The MMG and Phubia Mining are located in Savannakhet and Xaysomboun provinces. Government has a policy to turn natural resources into economic capital and market liberation. Three key sectors related to natural resources where the Government has a commitment to turn them into capital and market liberation. These are (1) conversion of forestland into agro-business plantation such as coffee, tea, rubber and maize; (2) utilization of Mekong water resources to turn into electricity for export and (3) the expansion of mining exploration. In relation to environmental protection, natural resources management and sustainable development, the government provides a direction that there should be reasonable and efficient use of natural resources to ensure that there is a balance maintained between socio-economic developments and environmental protection. The environmental trends have an impact on rural livelihood in general and on women?s lives in particular. Women are usually disproportionately affected because they are more dependent on natural resources in order to carry out their farm and household activities. However, too often women are not actively consulted on the impacts of a proposed project and their views are not incorporated into the design and implementation by the developers. The private sector developers need encouragement and guidance to incorporate meaningful gender impact assessments into projects in order to ensure that women and girls do not suffer disproportionate negative impacts and derive optimal benefits. Therefore, the project aims to create awareness of gender issues in order to sensitize the targeted groups on the need for women to participate in mining and hydropower planning process in communities for better livelihood specifically, to develop institutional capacity of LWU to integrate gender on environment, mining and hydropower concern into local planning. Support the livelihood development of local women who are suffered from negative impact from environment deterioration.