on health, including reproductive health, maternal health, contraception, sexual behaviour, HIV/AIDS, child health and nutrition. It also collects data about education, child protection, child development, and water and sanitation.

The data obtained from LSIS will be analysed and disaggregated to national and provincial levels. Eventually, it will contribute to a baseline for the 7th National Socio-Economic Development Plan for 2011-2015 and support the country's monitoring of progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

For more information, please contact: 
Diego De La Rosa, tel. +856 21 315 547, drosa@unfpa.org
Pafoualee Leechuefoung, tel. +856 21 315 547, leechuefoung@unfpa.org