Acknowledgments

This report is the product of the collaboration of many people. Preparatory work began in 2003 with discussions between Mr. Brett Coleman (Asian Development Bank [ADB], Senior Microfinance Specialist) and Mr. Jon Wynne-Williams (Enterplan, Consutant Team Leader). While assisting the Government of the Lao PDR to reform its rural and microfinance policies and institutions under TA 3413-LAO: Rural Finance Development, and in making preparations to begin supporting the Government to design the Rural Finance Sector Development Program (RFSDP), we became acutely aware of the dearth of up-to-date information on rural finance in the country. During further discussions, officials in the Bank of the Lao PDR (BOL), the Ministry of Finance (MOF), and the Agriculture Promotion Bank (APB) confirmed the need for an updated survey. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) survey of 1996 was still the most recent and widely cited data. More current data was needed, especially on rural household access to and perceptions of financial services, to inform sound policy decisions.

The survey and analysis was financed by the Financial Sector Reform and Strengthening Initiative (FIRST Initiative) and ADB. The Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) provided additional support to the analysis and preparation of this report.

We would like to thank H.E. Phoumy Thipphavone, Governor of BOL at the time of the survey, and H.E. Phouphet Khamphounvong, Deputy Governor of BOL at that time, for their support. Thanks also go to Mr. Phanthaboun Sayaphet, Deputy Managing Director of the Agricultural Promotion Bank (APB), who assisted with many logistical matters, and to APB in general for providing survey headquarters facilities in Vientiane. The assistance of Mr. Dethphouvang Moularat, Director of Supervision in BOL at the time of the survey, for facilitating introductions to commercial banks and the supply of supplementary information is much appreciated.

Mr. Rob Solomon led the survey team for Enterplan. Ms. Charlotte Clarke and Mr. Somphone Sisenglath managed the Household and Moneylender Surveys and carried out the survey of multilateral and bilateral development agencies, international nongovernment organizations (INGOs), and microfinance institutions (MFIs) for Enterplan. Mr. Reuben Jessop, engaged through PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), managed and carried out the Bank Survey. Thanks are due to Mr. Huw Lester of PwC, who assisted with aspects of the survey logistics; to Mr. Curtis Slover of the World Council of Credit Unions, who provided information on the conduct of the previous UNDP-sponsored survey of microfinance in 1996; to Ms. Vatlana Boupha and Ms. Paisone Sayadeth for their able office support services; and to Earth Systems Lao for assisting in the mapping.

Much appreciation is due to the team of four Lao field supervisors and 16 Lao enumerators who conducted the Household and Moneylender field surveys, and who weathered 5 weeks in the field, often travelling off-road, sometimes by river and sometimes on foot, to collect data of a consistently high standard. The supervisors were Mr. Khamphat Boulom, Ms. Chanhsouda Douangpanya, Mr. Sengaloun Sengsavang, and Mr. Somsack Senthavisouk. The enumerators were Ms. Phetsamone Chanthavong, Ms. Anousy Chindamany, Ms. Sengaloun Damlongboune, Kittiphan Darasouk, Ms. Phengdavanh Inthavongtham, Mr. Viengnakhone Khathoumphom, Thongmany Khotpanya, Ms. Chounlavanh Luanglatbandith, Ms. Somsy Manivanh, Souksavanh Manivong, Ms. Somvang Phanthavong, Mr. Phouketsouvanh Ratanavong, Ms. Sonephet Sayvongpheng, Mr. Viengkhong Sivankham, Ms. Xaybouavone Tengbriachue, and Mr. Khouanchay Xayngaket.

Finally, the authors express our foremost thanks to the 1,189 rural households in the Lao PDR who kindly took the time to answer our questionnaire and provide information about themselves and their households' activities. We are also extremely grateful to all of the staff associated with multilateral, bilateral, INGO, and MFI initiatives and those in the commercial banks who gave their time to answer our questions and provide information.

While this report would have been impossible without the support of all the above-mentioned people and more, any errors remain the sole responsibility of the authors.

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