Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR – 28 November 2025 – Staff from 16 One Door Service Centres (ODSCs) across Lao PDR have strengthened their capacity to deliver more inclusive and accessible public services through a five-day training led by UNDP Lao PDR, with technical delivery by the Disability-Inclusive Development Association (DIDA). 

Held from 24–28 November at the Training Center of the Lao Front for National Development, the training equipped ODSC staff with practical skills to better understand and address the barriers persons with disabilities face in their daily life. This session marks the launch of a year-long disability-inclusive development initiative under the Lao PDR Efficiency and Accessibility of Public Services (LEAP) Project, through which more than 45 ODSCs nationwide will receive similar training and benefit from accessibility audits. 

The opening ceremony was chaired by Madame Kheuavanh Chanthaphouvong, Deputy Director General, Department of Public Administration Development, Central Committee for Organization and Personnel, who noted: 

“In line with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Lao Government strives to make public services convenient and easily accessible for persons with disabilities, fostering equality for everyone.” 

Participants participated in hands-on exercises and activities to understand what makes a service accessible or inaccessible, and engaged in direct discussions with persons with disabilities to deepen their understanding of real-world challenges. 

Mr. Phouthone Keopanya, representative of the ODSC in Sanakham District, reflected on the impact of the training: 

“I will definitely apply what I learned in this training to our ODSC… firstly, improving the physical location; secondly, upgrading our facilities and amenities; and thirdly, improving communication, such as signage and other public notices.” 

As the training series progresses, 71 ODSCs across the country will gradually receive disability inclusion capacity-building and benefit from accessibility assessments, supporting nationwide improvements in service accessibility, staff readiness, and inclusive public administration. 

The training concluded ahead of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, celebrated each year on 3 December, reaffirming the commitment of the Government and of UNDP to work together to strengthen disability inclusion in the public administration and ensure that ODSCs deliver services that are accessible, responsive, and welcoming for all citizens. 

Media Contact:  

Armaan Khan, Governance and Rule of Law Specialist, armaan.khan@undp.org   

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