Annual stakeholder meeting on Association Anoulak’s community handicraft marketing value-chain program

On the 31st January 2022, Association Anoulak organized a stakeholder meeting to report on the progress of our community alternative livelihood program we launched in 2020. The project aims to provide alternative income to local communities; preserve the traditional knowledge, culture and crafting skills, and reduce reliance on natural resources to contribute to biodiversity conservation in Nakai-Nam Theun National Park. Association Anoulak supports villagers from the Thaphaibanh village cluster (which includes 4 villages) in the development and implementation of their handicraft marketing and value chain strategy through technical training and coaching.

Forty-one (41) participants attended the meeting. The meeting was co-chaired by the Director of the Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Office (PAFO), the Nakai District Governor, and the Director of the Nakai-Nam Theun National Park (the three of them also members of the management committee board of Nakai-Nam Theun National Park).

Association Anoulak’s team, lead by Ms. Lampheuy (program’s manager), presented the progress of the program since its launch and focusing on key activities implemented in 2021. Village facilitators (members of the local communities and focal points at the village-level) presented their annual village action plan for 2022, which were co-designed with Association Anoulak over the past few months, and reflecting the progress of the program.

Dr. Lampheuy (program’s manager)

Key points that were shared and discussed among participants included:

• The focus on a natural resource management plan in 2022 and coming years to ensure the sustainable supply of the raw material (bamboo, rattan, pandanus) for handicraft production; which will involve management of resources (e.g. cutting and harvesting techniques) and experimental cultivation in both village common areas and individual family forest plots
• Produce products that are related to traditional culture and meet the market demand
• Focus on domestic and export markets and raise the profile of the traditional handicrafts as part of the One District One Product program of the Lao PDR
• Increase the coordination between the relevant stakeholders to support the implementation villagers’ action plan of 2022 in relation to each organization’ roles
• Explore the possibility to improve communication facilities within the enclave villages in the national park to facilitate marketing chain of handicrafts

Meeting participants, on 31 January 2022

Dr. Lampheuy (program’s manager) handing over to Mr. Outhai (director of Nakai-Nam Theun National Park) a gift basket composed of handicrafts made by the villagers as part of the program

Handing over participants gift baskets composed of handicrafts made by the villagers as part of the program

Handing over participants gift baskets composed of handicrafts made by the villagers as part of the program

Mr. Outhai (director of Nakai-Nam Theun National Park) handing over to Director of PAFO a gift basket composed of handicrafts made by the villagers as part of the program

Co-chairs of the meeting (from left to right): Nakai District Governor, Director of the Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Office (PAFO), Director of the Nakai-Nam Theun National Park

Village facilitators presenting their village action plan for 2022

Anoulak team with village facilitator at the Thaphaibanh New Normal Crafting shop and office in village Oudomsouk, Nakai District, Khammouan Province