DSPC is committed to ensuring that we support the communities around us by helping them to enhance their livelihoods. As part of our Concession Agreement, we have established a Community Development Fund (CDF) for which we are setting aside USD1 million every year for 25 years from commencement of operations. The CDF is managed by a joint committee established by the Government of Lao PDR (GOL) and comprises representatives from the responsible district authorities and DSPC. Through the CDF, the company has helped the local villagers start new businesses, build new community halls and provide access to education for their children.
As a run-of-river project with a small reservoir (headpond), there was minimal impact to the existing villages in the area, and only 14 households from three villages were resettled. In 2016 the company built 14 new concrete houses with groundwater supply and electricity on a 2-ha resettlement site on Don Sahong. In addition to support from the livelihood fund, the resettled families received food and medical supplies for the first two years of relocation to assist with their lifestyle adjustment.
Established in 2016, the Revolving Fund Program aims to provide villagers with the financial ability to invest in livelihood options and widen their income streams. The program runs across all six villages involving around 100 households. Thus far, we have distributed about USD150,000 to 120 households, and villagers have used this funding to successfully to invest in livestock, poultry and crop production.
DSPC is committed to supporting the livelihoods of local communities surrounding our hydropower project. Since 2016, we have engaged with the local community on a number of initiatives aimed at expanding their livelihood options, which includes improving their existing agricultural activities. Some of these include:
1. Establishing small businesses
DSPC has helped families and households to establish small businesses such as retail shops and restaurants, and makes monthly visits to monitor their progress and provide advice to ensure they are able to sustain themselves.
2. Dry-season rice production
DSPC provided financial support and technical training to farmers for dry-season rice farming which provides an alternative income stream for communities who are usually dependent on wet-season rice farming and fluctuating catches of seasonally migrating fish. In 2023, 116 tonnes of rice were produced, with a much greater yield per hectare than wet-season rice.
3. Technical advice on agriculture and livestock
DSPC has provided technical advice to nearly 100 households to enhance their ability to farm livestock (cows, goats and pigs), chickens, and cash crops such as cashew nuts, sugar cane and bananas.
