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CaA logo Chareun & Associates Co., Ltd. (CaA)

Resettlement Action Plans (RAP) and Livelihood Restoration in Laos

Resettlement planning, Inventory of Loss surveys and resettlement implementation for hydropower, road and industrial projects across Laos.

What resettlement planning involves

When a project needs land or affects people's homes and livelihoods, a Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) sets out who is affected, what they will lose, and how they will be compensated and supported. It starts with socio-economic studies and an Inventory of Loss (IOL) that records what each affected village and household stands to lose.

We specialize in Resettlement Action Plans and livelihood restoration programs. Our team has extensive experience in community engagement, socio-economic studies, and making sure affected communities receive fair compensation and sustainable livelihood opportunities. Plans are prepared to the requirements of the lender involved, for example ADB's Safeguard Policy Statement 2009, as well as MONRE guidelines.

What we do

  • Socio-economic studies and Inventory of Loss surveys in affected villages and households.
  • Resettlement Action Plans and Social Management and Resettlement Implementation Plans, including for transmission lines, access roads and reservoir areas.
  • Voluntary village resettlement planning and reservoir clearance plans with budgets.
  • Resettlement implementation: design and construction supervision of housing, schools, roads, water supply, irrigation and community markets.
  • Livelihood restoration and community development: mitigation programs, strengthening village organizations, gender development, and monitoring of the social programs.
  • Independent review of ESIA, ESMP and RAP documents for lenders.

Resettlement experience

Selected work from our portfolio. The full list is on our projects page.

Hydropower: resettlement and mitigation programs

  • Nam Theun Two Power Company (World Bank funded, 24 months): supervision of the resettlement program, including design and construction supervision of housing, schools, roads, domestic water supply and irrigation systems.
  • Theun Hinboun Compensation and Mitigation Project (ADB and private funds, 2 years): voluntary village resettlement planning, impact mitigation in 60 villages (5,000 households), strengthening of village organizations and gender development, and monitoring of the social programs.

Hydropower: RAP studies, including transmission lines and roads

  • Nam Phak Hydro Project (ADB and private funds, 2.5 years): ESIA, RAP, EDP and IEE for roads and transmission lines.
  • Namphak Hydro Power Project, Pakxong, Champasack: ESIA including the Inventory of Loss (IOL) for affected villages and households.
  • Theun Hinboun Extension: environmental, social and resettlement action plans for a 90 km 230 kV and a 60 km 115 kV transmission line, and an 8,000-hectare reservoir clearance plan with budgets (2006 and 2008).
  • Nam Theun 1 (2007): RAP for the up- and downstream areas and a 160 km 500 kV transmission line, with Eco Lao and NORPLAN.
  • Nam Ngum 3 (2007): RAP for the up- and downstream areas, a 150 km 230 kV transmission line, a 90 km main road and the access roads to the dam site and powerhouse.
  • Nam Ngum 5 (2006): Social Management and Resettlement Implementation Plan.

Roads and transport

  • Boten-Houaxay Expressway, 180 km: ESIA, ESMMP and a RAP for impacted households (completed February 2021).
  • National Road No. 6, Phoulao to Hanglong (107 km), Houaphan: Inventory of Loss data, IEE, ESMMP and RAP following ADB's Safeguard Policy Statement 2009 (completed April 2022).
  • Lao Road Sector Project 2, National Road 13 South: review of the ESIA, ESMP and RAP documents for Packages 1-4 for the World Bank, EIB and AIIB.

Industry and the private sector

  • Resettlement program for Mega First Corporation Berhad (completed 2015): design and supervision of housing, a school, water supply and a community market.
  • 300,000-ton pulp mill, Savannakhet (2009): EIA, Environmental Socio Management Plan and RAP.

Does your project affect communities?

Resettlement planning usually goes hand in hand with an environmental and social impact assessment. Tell us about your project and we will explain what is needed. You can also read our answers to common questions, or learn more about CaA.

Contact us