Sustainable Rural Infrastructure and Watershed Management Sector Project, Loan Implementation Consultant – Department of Irrigation (LIC-DOI), ADB Loan 3817/ADB Grants 0659/EU Grant 0660-LAO, Project 50236-002 Contract No.: SRIWSM-OP5-CS01, dated 6 May 20

Lao PDR is currently self-sufficient in rice and as such the Sustainable Rural Infrastructure and Watershed Management Sector Project (SRIWSM) will direct irrigation investment into economic growth policy objectives with a focus on dry season irrigated agriculture. An integral part of this move is the integration of nutrition sensitive agriculture and nutrition improvement by diversifying food sources. The project will modernize at least 18 irrigation schemes to secure reliable dry season irrigation for water users that is both reliable in terms of quantity, time of delivery and place of delivery.

The SRIWSM will achieve its outcome of sustainable market-oriented agriculture production and natural resources management in selected watersheds with improved community nutrition by bringing approximately 3,600 hectares of land under dry season irrigation, producing and marketing over 30,000 tons of high value crops and improving the number of women who meet minimum dietary diversity in target communities by 50%. It will do this through four outputs:

Output 1: Market Oriented Production Increased. The output involves identifying markets and connecting producers to these markets, providing support for value addition along the market chain; Output 2: Watershed ecological services protected. The project will support the update or development of participatory land use plans for villages within the catchments of PRI infrastructure; Output 3: Command Area Reliably Irrigated Increased. This output supports irrigation infrastructure modernization for dry season irrigated agriculture and other infrastructure to support community wellbeing; Output 4: Nutrition Awareness and Facilities Improved. This output will be undertaken in Xiengkhouang and Houaphan provinces.