The Inception Workshop for the Phongsaly Alternative Development Fund
(PADF Lao/I32) Project, Khua District, Phongsaly Province,
6 August 2008

The inception workshop presented the project objective, outputs, activities, budget, organizational structure and staffing. The findings of the Rapid Rural Appraisal Survey and key baseline data of the target districts were also presented to the meeting. The participants of the workshop highlighted that this AD project was essential for poverty reduction and opium elimination in Phongsaly since the project sites: Muang Kua, Muang Mai and Samphan fall under the poorest districts of the national poverty reduction plan and encounter high risk of opium poppy re-cultivation. The meeting called for cooperation and collaboration from concerned government authorities, non-government organizations and development agencies to support the implementation of project activities in the target communities. Representatives from various agencies provided recommendations on future project activities and coordination. The meeting also expressed appreciation to the German Ministry for Economic Development and Cooperation (BMZ) for financial support to the project. In addition to the inception workshop, a project planning and management meeting was conducted for project staff to discuss the project implementation strategies and operation plan.