| Wapi Project | |
|---|---|
| Part of Laotian Civil War Supported by Operation Pincushion | |
| Type | Civic action program, military training program |
| Location | Southern Laos |
| Planned | Early 1963 |
| Planned by | Phasouk Somly Rasphakdi, U. S. Embassy in Laos, CIA |
| Commanded by | Phasouk Somly Rasphakdi, CIA, USAID |
| Objective | Support agricultural cooperatives, train defensive militia units |
| Date | Late 1963—mid 1967 |
| Executed by | Phasouk Somly Rasphakdi, CIA, USAID |
| Outcome | Program highly successful, but ultimately abandoned in favor of other projects |
The Wapi Project was a civic action program originated by the Royal Lao Government; it was performed in Military Region 4 of Laos from late 1963 through 1967. Notable for being among the first integrated programs to offer integrated services to the Lao Theung populace of southern Laos, it became a victim of its own success. Its lean efficiency led to its being crowded out of funding by more expensive programs.