Better data and evidence are needed order in order to improve natural resource management in Lao PDR. The evidence in this paper is a step towards bridging the evidence gap, but the findings are for the national level, and it is difficult to assess the impact of specific projects. The work has also highlighted the lack of publically available evidence on the impact of natural resource development, what mitigation measures have been used, and effectiveness of these measures. Increasing the capacity to assess and monitor the impact of natural resource projects on the nutrition and food security of local populations are also necessary to ensure that risks are mitigated as they arise