In 2013, LuxDev launched the Climate Adapted Local Development and Innovation Project (VIE/033), benefiting 29 poor and vulnerable communes in three districts of Thua Thien Hue province.
The project’s primary aim was to protect people’s livelihoods and strengthen their resilience within a context of increasing climate shocks and stresses, including more frequent typhoons, more severe floods in the rainy season, droughts in the dry season and a substantial loss of land to the ocean.
The Final Evaluation report found that by end 2017, the project had contributed to sustainable, equitable and efficient trends of poverty reduction and adaptation to climate change.
These achievements were attributed to project interventions with relative certainty, because the outcomes were measured based on the pre and post data collected by the project Monitoring and Evaluation system.
To further test and confirm its impact on target beneficiaries, the project also conducted the Randomised Control Trials study, to help establish whether the achieved outcomes were natural, or rather induced by the project’s many interventions.
This at a time when the team for the final evaluation was on the ground Typhoon Damrey, one of the worst storms to hit Vietnam in years, made landfall on 4 November 2017 with devastating consequences for the central provinces of Khanh Hoa, Phu Yen and Quang Nam, where people rely heavily on rice and fish farming.
At least 106 people have died and thousands of houses have been damaged.
It was the worst storm on record since 2001.This exceptional situation of a natural disaster in the project area made it possible to compare the resilience of assisted households to non-beneficiaries.
The Randomised Control Trials are a technical evaluation that allows estimating the impact achieved by the project intervention. The validity of the estimate stems from a comparison of the beneficiaries (Treatment Group) to non-beneficiaries (Comparison Group) at the beginning as well as end of the project.
Engagement de l’IEFP, du CERMI et l’EHTCV pour intégrer un module transversal sur l’égalité de genre dans leurs programmes de formation professionnelle
Avec l’appui du Programme Emploi et Employabilité (CVE/081), une formation sur l’égalité de genre et la création d’un module sur le genre pour la formation professionnelle (FP) s’est déroulée du 11 au 15 juin, à l’Institut d’emploi et de formation professionnelle (IEFP). L’objectif était de former des formateurs dans le domaine de l’égalité de genre, et d’assurer l’intégration des genres dans le curriculum de la formation professionnelle. La formation a abordé les questions d’égalités dans le monde professionnelle, l’intégration du genre dans l’enseignement, les violences basées sur le genre et la création d’un module spécifique sur l’égalité.
L’amélioration des services d’orientation et insertion professionnelle sensibles au genre étant une des priorités établies par le Plan national d’égalité des genres 2015-2018, l’IEFP, en partenariat avec l’Institut cabo-verdien pour l’égalité et équité des genres (ICIEG), a décidé de créer une discipline sur l’égalité des genres et renforcer les capacités de ses formateurs en la matière. C’est dans ce contexte que le Programme CVE/081 intervient afin d’accompagner les centres de formation dans l’élaboration du module, le développement du curriculum et son intégration dans les programmes de formation.
Les institutions participant au projet sont l’IEFP, le Centre pour les énergies renouvelables et la maintenance industrielle (CERMI) et l’École d’hôtellerie et de tourisme de Cabo Verde (EHTCV).
La formation a conduit à la conception de la structure du module transversal, qui sera divisé en quatre unités didactiques :
promotion de la culture d’égalité;
violence basée sur le genre;
égalité d’opportunités dans le monde du travail; et
un travail pratique collectif, promouvant l’égalité entre les femmes et les hommes.
En complément, un manuel de cours sera élaboré pour les élèves et les formateurs, ainsi qu’un guide pour le suivi et l’évaluation de la mise en place du module par les institutions.
Le 15 juin lors de la clôture officielle de la formation, un protocole d’entente a été signé entre l’ICIEG, IEFP, CERMI, EHTCV et le Centre de recherche sur le genre et la famille de l’Université de Cabo Verde. Ce protocole a pour but de renforcer la coopération entre les entités afin que l’égalité de genre soit véritablement intégrée dans la FP, à travers la création d’une commission de suivi. Le Programme CVE/081 et le bureau ONU Femmes au Cabo Verde adhèrent à la commission en tant qu’appui technique.
