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• 2020
• • 26 August
  • By Reginald M. Pastrana
  • 
  • Vientiane Regional Office LAO/031
  • Vocational Training & Access to Employment
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  LAOS - Promoting the Rule of Law : Updates on Access to Justice

  Project LAO/031 - Support Programme for Legal Teaching and Training and to the Promotion of the Rule of Law Concept in Lao is strengthening the governance programme of Lao PDR, with the support of the Institute for Legal Support and Technical Assistance (ILSTA). The Project assists the Government of Laos (GoL) to address key capacity and structural gaps that limit the effectiveness of the justice system and that inhibit inclusive participation in rule of law reform initiatives, legal education, law enforcement and access to justice. 

  

   

  While the rule of law in Laos is still in a fledgling state, the project has already attained significant milestones: Last year, the project was able to support the establishment of four (4) legal aid offices in the provinces of Bokeo, Luang Namtha, Bolikhamxay and Khammouane; and this year, it is determined to complete the establishment of 15 district offices in five (5) targeted provinces: Bokeo, Luang Namtha, Vientiane, Bolikhamxay, Khammouane.

  

  

  The project has improved access to justice for many marginalized community members through legal aid services, raising awareness on legal rights among nearly 17 915 people (this number includes views on social media post), and by building the capacity of a total of 3 622 participants at workshops, composed of legal practitioners, legal educators and key players in the government sector. Through ILSTA and their legal skills trainings, the project has enhanced the professional development of both women and men in the legal sector. The project significantly invested in improving the quality and reach of legal aid services to ensure justice for the poorest and most vulnerable people in society.

  In this vein, the project and its government partners are currently developing a legal aid “toolkit” to guide legal aid practitioners while a manual for the Village Mediation Committees (VMCs) is being drafted. In a training workshop on legal aid, Ms. Manichanh Chanthavilay, Officer of the Judicial Promotion System Department of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), responsible for the Legal Aid Programme, said that in Khammouane Province, legal aid has already been provided in 71 cases for its citizens, who in turn appreciated the free legal assistance for some vital and necessary legal matters, such as human trafficking and land disputes.

  The Vice-Minister of Justice (MoJ), Bounsavard Boupha (left) and the CTA of LAO/031, Reginald M. Pastrana, presided one of the series of workshops aimed at developing the capacity of various MoJ officers.

  The project has also promoted the rule of law, while supporting the judicial system to better serve and address the needs of its citizens. The project team worked alongside key government stakeholders to implement reforms, render technical assistance and capacity-development support to provincial legal aid offices. Among the reforms it supported were the legal awareness campaigns and institutionalization of the “Legal Aid Decree” (PM No. 77) and the amendments to the MoJ decree on Village Mediation Committees (VMC), which will become a Prime Minister Decree. Lately, the project is providing support to amend the court enforcement of cases.

  The Vice-Minister of Justice, Bounsavard Boupha (right) and the CTA of LAO/031, Reginald M. Pastrana presided over public consultations with representatives from various provinces in the north on the proposed Village Mediation Committee Decree.

  During a series of public consultations on the VMC Decree, H.E. Bounsavard Boupha, Vice Minister of Justice, stated that: “The VMC, amidst costly and protracted court trials and proceedings, can provide alternative fair justice to the people of Laos”. He stressed that this VMC Decree shall be patterned after ASEAN best practices by settling small disputes in a more transparent and fair system. As this has now developed, the VMC decree is now with the Office of the Prime Minister for adoption.

  ILSTA, through its President, Richard Philippart, together with various government partners, chaired a seminar-workshop on the capacity development of Law Enforcement Authorities (LEA) and several government officials

  Responding to the prevalence of human trafficking and money laundering, the project through cooperative efforts with ILSTA, conducted a seminar-workshop series on how to combat these crimes and how the Lao PDR can comply with its agreements with other countries under Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA).

   

  ↑ To the top
• • 25 August
  • By Peter Kurt Hansen
  • 
  • Vientiane Regional Office LAO/030
  • Local Development
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  LAOS - Responding to COVID-19 in rural areas

  The Government of Luxembourg has granted 1 million EUR to support people in disadvantaged villages in Laos to cope with the economic and health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. The support is channelled through the Local Development Programme – LAO/030, which is working with 150 000 people in 229 poor target villages in the four provinces of Bokeo, Bolikhamxay, Khammouane and Vientiane.

