ENUFF closing ceremony, SDC Head of Cooperation Jean-Gabriel Duss (left) and Deputy Minister of Health Dr Snong Thongsna. - Photo: Philippe Aramburu
VIENTIANE: The Enhancing Nutrition of Upland Farming Families (ENUFF) project, funded by Switzerland and implemented by SNV and the Ministry of Health, has successfully concluded its eight-year journey.
Launched in 2016, the project has brought significant improvements in nutrition, dietary diversity and access to clean water and sanitation to remote upland farming communities in Oudomxay and Huaphan provinces.
It has impacted 60 villages and nearly 6,500 households, leaving a legacy of better health and sustainable practices.
Over the years, ENUFF has demonstrated the effectiveness of its integrated approach to nutrition, agriculture, water, sanitation, and hygiene, achieving measurable results.
This approach is in line with the National Plan of Action on Nutrition 2021-2025, which guides the national multisectoral response to malnutrition.
The percentage of households consuming a minimum diverse diet rose from 44 percent in 2020 to 60 percent in 2024.
Stunting rates among children under five decreased significantly from 42 percent to 34 percent in the target areas—far outpacing the national decline of 0.2 percent.
Furthermore, 56 gravity-fed water systems were rehabilitated, allowing water access all year round for 50 villages. 59 villages attained open defecation-free status, enhancing health and hygiene standards across the project areas.
“These achievements highlight the commitment of local stakeholders, the government, Switzerland and SNV in addressing malnutrition and food insecurity,” said Ranjan Shrestha, ENUFF Project Lead.
A cornerstone of ENUFF’s success was its partnership with local structures. District Nutrition Committees were pivotal in coordinating multisectoral responses, while Village Nutrition Teams empowered communities to take ownership and continue interventions beyond the project.
Switzerland’s unwavering support was instrumental in facilitating the project’s achievements. Jean Gabriel Duss, Regional Director of the Swiss Cooperation Office in Vientiane, stated: “We commend the excellent work of our partners SNV, Department of Hygiene and Health Promotion and local stakeholders to drive impactful and lasting change.
The results achieved are exemplary and prove the pertinence of the multi-sectoral approach to address nutrition.
Switzerland, therefore, encourages all involved stakeholders to replicate this approach all over the Lao PDR.
The Committees at the local level are well trained and need to take the required responsibility now to ensure continuity of the action.”
While celebrating its successes, the ENUFF project highlighted areas requiring continued attention, such as the financial sustainability of local governance mechanisms and the need for ongoing technical support to the communities.
SNV has already initiated efforts to replicate ENUFF’s approach in other regions through partnerships with organisations like the World Food Programme and the Asian Development Bank.
The Lao government’s active involvement at the district and village levels was crucial to the project’s success. Increasing financial contributions from domestic sources is vital to sustaining and expanding these interventions.
Director General for the Department of Hygiene and Health Promotion Dr Phonepaseuth Xayamoungkhoun, expressed the government’s commitment stating: "We will continue to prioritise policies, allocate resources, and foster partnerships that enable us to build on the progress achieved through ENUFF.
"Improving food and nutrition security remains an essential pillar of our national development. We will try our best to rollout the success to other areas."
The Deputy Minister of Health Dr Snong Thongsna also emphasises in his closing remarks that "[the Ministry of Health] is committed to strengthening provincial and district nutrition committees, which have been instrumental in advancing the ENUFF initiative.
"These committees play a vital role in ensuring sustained progress and effective implementation at all levels.
"We will actively monitor and promote the implementation of nutrition training programmes developed under ENUFF, with guidance from the Nutrition Centre.
"These programmes are aligned with the strategic objectives of the National Nutrition Action Plan (NPAN) and are designed to equip nutrition staff with a comprehensive understanding of core nutrition principles and their cross-sectoral applications."
At the official project closure event on Tuesday (Dec 10) in Vientiane, the Basic Nutrition Training Manual developed by ENUFF has been announced as a key tool to be used by the Center for Nutrition to give the best chances to the children in Laos to develop a bright future. - Vientiane Times/ANN