Le Luxembourg et le Cabo Verde se sont engagés à transversaliser le genre dans les programmes de coopération dans le cadre du Programme indicatif de coopération IV 2016-2020. En 2017, une stratégie sectorielle pour l’égalité des genres, centrée sur l’employabilité et l’insertion professionnelle, a été conçue avec l’appui du Programme CVE/081. Le projet de création du module s’encadre dans la promotion de l’accès des femmes et des hommes aux formations non-traditionnelles et au marché du travail.
In May and June, the Veterinary Department of Kyaing Tong township with the support from the MYA/002 project, conducted two 3-day training sessions for veterinarian workers in the target villages of the 5 Tract area.
A total of 24 participants from 12 villages were successfully trained on how to identify the most common diseases in cattle, buffalos, pigs and poultry. Each trainee received a bag with a medical kit comprised of tools, generic medicine, and vitamin complexes to treat the livestock in their respective villages for free. The trainees were also invited to support the veterinary department in completing the livestock census as well as contact the department in case they notice an unusually high number of common diseases which could be an underlying cause for a more serious outbreak.
Each trainee was tested before and after the course on their knowledge and understanding of animal health care and treatment. They all worked very hard during the training and passed their tests with flying colours.
The project was particularly proud that Mrs Daw Na Maw became the first female certified animal health care worker. Mrs Daw Na Maw was very pleased with the training and the knowledge that she gained. At first she was not sure if she would be allowed to bring her toddler but it turned out he quickly made friends in the hosting village.
The organization and translation from Burmese into La Hu language was ensured by MYA/002 Cluster Field Coordinators, Mr Da Ye La and Mr Ha Ma.
On Monday 18 June 2018, Hue City celebrated the closing of the 5-year ODA-funded ‘Climate Adapted Local Development and Innovation Project’ (VIE/033), and in the same event launched the very first two projects funded by the Luxembourg Climate and Energy Fund to be implemented by LuxDev. These two new interventions are the ‘Energy Efficient Lighting NAMA pilot in Hue City’ (VIE/401) and the project ‘Climate Adaptation and Resilience in TT Hue Province’ (VIE/433).
The event brought together high-level delegates from the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Thua Thien Hue (TT Hue) Provincial People’s Committee (PPC) and relevant departments, the Luxembourg Embassy in Laos, LuxDev HQ and regional office in Vientiane, VIE/033 project partners and staff from the project’s target districts, some community representatives and beneficiaries, as well as some old ‘Friends of the Project’.
Group photo
Mr Nguyen Van Phuong, Vice-Chairman of TT Hue PPC, and Mr Claude Jentgen, Chargé d’Affaires at the Luxembourg Embassy in Laos, both highlighted and appreciated the long-standing and strong diplomatic relations between the two countries, with the 45th anniversary of these relations having been celebrated in Hanoi just days ago. Mr Jentgen remarked that Luxembourg is the fifth biggest European Union investor in Vietnam, and further reiterated that whereas its Official Development Assistance (ODA) is phasing out with Vietnam having reached middle-income status, new opportunities arise to transform the long-standing partnership into climate cooperation.
Dr Alain Jacquemin, VIE/033 Chief Technical Coordinator, presented the overall results of the project, measured through a set of 27 quantitative indicators. Out of these, 23 met or exceeded their End of Project (EOP) target – including six exceeding that target by 20-50%, and five by more than 50%. Four indicators did not meet their target. Further, data from a Randomised Control Trial in communes outside of the project target area and collected through baseline and endline surveys, gave more evidence and valuable insights on the real impact of project interventions in target areas versus non-project areas, reflecting major differences on household incomes and poverty reduction rates, as well as on the coping capacity of communities and households to respond to climate impacts.