  Household representatives awaiting the start of the distribution of rice, and transfer of cash to destitute households, © LuxDev

  While Laos has so far been spared from serious health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, with only 22 known cases and no deaths, the economic impact has been devastating to an already vulnerable economy. The economic fallouts have, as usual, hit the poorest people disproportionally hard. This is the case in the remote upland areas where most of the population lives on less than a US Dollar a day, eked out from marginal farming and supplemented by occasional wage work, remittances from migrant working family members, and small-scale trading. These income sources have diminished and left tens of thousands of people in peril following the lockdowns, the closing of international borders, and the economic slowdown caused by the pandemic.

  

  One lady from a destitute household receiving an envelope with 40 EUR in cash. In addition, the family received 60 kg of rice to help bridge the hunger period up to the next harvest 3 month later, © LuxDev

  These problems are painfully evident in the LAO/030 target villages, having been selected in the first place for their high poverty rates and vulnerability. Hence, poverty, remoteness, difficult road access, cultural and language barriers, and generally low education levels make the communities ill equipped to cope with the potential spread of the coronavirus and its economic impact. Furthermore, most villages witnessed disastrously low rice yields in 2019 because of adverse weather conditions. In normal years, most people would cope with food insecurity through off-farm work in Laos or even in Thailand. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has undermined such opportunities, while the regular trading in agricultural, handcraft and non-timber forest products have either stopped or seen increased transportation costs that undermines the economic return for farmers. The economic impact of the pandemic means that many people are facing hunger and malnutrition, which will only increase the vulnerability of the population in case of a COVID-19 outbreak.

  Rice is transferred from import containers to small truck more likely to reach the village on the muddy monsoon roads, © LuxDev

  

  Rice sacks are stacked in the community school ready for distribution to most food insecure families, © LuxDev

  To help alleviate these problems in the LAO/030 target villages, in June 2020 the Government of Luxembourg decided to provide a 1 million EUR additional grant. The objective of the response is to mitigate infection rates, mortalities, and food shortages in the 229 target villages. To ensure the transparency and community ownership to the COVID-19 response, the funds are channelled through the Village Development Fund mechanism established by LAO/030 Project since 2017. This means that the village, district and provincial authorities are cooperating on the need identification, procurement, and implementation through already established mechanisms based on participatory principles.

  Staff from the provincial Planning and Investment Department confirm villagers’ identity and entitlements, © LuxDev

  

  Village, government and project representatives keep track on the distribution to ensure compliance with the community’s need assessment, © LuxDev

  Various relevant community-led health and food security interventions were identified, which can potentially be supported depending on the local needs, including:

  Cash transfer to destitute households for immediate relief;

  1. Food distribution to households facing severe food shortage and lacking the means to buy food until the next harvest;
  2. Distribution of soap, disinfectants and backpack sprayers for disinfection of houses;
  3. Materials for isolating sick or suspected sick people in schools or community halls, such as bedding, nails, plastic sheeting, individual water containers, mosquito netting;
  4. Water storage containers and water purification where the regular drinking water supply is running low;
  5. Facemasks and gloves for people taking care of sick or isolated people;
  6. Emergency funds for hospitalization, transport, and food during hospitalization in case of referral of sick people to health facilities; and
  7. Awareness raising and Information material on COVID-19 prevention and control.

  ​

  ​Rice grains

  According to the community priorities, most of the funds are used for food supplies to help the most vulnerable families cope with food shortages exacerbated by the economic fallouts of the pandemic. In comparison, about one quarter of the funds are allocated for hygiene purposes and the prevention of other diseases to help the villages prevent and control a potential COVID outbreak.

  Chomsee Community school, built in 2019 with support of LAO/030 and the site of the food and cash distribution to the most vulnerable families of the village, © LuxDev

  Community leaders from each of the villages have identified the families most in need of support. This helps ensure that the support goes to the families most in need. They are grouped into destitute, severely food deficient, and food vulnerable households, and are accordingly supported to different extents. On average across the 229 target villages, an estimated 25 % of the population will receive some level of food support, while the 1-2 % destitute families will in addition receive a cash transfer of about 40 EUR for imminent needs. For the general population, the support focuses on ensuring that the communities have access to hygiene products and knowledge on how prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the families, schools, public offices and health centres.

  Aerial photo of Chomsee Village in Bokeo Province. To the right, the new Luxembourg funded school where the rice and cash transfer was organised in August 2020, © LuxDev

  The COVID-19 situation and the response by the LAO/030 Project, local authorities, and the communities, have increased the awareness of the need for better disaster preparedness, whether linked to pandemics, natural disasters, or long-term climate impacts. As such, it is likely that disaster preparedness will be an important consideration for future support to local and national development planning.

