Strengthening community communication in Navay Village

Nestled in Vientiane Province, Navay Village is located 26 kilometres from Hinheup District town. The village has a total of 214 households and a population of 1,238, including 617 women. For many years, villagers depended on a small and ineffective loudspeaker system, which limited their access to important information, particularly for households located farther from the village centre. As a result, they struggled to receive timely updates from the government, including disaster warnings and important announcements, leaving them vulnerable and disconnected. To address this challenge, the Village Development Committee took proactive steps to improve communication. With support from the Local development programme, six new loudspeaker units were installed to ensure that all villagers could receive information clearly and comprehensively.

After the proposal and procurement plan were approved in mid-February 2025, implementation began. Six new loudspeaker units were installed near the village hall through active community participation. Villagers contributed by digging holes, erecting poles and connecting electrical wiring, demonstrating strong ownership and cooperation. Within three months, the installation was completed, and the new loudspeaker system was officially inaugurated in early May 2025.

Since then, the loudspeaker system has transformed communication in Navay Village. Every day, residents receive timely information on government announcements, public health updates, tax information, and disease prevention measures.

The improved loudspeaker system now supports various village activities, including public health campaigns, village meetings, waste collection, cultural events, and disaster preparedness. This initiative has significantly strengthened communication, participation and resilience in the community.

Navay Village’s success demonstrates how local initiative, combined with community participation and support from the Local development programme, can create lasting improvements in community communication systems.

The Local development programme aims to promote sustainable, inclusive and resilient development outcomes across targeted sectors. It is co-financed by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and Switzerland and jointly implemented by the Lao Ministry of Finance (formerly the Ministry of Planning and Investment) and LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency.