R-Lite — A SaaS based Talent acquisition application that helps you manage the entire hiring process from requisition to job offers and helps you cut down hiring cycle-time, reducing the cost of hiring and building your employer brand equity. to learn more – www.r-lite.com

Phonsavan – Plain of Jars


Image by Sven & Moniek
MAG – www.magclearsmines.org

MAG has worked in Laos since 1994. In 2000, MAG responded to the Government of Lao’s strategy for nationalisation and handed over all its operations to UXO Lao, the national clearance agency. Since 2004, however, due to a restructuring of the sector, MAG has conducted independent operations in the provinces of Xieng Khouang and Khammouane – but still maintains strong and productive links with UXO Lao.

Focus on impact
We choose project areas based on a comprehensive assessment of what difference UXO clearance will make to communities in that area. To ensure communities are able to make the most of land that has been cleared, our projects are often run in collaboration with other development agencies who are able to assist with increasing agricultural output (to pick one example).

Community Liaison
Community liaison is key to MAG Lao’s approach. The community liaison teams spend several days living in villages that are due to be cleared, to ensure that the needs of communities are the basis for our work. By building trust and by obtaining local knowledge, they are able to involve communities in prioritising clearance, identifying risk behaviours and developing strategies to deal with UXO-related issues.

Innovation
MAG Lao is constantly developing new ways to clear UXO contaminated land faster, whilst maintaining safety standards.

Equity
We actively recruit women, and hire and train members of rural communities (often from ethnic groups). We also ensure that our clearance prioritisation process is free from discrimination, and promotes equitable participation.

Other support
Alongside our own projects, we also provide support to UXO Lao and the National Regulatory Authority for the UXO Sector in Lao PDR.

Coordination
MAG Lao is committed to achieving the UXO clearance targets and priorities set by the Lao government’s National Strategic Plan for the UXO programme in Lao (“The Safe Path Forward”) and the National Growth and Poverty Eradication Strategy (NGPES).

Beneficiaries
MAG Lao’s direct beneficiaries are UXO-affected communities in Xieng Khouang, Khammouane and Houaphanh Provinces.