  ↑ To the top
• • 18 August
  • By Siphachanh THYTHAVY
  • 
  • Vientiane Regional Office LAO/033
  • Various
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  LAOS - Ministry of Planning and Investment launches Website

  The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) has launched a new website on 14th August 2020. The launching ceremony was chaired by Mr. Sonsai Siphandone, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Planning and Investment, accompanied by Vice Minsters, former leaders, Director Generals, and other relevant parties. 

  The opening of the ministry’s official website (www.mpi.gov.la) provides a platform for official planning and investment related information for the public

  

  

  The website was created based on the government’s common G-web platform with the technical support from the E-government Department, Ministry of Post and Telecommunications and with financial support from Project LAO/033, titled ‘Strengthening the Effectiveness of ODA Management in Lao PDR’.

  

  Previously, MPI did not have a modern website that highlighted the Department of International Cooperation and its function. A web-page is a necessary channel for communicating on the country’s development plans and for circulating national policies, strategic documents including the National Socio-Economic Development Plan (NSEDP) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to various actors, including civil society, the private sector as well as the general public. The website is a part of the process of enhancing transparency surrounding the NSEDP and Official Development Assistance.

   

  ↑ To the top
• • 14 August
  • By Equipe NIG/025 & Manon Lienard
  • 
  • Niger Office NIG/025
  • Agriculture & Food Security
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  NIGER - Portraits croisés de jeunes agriculteurs :

  Le Programme d’appui au développement agricole durable dans la région de Dosso, Phase II (NIG/025) prévoit le suivi du parcours de jeunes agriculteurs de la région de Dosso vers une installation réussie. La stratégie d’insertion se réalise à travers trois activités : la formation, le conseil agricole et l’installation à travers le crédit agricole.

  4 021 projets sous financement luxembourgeois et 178 projets sous financement suisse ont été financés depuis le début du programme. En considérant les membres des organisations paysannes bénéficiaires de crédit, l’opération touche 5 392 personnes dont 52 % de femmes. 

  Derrière ces chiffres et ces résultats se trouvent évidement des visages, des parcours, des histoires de vie… 

  Nous avons rencontré Salamatou, 25 ans, Saibatou, 34 ans et Nazirou, 25 ans, qui ont accepté de témoigner de leur parcours et de leur quotidien depuis qu’ils se sont installés. 

  Les formations suivies par ces jeunes révèlent la diversité des filières qui ont été appuyées. En termes de culture, on retrouve le maraichage, la culture du moringa et la riziculture. Mais certains ont également reçu une formation en transformation et commercialisation, comme c’est le cas pour Saibatou qui fait partie d’un groupement féminin. Après une formation suivie en 2016, et ayant pu se munir d’un animal de trait et d’une décortiqueuse, elle s’est lancée dans le commerce de produits dérivés de l’arachide et a incité d’autres femmes à se joindre à elle.

  
  Saibatou, 34 ans, vit de la transformation et de la commercialisation de l’arachide © LuxDev

  Tous les jeunes rencontrés ont bénéficié d’un crédit adossé à une subvention qui leur a permis d’améliorer leurs conditions de travail. Les montants octroyés sont alignés sur les directives du Fonds d’investissement pour la sécurité alimentaire et nutritionnelle (FISAN), à savoir 40 % de subvention, 53 % de prêt et 7 % d’apport personnel. par ailleurs, les jeunes ont également reçu une assistance lors de la constitution de la demande de prêt auprès de la Banque argicole du Niger (BAGRI), notamment pour être en mesure de fournir les documents d’état civil et titres de garantie. Ces démarches administratives peuvent en effet se révéler compliquées dans un pays où posséder un acte de naissance est loin d’être une évidence. 

  Les montants empruntés par ces jeunes varient entre 300 000 FCFA et un million. Nos jeunes agriculteurs ont ainsi pu se munir, soit de charrette et d’animaux de traits, soit d’une motopompe pour irriguer leur terrain, ou encore d’engrais et de semences améliorées. Ces achats leur permettent de pratiquer une agriculture plus rentable, en suivant les recommandations qui leur ont été données dans la formation.

