Preparation for the Australia Mekong NGO Engagement Platform (AMNEP)

We are invited by one of the orginasers to participate at the forthcoming Australia Mekong NGO Engagement (AMNEP) Platform in Hanoi, Vietnam. This program will be a forum for NGOs and not-for-profit organisation working in Mekong areas to meet and discuss key development issues. The key agenda for this round is ASEAN economic integration and women. This is obviously a great opportunity for our team to present some findings from this project to NGOs and delegates from the Australian Aid.
I have prepared an abstract for our presentation and eager to share them with you here.

Mining & Development in Lao PDR 

"The extractives sector, including international mining companies, drives trade, economic growth and development in the Greater Mekong Sub-region by creating jobs and boosting government revenue. Yet investment in the extractives sector in developing countries comes with many challenges.
 There is evidence to show that it is women in mining communities who can have the greatest positive influence on the local economy. Empowering rural village women is vital to unlocking local development.
 This study explores how an international mining company operating in rural Lao PDR engages and influences women, directly and indirectly, and the consequent social and economic impacts on the local community.
 This Australia Aid funded ADRAS research addresses important questions about employment participation and sustainable rural development in Lao PDR. Using a qualitative approach, the authors conducted personal interviews with 76 women and men, and group interviews including key community leaders, from seven villages in Vilabouly District, Savannkhet Province.

The preliminary findings of this study confirm that the international mining industry, in this context, can influence women in three major domains. They include (1) relationship with other members in the community, (2) economic power and social status, and (3) self-actualization. This study also confirms that key actors associated with a rural mining community -  multinational corporations and their shareholders, local government and policy makers, and affected village communities – can potentially work together to promote gender equity and empower women in a rural area in Lao PDR."

We will keep you updated with the event which is scheduled in late August.