Participants gather for a group photo at the official handover ceremony of the newly completed DEAR Water 2 water supply system.

Two decades of partnership: how Luang Prabang Province and the French Region “Centre-Val de Loire” are improving rural water access with the support of Confluence association

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of cooperation between Luang Prabang Province and France’s Centre-Val de Loire Region, an official handover ceremony was held in the village of Kiewmaknao, Xieng Ngeun District, for a newly completed water supply system built under the DEAR Water 2 project led by the Confluence association.
The event offered a valuable moment to reflect on the progress made in improving rural water access and to outline the next steps for the partnership.
On December 8, 2025, the village of Kiewmaknao welcomed a delegation from the Centre-Val de Loire Region, composed of Vice-President for Culture and International Cooperation, Mrs Delphine Benassy; Vice-President for the Loire river, water and biodiversity, Mr Jean-François Bridet; Vice-President for agriculture and food, Mrs Temanuata Girard.
They were joined by Mrs Anne-Gaëlle Verdier and Mr Pierre Guédant, respectively President and Treasurer of the Confluence association, who took part in the inauguration of a new solar-powered water supply system designed to serve the entire village, home to nearly 200 households.
On this occasion, participants met with villagers and discussed the positive impact of safe access to water on their living conditions. A dedicated session was also held with the village water committee, managed entirely by local residents, to review governance arrangements. Exchanges focused on management practices, maintenance responsibilities, and pricing mechanism of the service, all essential elements to ensure the long-term sustainability of the service.
“It is with profound gratitude that I am addressing the French delegation from the Centre-Val de Loire Region and Confluence association today,” said Deputy Governor of Xieng Ngeun District, Mr Sengdeuane Duangpaseuth, during his inaugural speech.
“Thanks to their financial and technical support, the new network provides access to water for all the villagers of Kiewmaknao. This concrete and lasting reality significantly improves the quality of life for the local communities.”
This water supply system was designed as part of the DEAR Water project phase 2, “Developed Access to Rural Water and sanitation in Luang Prabang”, led by the Confluence association in partnership with the Provincial Department of Health and GRET.
This second phase of the project (2024-2026), co-financed by the Centre-Val de Loire Region (RCVL), the French Development Agency (AFD), and the Loire-Bretagne Water Agency, aims to improve access to clean water and sanitation in rural areas of Luang Prabang.
It relies on a participatory approach involving local authorities and residents in the construction and management of the infrastructure, while ensuring that the conditions are in place to protect water resources sustainably over the long term. “Since 2009, Confluence association has helped improve access to water in more than 65 villages, thanks to the implementation of water supply systems that now benefit more than 21,000 people,” said Mr Pierre Guédant, during the handover of the keys of the water supply system.
“Today is a special day as it brings together various stakeholders from the province of Luang Prabang, the Centre-Val de Loire Region, local district and provincial authorities from various ministries, and the villagers. I would like to congratulate all the project partners and the village for their remarkable commitment to the construction and management of the water network.”
Mrs Anne-Gaëlle Verdier also stated: “I am very proud to be here today to celebrate, with all of you, the implementation of such a project.”
“Indeed, this is the first autonomous solar pumping system that Confluence has inaugurated, which represents a significant innovation and technological challenge for the association. All of Confluence’s water access projects are based on two major pillars: a commitment to the sustainability of the infrastructure and the involvement of all stakeholders.”
Despite notable progress over the past decade, access to water remains a major challenge for most rural communities in Laos.
While 82 percent of the rural population has access to basic water, according to LSIS 2023, only 18 percent benefit from safely managed water available on-site, continuously, and free from fecal contamination.
“I recognise the involvement of all the villagers in the implementation of these infrastructures, which provide better access to water and improvements in health and hygiene. Water is an essential natural resource, a common good that is unfortunately becoming scarcer due to climate change and various forms of pollution. These challenges of water management and conservation concern us all,” stated Mrs Delphine Benassy.
To mark the 20th anniversary of this partnership, a memorandum of friendship was signed between the two regions on December 9 at the Luang Prabang Provincial Administration Office.
This milestone underscores the dynamic territorial relationship, the strength of the ties forged over the years, and reaffirms the importance of international cooperation in addressing shared challenges. Over the years, Confluence association — born from this cooperation — has become its key implementing partner and a long-standing anchor for joint initiatives in Luang Prabang.

By Advertorial Desk
(Latest Update December 15, 2025)