UNDP has been a long-running partner of the government of the Lao PDR for the past 20 years.  To Celebrate World Radio Day, we are highlighting the achievements of one of the UNDP flagship projects: Enhancing People’s Participation through Community Radio (EPPCR). Following our mandate of leaving no one behind and being inclusive, the community radio project ensures Lao ethnic groups who live in rural areas receive information in their local dialect.   

From music to news, new knowledge, and old stories, local radio is at the heart of our communities.  

On February 7, 2023, the Project Board of the EPPCR met to report on the project’s achievements and challenges at UN House. The first community radio was established in 2007 in Khoun District Xiengkhuang province. Today, there are 12 Community Radio stations across the country in Six provinces. These are: Khoun and Nonghead CRs in Xiengkhuang province, Nakai and Mahaxay in Khammuan province, Namor and Houn CRs in Oudomxay province, Khorp CRs in Xayaboury Province, TaOi  and Lakhonpheng in Salavan province, Thateng and Dukchueng in Xekong province, and Xon CRs in Huaphan province. 

The EPPCR project has been supporting the Lao community in 12 districts by setting up radio stations, training volunteers, and disseminating relevant information from development partners to the CRs. There is a wide range of topics covered by the CRs. For instance, girls’ education support by UNESCO, Gender-Based Violence support by KOICA, and Migration during COVID-19 support by IOM. The community radio has proven to be successful in bringing  information to the Lao community in rural areas and will continue to do so in the future.  

The project board declared the closure of the EPPCR on the 7th of February with a view to further exploring more opportunities for sustainably developing community radio in Lao PDR . The project mobilized almost USD 1.2 million from 2017-2022 from different development partners including the UN agencies and the private sector like Nam Theun 2 Power Company (NTPC). 

For more information, please contact: 

Ms. Aksonethip Somvorachit 

UNDP Communications Analyst 

aksonethip.somvorachit@undp.org 

Ms. Sinsavanh Sonepaseuth 

UNDP Communications and Outreach Officer for Governance 

sinsavanh.sonepaseuth@undp.org