  Concernant les remboursements, chacun a sa méthode pour être sûr de respecter les échéances. Nazirou, qui a vu ses revenus sensiblement augmenter depuis qu’il s’est lancé dans la culture du moringa, nous explique sa méthode: Après la production et la vente de ma récolte, je sépare ses revenus en trois. Une partie est destinée à ses besoins, une partie au remboursement du prêt et le reste est réinvesti dans ses cultures.

  Malgré ces réussites et ce fort sentiment de valorisation personnelle grâce au travail de la terre, des difficultés, contextuelles ou structurelles, entravent la pleine réalisation de leurs objectifs. Ainsi, les cultures sont encore très dépendantes des aléas du climat (sécheresse, inondations), mais également des conditions d’écoulement et de vente des récoltes. La crise sanitaire due au Covid 19 a en effet mis en lumière les fragilités du marché des produits agricoles dans la région de Dosso, en aggravant la situation d’enclavement des zones de production par la fermeture de certaines routes.

  
  Nazirou, 25 ans, cultive du moringa © LuxDev

  Salamatou qui pratique la riziculture depuis sa formation en 2017, se réjouit de l’existence d’un magasin de stockage dans sa commune. Ceci me permet de conserver ma récolte et de la vendre lorsque le prix du marché est le plus avantageux.

  Le programme NIG/025 soutient en effet la construction d’infrastructures agricoles et la réhabilitation de pistes rurales au bénéfice des jeunes appuyés par le programme. L’objectif est de fournir à ces jeunes les meilleures conditions possibles pour améliorer les conditions d’écoulement de leurs productions vers les marchés.

  Ainsi, malgré les difficultés qui restent à surmonter, ces trois jeunes agriculteurs témoignent d’une nette amélioration de leurs conditions de vie. Fiers de leur activité, ils subviennent à leurs propres besoins, mais aussi à ceux de leurs enfants et de leur famille.

  
  Récolte du riz par de jeunes promoteurs formés par le programme © LuxDev

  ↑ To the top
• • 6 August
  • By LAO/027 Project
  • 
  • Vientiane Regional Office LAO/027
  • Health
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  LAOS - Official Visits at the Bolikhamxay Provincial Hospital

  The Bolikhamxay provincial hospital, located in Paksan and funded by the Government of the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg, was officially established and handed over in July 2018 in presence of Associate Professor Dr. Bounkong Syhavong, Minister of Health, as well as other senior officials from Bolikhamxay province, representatives from the Luxembourg Embassy in Lao PDR and representatives from the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency, LuxDev.

  Since 2018, the Lao-Luxembourg Health Sector Support Programme (LAO/027) has been renovating various departments of the hospital. A great part of the renovation work was finalized in 2020, with the hospital opening its new laundry department, new ophthalmology operating theatre, new administration office for hospital staff, and General Medicine ward, to give some examples.  

  A. Ministerial visit at the Bolikhamxay Provincial Hospital

  The Minister of Health, Associate Professor Dr. Bounkong Syhavong, visited the Bolikhamxay provincial hospital on the 8th of July 2020. His visit mainly focused on COVID-19 as well as on the dengue fever response of the Bolikhamxay provincial hospital. Indeed, besides the public health measures for COVID-19 preparedness and response, the Ministry of Health has to respond to a rising number of dengue fever infections in various parts of the country. 

  
  The Minister of Health and Bolikhamxay provincial hospital team, July 8, 2020

  
  The Minister of Health at the Bolikhamxay provincial hospital, July 8, 2020

  During his visit at the Bolikhamxay provincial hospital, the Minister of Health highlighted the importance of laboratory preparedness, quality and safety of laboratory testing, and upgrading of competencies of laboratory staff. Moreover, his discussions also revolved around infection prevention and control (IPC) and the 5W1S strategy (“Five Well, One Satisfactory” - the Lao PDR’s national strategy to improve the quality of health care services).

  
  Minister of Health visiting the new administration building of the Bolikhamxay provincial hospital

  
  The Minister of Health accompanied by Dr. Boungnan Phommachanh, Director of Bolikhamxay provincial hospital, and other hospital staff, July 2020

  The Minister of Health planted a tree as a souvenir in the compounds of the hospital.

  
  Minister of Health offered a tree to the Bolikhamxay provincial hospital, July 2020

  B. Sharing knowledge and learning from good hospital management practices

  On the 6th of July 2020, a meeting was held between Dr. Boungnan Phommachanh, Director of the Bolikhamxay provincial hospital, Dr. Ouymixai Sybounheang, Director of Houaphan provincial hospital, and other health professionals from the Houaphan provincial hospital.

