On 14-15 June 2024, Lao PDR’s Xay City (District), Oudomxay Province, organised a two-day peer-to-peer Learning Visit with Luang Prabang City involving about 60 participants. This activity was the first ever city-to-city exchange and networking which targeted urban and environmental development city officials between the two SDGs Frontrunner Cities of Lao PDR. The activity aimed to initiate formal collaboration and networks between the two SDGs Frontrunner Cities of Lao PDR to facilitate future cooperation and knowledge exchange among relevant officials to solve common challenges of sustainable city development.
The Xay City delegation was led by Deputy Director of Provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment (PoNRE) Khonesy Xaiyamone and Vice Mayor of Xay District Phommasouk Monechandy, and comprised of key officials responsible for urban development activities. This included key representatives from the District Cabinet Office, District Office of Natural Resources and Environment (DoNRE), District Office of Education and Sports and Urban Development and Administration Authority (UDAA). In addition to the government sector, the delegation also included members of the private sector involved in waste recycling as well as representatives from Xay’s Primary School, Secondary School and Provincial Vocational College. The delegation was hosted by Vice Party Secretary of Luang Prabang City Somdee Phonesavath and key city officials, including those from the City Cabinet Office (International Cooperation Division), Urban Management and Services Office (UMSO), City Office of Natural Resources and Environment and others.
The activity commenced with a meeting to exchange knowledge and share experiences and lessons learnt concerning the priority topics of solid waste management and public urban green space improvement. A lively discussion was held on specific issues, such as public private partnerships, landfill management, awareness raising and behavioural change for promoting waste separation at source, public market management and urban greening. After the indoor session, the participants conducted site visits to several international pilot project locations, such as the Night Market, public toilet, landfill, recycling centre and Kuang Si waterfalls.
IGES visited Xay City for project interim Monitoring & Evaluation activities after the Learning Visit. IGES took the opportunity to participate in an official handover of tools for waste segregation (waste separation baskets and waste collection huts) at three pilot sites – Donekheo Primary School, Mueang Xai Secondary School and Oudomxay Vocational College. This will lay a foundation for the students to utilise the knowledge gained from the project regarding environmental management and proper solid waste management. In the coming months, Xay City will organise a series of activities to raise awareness and build the capacity for expanding and enhancing waste separation at these three pilot sites with an aim to develop them to become a model for the whole city. The eventual goal is to establish a systematic approach for regular recyclable waste at a significantly higher volume at each site, so that a formal contract can be signed with the private recycling sector. This will help divert valuable recyclables away from the city’s landfills, which are quickly running out of capacity. IGES also inspected and learnt more about the progress of tree planting targeting the main roads around the Provincial Government building zone. About 500 (out of planned 550) seedlings have already been planted. Xay City aimed to be more innovative by selecting trees with both ornamental value and functional value, which will provide additional benefits to the local residents, hence incentivising them to contribute towards maintaining these trees.
Under Phase 2 of the ASEAN SDGs Frontrunner Cities Programme (SDGs-FC 2), funded by the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF), Xay City, Oudomxay Province is recognised as Lao PDR’s SDGs Frontrunner City. The city received grants to implement a project entitled ‘"Creating the Pilot Models of Sustainable Waste Management and Green Space Improvement for Oudomxay Province’" to improve its waste management. In line with their project, Xay City is also supported to formally establish friendship and cooperation on urban environmental management with Luang Prabang City, the Frontrunner City selected in SDGs-FC Phase 1. It is hoped that both Xay City and Luang Prabang City shall continue to expand their respective innovative projects with mutual support and inspiration, serving as good examples for other Lao cities.
Event Details
Urban Management and Services Office, Luang Prabang City, and Xay District, Oudomxay Province, Lao PDR
