Portal:Laos/Selected biography/9

Sombath Somphone (ສົມບັດ ສົມພອນ, born 17 February 1952 in Khammouane Province, Laos) is an internationally acclaimed community development worker and prominent member of Lao civil society.

His earliest work was to demonstrate methods of sustainable farming that contribute to food security. He also pioneered the use of participatory rural appraisal techniques in Laos. In 1996 he was given permission by the Ministry of Education to establish the Participatory Development Training Center, PADETC, to provide training for young people and local government officials in community-based development. For some years, this was the only civil society organisation of this kind in Laos.

In later years, he played an important role in introducing the concept of Gross National Happiness into Laos. In 2007, he was one of the organisers of the 3rd International Conference on Gross National Happiness, while in 2012 he was the senior adviser for a film called "Happy Laos", shown at the closing of the 9th Asia-Europe People's Forum. This work was closely related to his involvement in the International Network of Engaged Buddhists, led by his friend Sulak Sivaraksa.

In 2005, he was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership. The citation for his award "recognizes his hopeful efforts to promote sustainable development in Laos by training and motivating its young people to become a generation of leaders".