On 4 September 2026, Public Information and Awareness Services for Vulnerable Communities in Lao PDR (PIASVC) Project proudly hosted its Final Symposium. We brought together government partners, development organizations, civil society representatives, and project stakeholders to reflect on PIASVC’s impactful journey.
Organized by the Department of Land Administration and Management (DLAM) and Helvetas Laos, with the support of the Land Information Working Group (LIWG), the event was co-chaired by distinguished representatives: Mr. Virana Sonenasinh (Director General of DLAM, MAE), Mr. Makus Kukkonen (Senior Land Administration Specialist, World Bank), Mr. Andreas Gerrits (Deputy Director of Cooperation, SDC), and Mr. Jesper Elias Laudrisen (Country Director, Helvetas Laos).
With over 130 participants in attendance—including the Implementation Management Committee (IMC), sub-grantees, development partners, and the project team— the Symposium served as a profound opportunity to reflect on the PIASVC’s journey, achievements, and future directions
The event marked the final gathering of our project activities and featured a deeply moving "River of PIASVC" presentation. Through the metaphor of a river, this visual journey retraced the project's evolution from its beginnings to today, offering a space for everyone who contributed to reflect on the milestones achieved and the obstacles overcome along the way. Representatives from diverse sectors shared heartfelt reflections and personal experiences, providing powerful testimony to the project's impact while also helping shape the vision for the future of land management and governance in Lao PDR during breakout sessions.
What was achieved under PIASVC is truly remarkable:
- Over 27,500 people directly received crucial information on land and natural resources rights.
- Over 1,300 awareness sessions were held in rural and ethnic communities
- More than 3,000 individuals were trained in delivering awareness and counseling services.
- Six complete sets of training materials and tools are fully available online.
- A dozen civil society organizations have strengthened capacities and built new relationships with their government counterparts
- Our social media campaigns achieved an incredible 4.5 million views, reaching far beyond initial target locations and beneficiaries.
As Mr. Andreas Gerrits noted during his remarks, the true success of this project goes beyond the numbers. Its real legacy lies in the "strong partnerships built, capacities strengthened, innovative approaches introduced, and the foundation established for more inclusive and accessible land rights."
These successes would not have been possible without the commitment, collaboration, and support of all partners involved. A special thank you to DLAM for their leadership and technical guidance, our incredible PIASVC sub-grantees for their hard work at the local level, and to our partner LIWG for its invaluable support. Most importantly, we extend our deepest gratitude to our donors—JSDF via the World Bank and SDC,—for their vital funding and trust from kickoff to completion.
Thank you to all who have been part of this remarkable journey. The project may be closing, but the impact of PIASVC will long live on.