  The meeting revolved around the 5W1S strategy as well as around sharing and scaling up good practices in hospital management, patient safety and hospital quality improvement.

  
  Houaphan provincial hospital team visiting the Bolikhamxay provincial hospital, July 6, 2020

  It is important to highlight that the Bolikhamxay provincial hospital serves as the referral centre for 7 district hospitals and 41 health centres. The hospital also serves as a “model” for other provincial hospitals. Indeed, the Bolikhamxay provincial hospital has been designated to perform as a teaching and training centre for the comprehensive and expanded programme of human resource capital development supported by the Luxembourg Development Cooperation.

  ↑ To the top
• • 6 August
  • By LAO/027 Project
  • 
  • Vientiane Regional Office LAO/027
  • Health
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  LAOS - New ophthalmology unit and laundry department at the Bolikhamxay Provincial Hospital

  A. Improving access to eye care services in Laos

  The Lao-Luxembourg Health Sector Support Programme (LAO/027) has been working in partnership with the Fred Hollows Foundation in Lao PDR since 2018 to develop ophthalmology capacity in the three provinces of Vientiane, Bolikhamxay and Khammouane.

  As part of its overall objective of reinforcing the scope and the quality of curative ophthalmological services in the three Luxembourg-supported provinces, project LAO/027 has renovated the old ophthalmology unit of the Bolikhamxay provincial hospital. After 14 months of renovation works, the new Ophthalmology Surgical Department opened its doors in July 2020. The renovation costs, including the medical gas system for the anaesthesia unit, amounted to EUR 135 000.

  
  New Ophthalmology Unit, Bolikhamxay Provincial Hospital, July 2020, © LuxDev

  The new Ophthalmology Surgical Department of the Bolikhamxay provincial hospital delivers eye health services for the whole province, composed of 7 district hospitals and 41 health centres.

  The establishment of an Ophthalmology Surgical Department is an important achievement for Bolikhamxay province and its population of 325 000 people. Today, the hospital provides care and treatment services, including services for eye-related diseases and conditions, from general problems to treatments that require the expertise of specialists.

  Since the opening of the new ophthalmology unit, there has been 12 cataract surgeries and three 3 other eye related operations.

  
  Cataract surgery, Bolikhamxay Provincial Hospital, July 2020, © LuxDev

  More specifically, the ophthalmology unit offers the following services: comprehensive vision testing, eye examination services, cataract surgeries, treatment of disorders of the lacrimal system or of the orbits among others.

  Cataract surgery

  The leading cause of blindness in Laos are cataracts (clouding of the normally clear lens) and this represents an immense public health and socioeconomic problem. Indeed, a loss of vision has not only a negative impact on a person’s quality of life, but it also engenders economic loss, leads to unemployment, and causes an increase in welfare costs.

  Cataracts are commonly associated with ageing, however, not all patients suffering from a cataract are old. In fact, the average age of cataract surgery patients at the Bolikhamxay provincial hospital is 50 (as of July 2020).

  
  Cataract surgery, Bolikhamxay Provincial Hospital, July 2020, © LuxDev

  It is important to highlight that even though cataracts are one of main causes of blindness and visual impairment in many developing countries, cataracts can be operated before a loss in vision leads to blindness and it consists of a short operation of approximately 20 minutes. However, the major barriers for more surgeries are:

  • lack of awareness of eye health care services;
  • lack of accessible and affordable surgeries;
  • general fear of cataract operations among communities;
  • uneven distribution of eye health facilities; and
  • limited number of qualified eye health personnel.

  Taking the above-mentioned into consideration, it is not only important to implement the appropriate structures to deliver eye care, but it is also important to provide accessible, quality and affordable eye surgeries, to raise awareness on eye health in remote areas of the country, and to increase the number of trained health personnel.

  Infrastructure and eye care equipment

  Besides the renovation of the building, the LAO/027 project has also provided a new ophthalmology operating theatre with equipment worth a total amount of EUR 90 000 (i.e. slit lamp, ophthalmic microscope, A/B-Scan and anaesthesia workstation).

  
  New ophthalmology operating theatre, Bolikhamxay Provincial Hospital, July 2020, © LuxDev

  Human resources for eye health care and capacity development 

  The new ophthalmology unit of the Bolikhamxay provincial hospital currently employs one ophthalmologist and two ophthalmology nurses (both nurses followed a special eye care training for four months at the National Eye Care hospital in Vientiane Capital).

