Baseline Study Brief: Strengthening Climate Resilience of Lao People’s Democratic Republic Health System (2025)

This baseline study assessed the pre‑project conditions for the Strengthening Climate Resilience of the Lao PDR Health System project. The assessment examined the capacity of national and sub‑national health governance structures to integrate climate risks into policies, strategies, and decision‑making processes. It also explored opportunities and challenges related to incorporating climate and weather data into the Health Management Information System (HMIS) and identified potential avenues for stronger collaboration between the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MoAE). In addition, the study assessed the readiness of rural health facilities to become climate‑resilient and energy‑efficient, as well as the disaster risks, needs, and capacities of target communities.

Findings reveal limited awareness of national climate‑resilience frameworks among provincial and district officials and weak intersectoral coordination between MoH and MoAE—both essential for climate‑responsive health planning. Significant gaps also exist in integrating climate and weather information into the HMIS. At the facility level, shortcomings in WASH services, energy access, infrastructure, and early warning systems were identified, alongside limited training for health workers on climate resilience. Communities similarly lacked preparedness plans and formal risk‑communication mechanisms for climate‑related shocks.

Despite these challenges, the study identified strengths that can serve as entry points for action, including use of standardized diarrheal management protocols at health facilities and strong community‑level awareness of climate hazards. Overall, the baseline highlights critical gaps and opportunities for enhancing climate‑resilient health systems in Lao PDR through improved coordination, data integration, capacity‑building, infrastructure strengthening, and community engagement.