Lao PDR

The Land Information Working Group (LIWG) promotes awareness and understanding of the social, economic and environmental impacts of land-related projects, by gathering and disseminating information, facilitating dialogue and carrying out studies. The LIWG consists mostly of international and local civil society organization staff and other individuals working on land issues in Lao PDR. Nearly 40 different organisations are represented in the core group. Several international NGOs concerned that land issues may impact negatively on livelihoods of marginalized groups in Lao society set up the LIWG in 2007. The aim was primarily to inform each other about land issues and later also to develop common initiatives to address them with a wider range of stakeholders. The LIWG is one of the thematic working groups of the iNGO Network the network of international NGOs in Laos. The LIWG Constitution defines the rules, the membership and the decision-making procedures of the group. The LIWG is governed by a 7-member Committee which is responsible for the general direction of the group. The Committee consists of representatives of the member organisations. Day-to-day activities are implemented by the Secretariat, consisting of a staff of four. The membership is divided into core and supporting membership. The LIWG currently has over 80 core members representing nearly 40 different organisations, and over 80 individual supporting members. The LIWG brochure is available to download in English and in Lao.