  Besides the provision of infrastructure and equipment, project LAO/027 also supports capacity development through various short and long-term scholarships. The LAO/027 project offers scholarships for the following programs/ training courses:

  • short-term training for nurses and medical doctors (courses in ophthalmologic nursing; courses on visual impairment and blindness); and
  • long-term scholarships for medical doctors (one year for basic eye doctors; three years for Ophthalmologist Specialist Residency).

  Currently, one eye doctor from the Bolikhamxay provincial hospital is following an OSR course (Ophthalmology Specialization Residency). He has finished his first year at Thammasat University in Thailand and is currently continuing his final academic year at the University of Health Sciences in Vientiane and at the National Ophthalmology Centre. He is expecting to complete his training in September 2021.  

  Outreach activities

  The key to preventing avoidable blindness and visual impairment is improving the delivery of surgical eye care services in the Lao PDR as well as enabling more people to access quality and affordable eye care.

  However, a great part of the population, particularly in remote and the poorest areas of the country, are not aware of eye health and eye diseases. Thus, informing communities about eye care, avoidable blindness as well as raising awareness on the availability of services, is crucial.

  In this regard, project LAO/027 supports outreach activities in the three central provinces of Vientiane, Khammouane and Bolikhamxay. Due to the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, there were no outreach activities between January and June 2020. However, in previous years, the provincial ophthalmologist went on field visits to provide clinical supervision support at the district level and to find cases in remote areas of the country that required a cataract surgery.

  B. Safety, cleanliness and the opening of the new laundry department

  Besides the new Ophthalmology Surgery Department, the LAO/027 project has also renovated various other departments of the hospital, including the laundry building. The new laundry department is operational since the 6th of July 2020.

  
  
  New laundry building at the Bolikhamxay Provincial Hospital; Soaking sink and drying racks, July 2020, © LuxDev

  Ensuring good hygiene is a priority in a hospital. Therefore, renovating the building and installing modern laundry equipment is important in order to save power and water but also to avoid that any infection is passed through the hospital clothing or linens.

  The laundry building ensures the supply of clean clothes and linens for the operating theatres (OTs), the delivery rooms, the emergency unit, the five (5) patient wards as well as for several outpatient department (OPD) consultation rooms (around 25 units).

  On average, 110 kg of dirty clothes and linens are washed per day. The laundry department manages the: changing of linens; picking up of dirty clothes; disinfection, cleaning, drying, ironing and distribution of the clothes and linens to the corresponding department of the hospital; sewing of bed and instrument wrapping sheets; and repairing of teared linens.  

  
  
  
  Laundry team responsible for keeping the hospital clothing and linens clean, Laundry building at the Bolikhamxay provincial hospital, July 2020, © LuxDev

  
  Distribution of clean clothes and linens, Bolikhamxay Provincial Hospital, July 2020, © LuxDev

  The new laundry department has been equipped with laundry equipment including washer extractors, dryers, irons, and sewing tables.

  ↑ To the top
• • 5 August
  • By Aude Labbe-Videau
  • 
  • Cabo Verde Office CVE/081
  • Vocational Training & Access to Employment
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  CABO VERDE – Formation en mobilisation de financement et partenariats pour les Réseaux locaux emploi et employabilité (RLEE)

  Dans le cadre du renforcement des capacités et de la gouvernance du secteur éducation - formation - emploi, les Réseaux locaux emploi et employabilité (RLEE) ont bénéficié au cours de juillet et août d’une formation ayant pour objectif de renforcer leur connaissance sur les mécanismes de mobilisation de partenariats et des ressources financières pour leurs activités de formation et promotion de l’emploi au niveau des îles.

  Les membres des RLEE (conseillers municipaux, directeurs et techniciens des centres d’emploi et de formation professionnelle, membres d'associations communautaires et d'ONG, délégués et représentants locaux des services publics d'éducation, de santé et des finances, entre autres) ont ainsi pu renforcer leur compréhension des méthodologies et approches innovantes pour le financement d’activités de formation, de développement professionnel et promotion de l'emploi.

  
  Formation pour les membres du Réseau de l’ile de Maio

  Au programme de formation : diagnostic socioéconomique local, développement d'un modèle d'organisation stratégique et d'un modèle de gestion professionnelle, préparation et introduction aux instruments de gestion afin de renforcer l'identification de partenariats, la mobilisation de financements et des mécanismes de réseautage.