Dr Adam McCarty, Team Leader of the project final evaluation and earlier also the Mid Term Review, called VIE/033 “an extraordinary success” referring to its key results, both quantitative and qualitative, as observed first-hand in the field and measured through the project’s elaborate monitoring system. He highlighted and appreciated the fact that the project did not just focus on its many successes, but also took the initiative to study and investigate activities that didn’t go as planned, rather than ignoring them, thus turning them into ‘lessons learned’ for future interventions.
Subsequently, the audience listened to a brief account by one of the district leaders, and to three testimonials from project beneficiaries. This was followed by the formal launch of the Project Compendium, a document that gives a fairly detailed account of overall project results achieved, and WHAT was done, WHY and HOW to come to those results.
Mr Nguyễn Lương Trí from Quang Tho II Agriculture Cooperative, Quang Dien district
In the second half of the meeting, with focus on the two new climate interventions in TT Hue, Dr Phong Tran of the Institute for Social and Environmental Transition–International (ISET-Viet Nam) sketched the context of climate change in Vietnam and Hue. He highlighted that Vietnam is one of the most vulnerable countries to the threats of climate change, mainly due to its densely populated and long coastline that is highly exposed to typhoons and sea level rise. “The sea level in Thua Thien Hue could rise by up to 94cm by 2 100 and this would continue to seriously affect the lives, incomes and health of local people, as well as the ecosystems and infrastructure systems of Hue City as they have done in the past”, he said.
The new chapter in the cooperation between Luxembourg and Vietnam was opened up by Mrs Dieschbourg, Luxembourg’s Minister for the Environment, who, through a 15-minute video message, pointed out that “this first bilateral climate cooperation can be instrumental for Vietnam to enhance its climate-finance readiness and be first-mover in terms of accounting, monitoring, reporting and verification of climate finance. In this sense, this little step will help to build international climate cooperation trust and practice. Luxembourg is at your side fighting climate change“.
Extract of the video speech by Mrs Dieschbourg, Luxembourg Minister for the Environment
Subsequently, Mr Nguyen Quang Cuong, Vice-Director of the provincial Department of Planning and Investment and Director of the Luxembourg Projects Management Board, briefly introduced the two new projects to the audience, and confirmed that both are in a position to bank upon the effective institutional structure, operational systems and implementation mechanisms that were put in place by VIE/033.
In his closing remarks, Mr Gaston Schwartz, Managing Director of LuxDev, once again highlighted the importance of monitoring and stated that “the methodology and the way that monitoring has been done in project VIE/033 should be an inspiration for LuxDev colleagues in other countries”.
The new Bolikhamxay provincial hospital has been welcoming its first newborns. This hospital, supported by Lao-Luxembourg Health Sector Support Program Phase II (LAO/027), will help to improve health care services in Bolikhamxay and contribute to reducing provincial maternal, neonatal and child mortality rates.
His Excellency, Mr. Jean Asselborn, Minister for Foreign and European Affairs of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, arrived at the campus of the National University of Laos on June 13, 2018, amidst an enthusiastic and cheering crowd of students of the FLP.
Prof. Dr. Somsy Gnophanxay, President of the National University of Laos, and Associate Prof. Viengvilay Thiengchanhxay, Dean of the university’s Faculty of Law and Political Science (FLP), led the welcoming committee in warmly receiving the Luxembourg Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Dr. Gnophanxay, in his introductory remarks, announced that Minister Asselborn’s visit was serendipitous as it came at a time “when the entire Lao people are joyfully celebrating many special occasions, namely: the 43rd anniversary of the proclamation of the Lao Peoples’ Democratic Republic and the 21st anniversary of diplomatic relations between Laos and Luxembourg”. He also acknowledged that Luxembourg has provided more than 50 million Euros to support the health, rural development, vocational education and governance sectors of Lao PDR.
He stated that Luxembourg has been working on increasing cooperation with the Lao people, as evidenced by the official launch of the Luxembourg Embassy and the LuxDev regional office in Vientiane in 2016 and the establishment of a project office for LAO/031 at the Faculty of Law and Political Science – “The Luxembourg funded project LAO/031 which will run from 2017 to 2022 has been designed to support legal training and teaching and promote the rule of law in the Lao PDR. This project continues and expands on LAO/023 which was implemented between 2010 and 2015”
It’s important to note that in order to achieve the overall objective of promoting the rule of law in the Lao PDR, the project will focus on developing legal institutions, upgrading standards and improving the enabling legal environment. The project is currently developing the legal research capacity of teachers and supporting the development of an adapted law curriculum.
During an open forum with the students of the FLP, Minister Asselborn was asked by students of varied questions involving foreign policy issues, such as the future of the LAO PDR-Luxembourg relations, the problem of international terrorism and rule of law, and the lessons learned in EU integration vis-à-vis ASEAN Economic Community. To their delight, the Luxembourg Foreign Minister always answered the issues raised within the context of what he said were sound foreign policies of Luxembourg. On one question, the Foreign Minister said that there is a need to promote the rule of law and respect for the human rights in order that Lao PDR can sustain peace and promote more prosperity.
The visit was witnessed by the Vice-Presidents of NUOL, the Dean of the Faculty of Law and Political Science, the Head of International Relations Department, representatives from Ministry of Education and Sports, representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vice-Deans, Heads of Department, Divisions, university members, members of the diplomatic corps, Olivier Hecquet, Resident Representative of LuxDev - Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency, representatives from the Institute of Legal Studies and Technical Assistance (ILSTA), the team members of LuxDev Project LAO/031, headed by its Chief Technical Adviser, Reginald M. Pastrana, students and other guests.
The Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) between the EU and Kosovo was negotiated between October 2013 and May 2014, it was initialed in July 2014 and the EU Council agreed to its signature on 22 October 2015. It entered into force in spring 2016. The SAA establishes a contractual relationship between the EU and Kosovo that entails mutual rights and obligations. Its signature confirms Kosovo’s European perspective.
KSV/019, launched on 5 June 2018, aims to strengthen the human resources of Kosovo’s administration in key sectors of EU legislation in a sustainable manner. LuxDev, the Norwegian Embassy and the Ministry of European Integration (MEI) will implement a Human Capacity Development Facility (HCDF), which will provide trainings, technical assistance, in depth research of EU policies, study tours and secondements to the relevant administration personnel. In addition to the HCDF, LuxDev and the Government of Kosovo will both allocate funds to the MEI to strengthen its communication on the SAA.
During the launch event, the Minister of European Integration, Dhurata Hoxha, explained the importance of such project for Kosovo’s progress towards the EU accession: “Our institutions are committed to progress on the Stabilisation and Association agenda. The integration process requires reforms in many sectors and capacity development is a key factor in its success. In addition to capacity building for SAA implementation, through this project we are also strengthening the integration mechanisms. For our Ministry, this initiative is of special importance since for the first time the implementation is done directly by the Ministry of European Integration with the assistance of LuxDev and the Norwegian Embassy in Kosovo”.
Le 22 mai 2018 est un jour qui sera inscrit dans les annales de l’histoire de la commune rurale de Kieché (région de Dosso) pour l’inauguration de l’adduction d’eau potable (AEP) multi-villages de ladite commune en présence du ministre de l’Hydraulique et de l’Assainissement, du chef de bureau de l’ambassade du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg au Niger, du chargé d’affaires de l’ambassade de Belgique à Niamey et d’autres hautes personnalités au niveau local et central.
Il s’agit d’un ouvrage qui comprend un forage productif de 60m3/h, un château de 300m3 et un réseau total de 27 km comportant 46 bornes fontaines et un certain nombre de branchements sociaux (écoles, centres de santé) ainsi que des branchements privés. Cette AEP est une des plus grandes du pays et permet ainsi de desservir en eau potable 25 villages, avec une possibilité d’arriver jusqu’à 37, pour un équivalent de plus de 20 000 habitants bénéficiaires. La réalisation de cet ouvrage était une véritable priorité pour la commune rurale de Kieché affectée par des difficultés chroniques d’approvisionnement en eau potable.
Cette importante infrastructure est le fruit d’une collaboration étroite entre la Coopération luxembourgeoise, la Coopération belge et l’État du Niger. Le cout total de l’ouvrage s’élève à 1 379 143 EUR, dont 859 835 EUR du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg, 421 959 EUR du Royaume de Belgique et 101 348 EUR de l’État du Niger. Le forage initial a été réalisé à travers le programme NIG/018 mis en œuvre par LuxDev dans le cadre du PIC II tandis que la construction du réseau de distribution et du château ont fait l’objet d’une délégation de fonds de LuxDev vers la CTB (aujourd’hui ENABEL). Le coût total de l’infrastructure inclut également l’accompagnement des bénéficiaires et exploitants ainsi que la mise en place d’un système de gestion et d’exploitation de l’ouvrage. À cet égard, comme prévu pour le Code de l’Eau, la commune a décidé de gérer l’ouvrage en régie de manière provisoire mais elle devra lancer rapidement une mise en concurrence pour assurer une gestion durable de l’ouvrage. À la date d’aujourd’hui, le prix de vente de l’eau a été fixée à 400 FCFA/m3 pour les bornes fontaines et 440 FCFA/m3 pour les particuliers.
La réalisation de cette AEP confirme encore une fois l’implication historique de la Coopération luxembourgeoise dans la région de Dosso, où les premières interventions datent du milieu des années 1990, ainsi que son engagement dans le secteur de l’eau et de l’assainissement au Niger dans le cadre de l’atteinte des Objectifs de développement durable (ODD) et du Programme sectoriel eau, hygiène et assainissement 2016-2030 (PROSEHA).
One of the important intervention areas of the Luxembourg-funded Climate-adapted Local Development and Innovation VIE/033 project consisted of reinforcing and developing climate-adaptive and resilient physical infrastructure in target communes, through improving and/or protecting people’s livelihoods against various impacts of climate change such as floods, storms, the salinisation of land and lagoon water, dune and river erosion, etc.
Around 45% of the project budget was dedicated for small-scale infrastructure (INFRA) sub-projects and these are split into the following 8 categories: river dykes and embankments (e.g. to protect productive land), bridges and sluices (e.g. to prevent further salinisation of paddy fields), pump stations, irrigation and drainage canals, kindergarten classrooms with shelter function (e.g. to enable women to engage in productive activities), boat shelters (e.g. to protect fishing folk from damage to their main economic asset during typhoons), access roads to productive areas (usually with dyke or evacuation function), and water tanks.
School children
The interventions were proposed jointly by the community and local authority during annual project planning workshops, and were based on 5-year Socio-Economic Development Plans (SEDP) that resulted from the Local Participatory Planning Process (LPPP) and Community Vulnerability Capacity Assessment (CVCA) reports that had been developed at the start of the project.
Each district put forward a pre-selection of sub-projects to project management, which were then reviewed and evaluated against a set of social and economic criteria, in order to find out which proposal would add most value to the project’s mission of effectively improving and/or protecting people’s livelihoods.
Le Binh boat shelter
In order to assess the practical situation and technical aspects as well as their feasibility, project management, including the project’s Technical Adviser for Infrastructure, carried out field observations and assessments for each suggested sub-project, with the participation of commune authorities and community leaders. The proposed interventions were then ranked based on their scoring in field assessment reports that were prepared for each one of them, providing a clear picture of the cost-benefit analysis. Highest priority was contributed to poorest and most vulnerable villages, and resettlement areas were included in the list by default, due to their special nature and preferential focus in the project. Subsequently, field assessment reports were presented, assessed and discussed in detail in a meeting with relevant partners, and the final list selected based on available budgets. Selected INFRA sub-projects were then included in project annual work plans, and 78 such projects have been selected and implemented over the project’s four-year timeframe.
In line with the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness aimed at increased government ownership and donor harmonisation and alignment, and its national translation in the Hanoi Core Statement, these sub-projects were, from the start of the project, carried out through delegation, whereby the district partner agencies were in charge of the budget, procurement and technical management, with support and supervision from the VIE/033 project team.
