Challenges Planning traditionally done based on ideal targets, less based on current facts, often due to “lack of information”. Information often exists, but largely underutilized (analysis capacities) not shared/ not accessible (practices) often heterogeneous and scattered (data management) sectoral perspectives (planning processes) → Challenges of information access and integration across sectors and levels

1. Lao Open Data Experiences
Dr Thatheva Saphangthong, CST, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Mr. Phonpasit Phissamay, E-Government Centre, Ministry of Post and Telecommunication
Dr. Chanthaviphone Inthavong, Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment
Lao PDR
Enhancing Open Access to
Knowledge, Information and Data in the Mekong
Yangon, Myanmar February 26-28, 2017

2. Challenges
• Planning traditionally done based on ideal targets,
less based on current facts, often due to “lack of information”.
• Information often exists, but
– largely underutilized (analysis capacities)
– not shared/ not accessible (practices)
– often heterogeneous and scattered (data management)
– sectoral perspectives (planning processes)
→ Challenges of information access and integration across sectors
and levels

3. Information integration:
Limited exchange of
information across sectors
 incoherent, sectorial
planning approaches
Example:
Linking DoF forest zones
to
socio-economic information

5. Lao Government Legislation
www.na.gov.la or www.mpt.gov.la
• Local Administration
• ICT
• Statistic
• Survey and Mapping
• Intellectual Property
• Land
• Water
• Environmental
• Forest
• Agriculture
• Electricity
• Mining
• Urban Planning
• Transport

6. The Lao DECIDE info Project
Fostering information integration, sharing, and analysis
for evidence-based, integrated planning
and
informed decision-making

7. Aim of DECIDE
• To support evidence-informed, thematically integrated planning
and decision-making in the GoL.
Objectives
• Promote and support the availing, sharing, and integration of
existing key data and information of the GoL from across
sectors.
• Support the development of capacities for information exchange,
integration and analysis across thematic sectors in the GoL.
• Develop new information and knowledge for development
planning.

8. Project timeline
Atlas and poverty data
Lao Atlas
and
Poverty
Maps
2006 2009 2011 2012 2013 2018
MPI MAF MoNRE
Cross-sectoral information
and knowledge node
e-Gov
MPTMoHA MEM
Phase I
Phase II
Phase III
Land concession
inventory

9. Cross-sectoral setup within the structures of the Government
of the Lao PDR
MPT
e-Government
SDI
MoHA
Mining &
Hydropower
MEM
Land &
Environment
MoNRE
Agriculture
MAF
Socio-
economic
MPI

10. e-Gov
Center
Cross-sectoral Lao DECIDE info
Strategic steering,
cross-sectoral management and coordination, and
project implementation
DoLA,
DGM
DoPC,
CST
NGD
LSB,
NERI,
DIC,
DIP
Steering
Committee
Management
Board
MoHAMoNREMAFMPI MEM
Cross-sectoral Lao DECIDE info
MPT
DoM
Thematic & technical
Working-groups
Vice-Minister level
Director General level
Technical teams
Technical teams composed of staff from respectively relevant
department(s), coordinated by a designated «task leader»

11. Web
Platform

12. Information
integration
tools

13. Scientific resources

14. Thematic blocks Institutions
Poverty and inequality, s-e disparities
Population and Housing Census 2015, LECS
MPI: LSB, NERI
MoHA: NGD
Large-scale commerial investments in land
&
quality of investments
National inventory and assessment
MAF: DoP & CST
MoNRE: NREIC, DoLA, DGM
MPI: IPD, NERI
MEM: DoM
MPT: e-Government Center
Agricultural transition, diversification,
market integration
Agricultural Census 1999 & 2011
MAF: DoP & CST
MPI: LSB, NERI
Foreign aid investments
AMP etc
MPI: DIC
MAF: DoP
MoNRE
National GIS data MoHA: NGD
Key thematic focus

15. Information integration

16. Example contextualization of land investments
- Inventory
- Geo-referencing
- Harmonizing and integrating
- Contextualization
- ik4d
65%
72%

17. Assessment of aspects of investment quality
> Structured, closed-ended questionnaires conducted with government, company,
and village stakeholders
> Mobile device based data collection

18. Allocated vs. implemented areas

19. PreconditionsBroad partner base
Equal representation at high level
shared and meaningful ownership
sufficient incentives and visibility for each stakeholder
Increasing interest of GoL
Directive from very top
Working progressively on sensitive issues with the GoL
Long-term relationships and trust-based networks
Multi-institutional setup new to GoL
Many stakeholders (national and international)
No existing obvious champion in Laos
Challenges
Opportunities

20. Approach of DECIDE
Fostering a data and information exchange culture across sectors
- a long term commitment, in multiple steps, over several years.
 Time and effort needed
• to develop the necessary trust basis,
• to develop the understanding for the value & benefits of data
and information sharing across thematic sectors,
• to support processes, capacities, and technical environment
to initiate significant changes in attitudes towards information
handling, usage and sharing in multiple ministries.

21. • Information often exists, but
– largely underutilized (analysis capacities)
– not shared/ not accessible (practices)
– often heterogeneous and scattered (data management)
– sectoral perspectives (processes)

22. • Information often exists, but
– largely underutilized (analysis capacities)
– not shared/ not accessible (practices)
– often heterogeneous and scattered (data management)
– sectoral perspectives (processes)

23. • Information often exists, but
– largely underutilized (analysis capacities)
– not shared/ not accessible (practices)
– often heterogeneous and scattered (data management)
– sectoral perspectives (processes)

24. • Information often exists, but
– largely underutilized (analysis capacities)
– not shared/ not accessible (practices)
– often heterogeneous and scattered (data management)
– sectoral perspectives (processes)

25. www.decide.la