  Les RLEE ont pour objectif d’informer et de sensibiliser les différents acteurs locaux ainsi que la société civile aux activités de promotion des politiques publiques en matière d’emploi et d’employabilité. Par ailleurs, les RLEE cherchent également à renforcer les processus d'articulation et de coordination des entités au niveau local.

  
  Travaux de groupe pour les membres du RLEE de Maio

  ↑ To the top
• • 3 August
  • By Manon Lienard & Malèye Ahmadou Diagne
  • 
  • Niger Office NIG/024
  • Vocational Training & Access to Employment
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  NIGER - Femmes et formation professionnelle : faire bouger les lignes

  Au Niger, de fortes attentes sont placées sur le sous-secteur de la formation professionnelle, censé absorber une partie des flux du cycle de base et offrir des compétences à des jeunes de plus en plus nombreux pour qu’ils puissent accéder à des emplois décents. Malheureusement, ce secteur est fortement impacté par les disparités et inégalités de genre. En plus des inégalités d’accès pour les filles, qui concernent tout le système éducatif, le sous-secteur de la formation professionnelle a en plus tendance à reproduire les rôles traditionnellement attribués aux filles et aux femmes et qui renforcent leur statut de « femme au foyer » surchargée par les rôles reproductifs.

  En effet, les données de l’annuaire statistique 2017-2018 du Ministère des Enseignements Professionnels et Techniques (MEPT) montrent que les filles sont majoritaires dans le secteur tertiaire. Mais force est de constater que c’est une majorité qui cache des disparités car elles sont majoritaires au sein des Centres de Formation aux Métiers (CFM), particulièrement dans la filière économie familiale où elles représentent 66 % des apprenants, alors que dans les secteurs industriel et primaire elles ne représentent respectivement que 7 % et 28 % de l’effectif total. 

  Avec l’appui de la Coopération luxembourgeoise, le MEPT a donc entrepris un vaste chantier d’élaboration d’un plan d’institutionnalisation du genre pour une meilleure prise en compte de l’équité et de l’égalité de genre dans les politiques, programmes, projets et structures du Ministère.

  La mise en œuvre du plan d’institutionnalisation du genre devra améliorer l'égalité de genre en matière de formation professionnelle en donnant aux filles et aux garçons les mêmes chances d'être formés, mais aussi des chances égales de développer leurs talents en les soumettant à des méthodes d'enseignement et des programmes qui sont exempts de stéréotypes.

  
  Les filles restent très souvent cantonnées dans les rôles reproductifs et communautaires que la société leur assigne © LuxDev

  Parallèlement à l’élaboration du plan d’institutionnalisation du genre du MEPT, la Coopération luxembourgeoise a également soutenu la révision de la Stratégie nationale d’Aaccélération de l’éducation et de la formation des filles et des femmes (SNAEFFF) qui intègre le plan d’institutionnalisation du MEPT.

  Concrètement, le MEPT avait déjà élaboré une stratégie genre depuis 2013, mais elle n’avait pas été mise en œuvre. Un vaste audit participatif a donc été réalisé pour avoir une image précise de la situation actuelle du genre au sein du MEPT, sur cette base un nouveau plan d’institutionnalisation du genre a été élaboré.

  Dans le cadre de la mise en œuvre de ce plan, plusieurs actions de renforcement des compétences en genre ont été réalisées. 45 points focaux genre ont été identifiés dans chaque structure du MEPT aux niveaux central et régional. Ils ont reçu une formation en genre puis en plaidoyer et certains d'entre eux ont été sélectionnés pour être formés comme formateurs en genre. À leur tour, ces formateurs en genre ont conçu un module de formation et ont commencé à former l’ensemble des acteurs du MEPT aussi bien au niveau central que régional.

  Par ailleurs, les points focaux genre du MEPT sont en train d’être formés en leadership pour le changement de comportement pour les doter de compétences dans les domaines de la pensée stratégique et de la gestion du changement, afin qu’ils puissent devenir de véritables leaders dans leurs structures, dans la société et réaliser les résultats qui leur sont assignés pour une meilleure prise en compte du genre.

  Adama, point focal à la direction régionale des enseignements professionnels et techniques (DREPT) de Niamey, avoue que les formations qu’elle a reçues ont profondément modifié sa vision du concept de genre. En effet, l’équité entre femmes et hommes relevait pour elle de la douce utopie, surtout dans le cadre du ministère. Par ailleurs, elle partageait l’idée préconçue selon laquelle « le genre est une affaire de femme ».  Aujourd’hui, elle est suffisamment outillée pour défendre l’idée d’un système plus égalitaire et prend son rôle de leader d’opinion très au sérieux. Ainsi, elle a même reconsidéré la façon dont elle éduque ses trois garçons et sa fille.

