Environmental Growing Pains in Laos
A winner of CIDA’s Awards of
Excellence 2002 for best cooperation
projects by colleges and universities
for contributing to a sustainable
urban environment in Laos
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Known as the land of a million elephants, Laos experienced an economic boom when it opened up its economy more than a decade ago. Although economic growth rates were impressive, urban planners scrambled to develop new ways to cope with the by-product of this growth: increased pollution of the air, water, and soil in the cities, where most of the growth was occurring.
Recognizing that well-managed cities are key to achieving sustainable economic growth and alleviating poverty, the Institut de Recherche en Urbanisme in Laos decided to tackle the situation. In 1997 it teamed up with two Quebec institutions, the Collège François-Xavier-Garneau in Québec and the Collège de Rosemont in Montréal, to establish a very successful environmental management training unit at the institute. The project was funded by CIDA’s Educational Institutions Program, which works with Canadian universities, colleges, and other institutions to build the capacity of educational and training institutions in developing countries.
In a few short years, the institute trained government staff, local public servants, village chiefs, and women’s groups to better integrate environmental issues into urban planning and operations. The training program emphasized local solutions, and is now training city managers and employees to include environmental factors into their work.
The key to the project’s success was the development of local capacity in environmental management and urban planning. Capacity was created not only by teaching modern methods of environmentally sensitive urban planning, but by educating others to teach these subjects.
“Without the development of local capacity, the project’s effect ends when the project ends. By instilling local capacity, you create sustainability and momentum to carry on for the long run.” — Chuanpit Chua-Oon, Project Manager, Collège François-Xavier-Garneau
This institute’s training program has led to improved water and waste management, recycling, neighbourhood preservation, and better community health. The institute is fully sustainable and has become a strong advocate in environmental matters. It now offers its expertise not only to Laotian clients, but also to international organizations.
This project has shown that developing and instilling local capacity in environmental management can lead to sustainable growth and human development. Support for better urban management to accompany increased economic growth complements CIDA’s policy of supporting sustainable development by helping reduce poverty. Utilizing Canada’s environmental expertise in Laos is another example of how Canada can make a difference in the world.
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