The key challenge of the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) is to make full use of both physical and human assets to accelerate growth and improve the living standards of the population. To achieve the country's development goals, laid out in the sixth National Socioeconomic Development Plan (NSEDP) and the National Growth and Poverty Eradication Strategy (NGPES), improvements in public financial management and public expenditure policy aimed at increased efficiency, equity, and accountability - will be critical. This report assesses the current situation and provides a way forward. The report looks at public expenditure in the agriculture, roads, education, health, and environment sectors.