  
  Adama, point focal genre à la DREPT de Niamey © LuxDev

  Au niveau professionnel, après avoir participé à la formation des formateurs en genre, elle se sent suffisamment outillée pour dispenser des formations à des chefs d’établissements et même à ses supérieurs. Même si tout reste à faire, elle se sent particulièrement motivée par l’idée de faire changer les mentalités, mais aussi d’apporter des changements concrets. Elle propose par exemple que davantage d’hommes soient nommés points focaux, que des femmes soient formatrices dans des métiers techniques, que des incitations financières soient offertes aux jeunes femmes qui font des choix différents… Autant d’idées qu’elle compte faire circuler largement autour d’elle pour faire bouger les lignes. 

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• • 27 July
  • By Vjosa Morina
  • 
  • KSV/019
  • Decentralisation & Local Governance
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  KOSOVO - Human Capacity Development Facility (HCDF) activities during the months of global uncertainty

  Regardless the difficulties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, with the new measures in place, some activities continued and some started being implemented on the different Acquis Chapters and horizontal measures that HCDF covers. Those chapters are the Freedom of Establishment, Food and Veterinary and the horizontal measure on Public Administration Reform.

  On Freedom of Establishment chapter, a technical assistance was provided to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST) in the field of Regulated Professions. This expertise serves as the grounds of MEST’s work on finalizing the sub-legal acts foreseen in the law and in taking all actions and measures to begin full implementation of the Law on Regulated Professions.

  On Food and Veterinary chapter, trainings were provided to the Food and Veterinary Agency including veterinary inspectors, border veterinary inspectors and contracted veterinarians on five different regions of Kosovo. These 5 trainings were held focusing on the importance of enforcing the regulation on animal identification and registration at the levels of premise/farm, livestock markets, slaughterhouses and livestock transport. The trainings started their implementation in March but due to the pandemic they had to stop and start again in June.

  Whereas, for the Public Administration Reform, two expertise and a training were provided to the Ministry of Finance to enhance the capacities of Public Finance Management Coordination Group to draft the Public Finance Management Reform Strategy. These interventions will assure the timely and a qualitative reporting system on Public Finance Management implementation.

  

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• • 27 July
  • By Siphachanh THYTHAVY
  • 
  • Vientiane Regional Office LAO/033
  • Various
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  Workshop Strengthens Ministry of Planning and Investment’s Anti-Corruption Efforts

  Through Project LAO/033, the Lao government is continuing to develop capacity among officials from the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) through a two-day anti-corruption workshop, with a focus on the dangers of unethical practices and criminal behaviour in the country.

  Deputy Director General of the Department of Inspection of MPI, Mr Phouxay Phetsikham, who is also Vice President of the Ministry’s Inspection Committee, attended the anti-corruption workshop held in Vientiane from 21-22 July 2020. During the training, participants shared national and regional experiences in tackling corruption complaints. The meeting helped MPI officials to acknowledge their role and responsibilities towards fighting corruption.

  

  The workshop took place under the framework of the cooperation programme between the Lao and Luxembourgish governments to build the capacity of the country’s planning and investment officials. Specifically, the project is titled LAO/033 - Strengthening the Effectiveness of Official Development Assistance (ODA) Management in Lao PDR.

  Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr Phouxay stated that the government was placing utmost importance on carrying out inspections and monitoring expenditure, which is a key part of its anti-corruption operations.

  

  

  “The meeting is important for improving the knowledge and experience of the officials who undertake inspections, namely those from the Ministry of Planning and Investment,” he said. Corruption causes great loss to the state and individuals while hindering and delaying the socio-economic development of a country, according to the Ministry’s Inspection Committee. Corruption means the act of an official who opportunistically misuses their position, powers, or duties to embezzle, swindle or receive bribes or any other type of reward. The Lao government is aiming to improve its capacities, both in terms of legislation and human resources, to continue its fight against corruption.

  The government is continuing to improve the legislation to combat corruption, via the Law on Anti-Corruption and the establishment of state inspection authorities at all administrative levels and sectors, while enacting the Law on Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing, the Law on Extradition, and the amended Penal Code.

  Laos signed the United Nations Convention against Corruption on December 10, 2003, and ratified it on September 25, 2009, alongside 186 State Parties, according to the State Inspection and Anti-Corruption Authority.

   

   

   

   

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