Nho bridge
As for outcomes, the 78 completed infrastructure interventions have had significant impact on the lives and livelihoods of people in target areas, especially those households suffering significant damage and loss caused by disasters. Over 30 000 households have had their livelihoods and resilience improved, and 5 653 hectares of productive land are now better protected against the impacts of climate change. Project M&E data indicate that 84% of the interventions were completed on time and were found to be resilient. Only three facilities required minor maintenance and two were in need of more serious repair following last November’s major flood. These findings are testimony of the high quality, praised by both technicians and beneficiaries, as well as of effective Operation, Maintenance and Management (OM&M) systems that were put in place, as consistently reported throughout project duration. As of end 2017, 98.6% of all sub-projects had sufficient OM&M measures in place, thus exceeding the initial target of 90%.
Local beneficiaries demonstrated a strong commitment and ownership toward the project’s infrastructure interventions. They were actively involved in the whole process -- from the initial needs identification and proposal of infrastructure sub-projects, to planning and financial contributions (usually a standard 2% of the total cost), to supervision during the construction phase and maintenance tasks after handover. Thua Thien Hue province is now considering wider application of this participatory approach in planning and implementing infrastructure projects.
Les deux premiers protocoles d’accord relatifs à des appuis du 3e Programme indicatif de coopération ont été signés, à Luxembourg, le 4 mai 2018 à l’occasion de la 10e Commission de partenariat entre le Burkina Faso et le Grand-Duché de Luxembourg.
Il s’agit des protocoles des projets BKF/024 « Récupération et valorisation des espaces pastoraux » et BKF/025 « Appui au plan sectoriel de l’éducation et de la formation, 2017-2030 ».
Dans la continuité des appuis du 2e Programme indicatif de coopération, le projet BKF/024 vise principalement la restauration et la sécurisation, via l'élaboration de 15 chartes foncières, de 10 800 hectares (ha) d'espaces pastoraux venant s'ajouter aux 8 500 ha de la phase antérieure, le balisage de 60 kilomètres de pistes à bétail et aires de repos, la création de 10 points d'eau, la valorisation des sites restaurés par la fauche et la conservation du foin, le développement d'activités génératrices de revenus liées au petit élevage et à la vente de crédits carbone.
Le projet interviendra dans sept provinces des régions du Sahel, du Nord et du Centre Nord, sur un total de 22 communes. Les bénéficiaires directs sont les éleveurs et agropasteurs, les populations ayant droit à des espaces pastoraux restaurés, avec une attention particulière pour les femmes, les jeunes et les personnes pauvres, les collectivités territoriales et leurs commissions foncières, le ministère des Ressources animales et halieutiques et le ministère de l’Environnement, de l’Économie verte et du Changement climatique, les ONG et associations de développement contractualisées.
D’une durée de 42 mois (juillet 2018 à décembre 2021), le projet bénéficiera d’un appui luxembourgeois de 5 000 000 EUR sur un coût total de 5 349 510 EUR.
Le BKF/025 concernera la poursuite des appuis luxembourgeois au ministère de l’Éducation nationale et de l’Alphabétisation. Le cadre logique et les objectifs de cet appui sont alignés sur ceux du plan sectoriel de l’éducation et de la formation. L’appui est articulé autour de deux composantes, à savoir :
une contribution au compte d’affectation spéciale du trésor (CAST) qui vise à appuyer la mise en œuvre des plans d’actions annuels du ministère de l’Éducation nationale et de l’Alphabétisation sur base des politiques et orientations stratégiques de son plan sectoriel.
un appui à travers les technologies de l’information et de la communication pour renforcer les capacités de gestion des ressources humaines du ministère de l’Éducation et pour améliorer le suivi de l’évolution du cursus scolaire de chaque élève. Ce dernier point contribuera également à l’amélioration de la qualité des statistiques scolaires.
La contribution luxembourgeoise sera de 7 000 000 EUR sur une période de 36 mois de juillet 2018 à décembre 2020.
Log in 
Group photo
School children
Nho bridge
