The UN Joint Project “Leaving no one behind: Establishing the basis for social protection floors in Lao PDR”brings together three UN agencies lead by ILO to support the Government of Laos to implement the National Social Protection Strategy through enhanced government planning, and managerial and executing capacity.

The main objective of the UNJP is to support the Government in the implementation of the new National Social Protection Strategy (NSPS) by an approach focused on systems development and implemented through the piloting and proof of concept of a Mother Early Childhood Grant.

In addition, the UNJP through UNCDF will assess and present innovative financial solutions that will lead to development of sustainable options to finance the social protection system, particularly regarding the need for investment capital. The programme foresees the development of (i) budget expenditure codes, (ii) the generation of a coherent business plan for the development of a National Social Protection Fund (NSPF), (iii) the development of an investor prospectus and investor matching event to attract new partners (traditional and non-traditional) to invest in the NSPF; and (iv) undertaking a credit rating for the fund as a pre-cursor for the development of a SPF Bond for the Thai market (Thai Bond issue).

The UNJP will contribute to the following SDGs, specifically addressing SDG indicator 1.3: Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable.