Using Data to Build Inclusive Policies in Lao PDR

Lao PDR has made important advances in recent years by integrating GEDSI data into its national statistical system. The framework emphasizes not only data collection but also institutional collaboration and participatory processes. It ensures that national surveys and development plans captures the experiences of marginalized groups and that their voices inform government policies and priorities. By applying an intersectional lens, the data indicates how multiple disadvantages—such as being a woman, having a disability, and living in a rural area—can combine to create deeper exclusion than any single factor alone. Targeting alignment with global standards, the framework supports data-driven action to leave no one behind.

Pioneering data collection efforts. A major milestone was the country’s inclusion of disability-related questions in the Seventh Lao Expenditure and Consumption Survey (2007–2008). This marked one of the first efforts to understand how disability intersects with factors such as poverty, age, gender, and geography. Importantly, there is growing recognition of the need to go beyond simple disability status and collect data on the type and severity of disability, to better tailor public services and infrastructure.

Visible disparities in education and health. The 2017 Lao Social Indicator Survey revealed marked disparities between ethnic groups. For example, literacy rates among women from some ethnic communities were significantly lower than men in the same groups and women from other ethnic groups. Similarly, health indicators such as skilled birth attendance and under-five mortality varied widely across regions and communities, highlighting the need for tailored interventions and resource allocation.

Capacity building and cross-sectoral collaboration. Since 2019, there has been concerted effort to ensure that collected data must be usable and actionable. Cross-sectoral trainings and collaboration among ministries, local governments, and civil society organizations have been emphasized to ensures that GEDSI data are translated into relevant policy design, monitoring, and budget allocation.

Innovative dissemination. The Lao Statistics Bureau and development partners since 2021 have invested in innovative formats such as data storytelling, infographics, and digital dashboards to make GEDSI data more accessible. These tools help translate complex statistical evidence into actionable insights for both policymakers and the public.

GEDSI integration guidelines. The 2025 Guidelines for Collecting, Analyzing, and Using Data on Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion in Lao PDR, developed by the Lao Statistics Bureau with support from the Asian Development Bank, represent a step forward. They aim to promote the integration of GEDSI indicators into censuses, surveys, and administrative data systems and provide a roadmap for systematic, standardized collection to improve comparability and support more inclusive planning.

Education
Real progress happens when national systems meet local realities. In 2022–2023, a project in northern Lao PDR, with ADB support, brought together the Lao Statistics Bureau, a disability-focused civil society organization, and the provincial education office to better understand why school completion rates were low among girls with disabilities.

Each partner brought vital knowledge to the effort. The civil society organization refined survey questions to reflect different types of impairments; the Lao Statistics Bureau trained district officers using digital data collection tools; and the provincial education office conducted community interviews. Joint analysis led to concrete actions: schools appointed inclusive education focal points and the district allocated funds for accessible transport.

This example illustrates how inclusive GEDSI data, paired with local realities and shared ownership, becomes meaningful and leads to real change.

Employment
GEDSI data has shed light on disparities in labor and employment, particularly around gender. National labor force surveys show that although female labor force participation is relatively high, women are largely concentrated in informal, low-wage, and unpaid family work. Men, by contrast, dominate formal wage employment and leadership roles.

More detailed data reveals deeper gaps. Ethnic minority women have lower employment rates and fewer vocational training opportunities. Women with disabilities are doubly marginalized—often missing from labor statistics, particularly those with severe disability. Surveys often omit data on working conditions, caregiving responsibilities, or workplace discrimination, all of which are critical to designing inclusive labor policies.

Recognizing these gaps, the Lao PDR Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare has partnered with the Lao Statistics Bureau and civil society organizations to improve labor statistics by capturing data on informal employment, unpaid care work, and specific barriers faced by women with disabilities. The goal is to inform inclusive skills training, employment services, and workplace protections.

To ensure that GEDSI data continues to inform development and inclusive policies in Lao PDR, the following key priorities can guide the next steps:

• Expand disaggregation across all major datasets. Ensure that all surveys and administrative records capture data by sex, age, disability status (including type and severity), ethnicity, and location. These details enable more precise targeting and reveal hidden forms of exclusion.
• Address data gaps on hidden populations and emerging issues. Revise existing tools and develop new surveys to fill the gaps—particularly on persons with psychosocial disabilities, linguistic minorities, and informal workers. GEDSI data should inform emerging policy areas such as digital access and climate vulnerability.
• Monitor and publish inclusion ratios. Develop and track indicators such as the proportion of leadership roles held by women or persons with disabilities, and their access to digital services. These metrics allow for regular assessment and public accountability.
• Invest in communication tools and data storytelling. Strengthen user-friendly platforms, visual dashboards, and personal narratives that humanize statistics. These tools make data more relatable, especially for decision-makers and local communities.
• Engage communities in participatory data processes. Involve marginalized populations in defining indicators, collecting and interpreting data, and designing responses. This approach improves the relevance and trustworthiness of data and leads to more inclusive development outcomes.
• Foster inter-ministerial collaboration and data interoperability. A concerted effort is needed across government institutions—not only to collect GEDSI data, but to use it systematically in planning, budgeting, and monitoring. Strengthening data interoperability across sectors—so that education, health, labor, and social welfare systems can share and align data—is critical. Establishing common definitions, integrated platforms, and inter-agency coordination mechanisms will help Lao PDR move from siloed efforts to a unified, evidence-based approach to inclusion.

The integration of gender, disability, and social inclusion considerations into Lao PDR’s national statistical system represents more than a technical upgrade; it is a transformative move toward a more equitable society. The framework established by the Lao Statistics Bureau ensures that GEDSI data is routinely collected, systematically analyzed, and effectively used for policymaking.

With continued investments in data infrastructure, human capacity, and inclusive processes, Lao PDR is well-positioned to lead by example and uphold the principles of the 2030 Agenda to leave no one behind. By treating data not just as information but as a catalyst for change, the country can move decisively toward more inclusive and just development outcomes.

Note: The 2025 Guidelines for Collecting, Analyzing, and Using Data on Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion in Lao PDR project was supported by ADB’s TA-9660 REG: Promoting Transformative Gender Equality Agenda in Asia and the Pacific and Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The preparation of documents and capacity development programs received technical support from the Gesellschaft für Organisation, Planung und Ausbildung Luxembourg joint venture.

Lao Statistics Bureau. 2025. Guidelines for Collecting, Analyzing, and Using Data on Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion in Lao PDR.