March, 2007–– Construction of the Nam Theun 2 projectcontinues underway in Khammouane province, with about twenty five percent of the dam infrastructure completed and with more than half the villagers being resettled moved into their new locations; the rest of the villages will finish moving during the remainder of this dry season. In total, 1,200 families are being resettled and they are benefiting from new houses, infrastructure, as well as assistance that will help them cope during the transition. Livelihood development programs are the core and most critical component of the resettlement program and it has begun to be implemented with particular focus on agriculture, livestock, forest and fishery activities.
| A World Bank team, including the East Asia and Pacific Vice President, visited a watermelon plantation in Beaung Xe in February |
Livelihood development activities are also the core component of the work in what is known as the “downstream areas”—areas that will be impacted by increased water levels in nearby-rivers as a result of the dam. In Beaung Xe, the pilot village in the downstream area, villagers are already benefiting from training on things such as vegetable and fruit cultivation. The downstream program is designed with a focus on livelihood restoration and community development, and it has begun to be implemented in advance of the actual impacts so that communities can adapt to the changed circumstances. World Bank Vice President James Adams visited the Nam Theun 2 site in February, and spoke to villagers working in a watermelon plantation in Beaung Xe. The village head told Mr. Adams that “watermelon cultivation during dry season generates sufficient income for my family. I received the support through the training program from the project and have been able to increase the yield through new techniques”. In addition to agriculture activities, the downstream program also focuses on building irrigation, dispensary and school, and trains villagers on techniques for fishery and animal husbandry.
 | | Children living in the Nakai-Nam Theun Protected Area are starting to benefit from activities and programs focused on poverty reduction |
Livelihood activities are also being implemented in the Nakai-Nam Theun National Protected Area (NNTPA). This important and rich biodiversity area is not only home to some of the rarest species of wildlife in South East Asia , but also to 6,000 people living in different villages. One of the objectives of the Watershed Management Protection Authority—the entity managing the protected area—is contributing and facilitating the improvement of the livelihood of communities and people residing in this area through activities and programs focusing on poverty reduction and environmentally sustainable development. While still at an early phase, livelihood  | Livelihood development activities, including in agriculture and horticulture, are at the core of the Nam Theun 2 project |
development activities are a key focus of Nam Theun 2 implementation. These vital programs are being implemented by the project developer, the Nam Theun 2 Power Company(NTPC) and the Government of Lao PDR, and are being closely monitored by the Environment and Social Panel of Experts(POE), the International Advisory Group(IAG), the Lender’s Technical Advisor (LTA), and the International Financing Institutions, as well as a range of internal monitors. Independent Monitoring Agencies are and will also monitor this, as well other aspects of the project. Want to know more about the Nam Theun 2 Project?For project description, project documents, photo journals and answers to frequently asked questions, visit the World Bank’s NT2 website at http://www.worldbank.org/laont2 |
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