Ian G. Baird and Bruce Shoemaker

August 25, 2005

Over the last decade, tens of thousands of ethnic minority people in eastern Asia’s Lao PDR (Lao People’s Democratic Republic) have been resettled from remote highland areas to the country’s lowlands and near major roads. International aid agencies have supported this internal resettlement in the name of poverty alleviation, rural development, and environmental protection. But the outcome for indigenous communities has been devastating and long-term impacts on their livelihoods, food security, and environment have been negative.Ian G. Baird and Bruce Shoemaker, both veteran development workers in Lao PDR, have produced a report that examines the mixed response of international aid agencies, ranging from ongoing support for internal resettlement to the promotion of alternatives. The authors also discuss what international aid agencies can do to promote a more humane, culturally sensitive, and successful approach to rural development. This 49-page report is available for downloading in a PDF format.