Prioritisation of SDGs in national development strategies through an interlinkage perspective: A country study for Lao PDR by using IGES SDG Interlinkages Tool

Building on the country’s momentum in economic growth and poverty reduction over the last couple of decades and aspiring to graduate from the least developed country (LDC) status, Lao PDR has developed a well-balanced policy framework for embracing the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Being a least developed country with limited capacities and financial resources, however, Lao PDR faces tremendous challenges in filling the development gaps and achieving the broad scope of SDGs with 169 targets and more than 230 indicators. Priority setting is therefore indispensable which can help use limited resources effectively by addressing the accelerators and mitigating the trade-offs. This country study, funded by UNDESA, aims to provide a new insight on priority setting from an interlinkage perspective to complement the existing priority setting practiced in Lao PDR under the 8th National Socio-Economic Development Plan and support integrated planning and implementation of SDGs.