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LuxDev, Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency

• 2021
• • 5 July
  • By Blerta Avdiu
  • 
  • KSV/017
  • Health
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  KOSOVO - Improving quality of healthcare services and finalising the elaboration of QMS tools

  In its further efforts to improve quality of healthcare services, the project is committed to provide opportunities for the staff of different departments at the GH Gjilan and Prizren to continue their professional development that will contribute to the usage of newly procured equipment, quality of their practice and service delivery. To this end, the project as a part of the capacity development activities within Result 2 has assisted the hospitals on organizing training courses on usage of the ultrasound techniques of the carotid vessels, radiology examinations and pulmonary functions. Once completed, the participants will receive accredited certificates from the Kosovo Doctors’ Chamber.

  

  The project also aims to embed a quality management system (QMS), while simultaneously considering the complexity of the healthcare sector and compatibility to Kosovo context, the project during this period has helped pave the way for the staff of the General Hospitals of Gjilan and Prizren in the elaboration of quality and safety tools (e.g. SOPs) with the ultimate objective being the quality improvement of healthcare services. As shown by many studies, the development and use of SOPs compose an integral part of a successful quality system and secure a common framework and uniformity in the provision of healthcare services, thus, improving efficiency and safety for the patients. As of now, the working groups from both hospitals in collaboration with the project team have drafted twenty-two written instruction documents.

  The KSV/017 project is co-funded by the Government of Kosovo and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and implemented by the Kosovo Ministry of Health and LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency.

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• • 5 July
  • By Siphachanh THYTHAVY
  • 
  • Asia Office LAO/033
  • Governance
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  LAOS - Officials in the Ministry of Planning and Investment increase understanding of ODA decree and its related implementation guidelines

  In June 2021, the Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Planning and Investment organised a dissemination workshop on Official Development Assistance (ODA) decree and its associated implementation guidelines and instructions to the six target provinces namely Khammouan, Bolikhamxay, Vientiane, Sayaboury, Oudomxay and Bokeo.

  The workshop was chaired by deputy provincial governors and deputy directors general of Department of International Cooperation and attended by 120 officials (45 women) from key stakeholders in the six provinces.

  

  Speaking at the meeting, the chairman highlighted the importance of ODA management and implementation and called on the attendees to discuss ways to reach the target for ODA implementation, improve reporting and effective management. 

  

  During the one-day workshop, the participants shared their national and regional experience in ODA management and coordination. The workshop helped increase understanding and reflected the roles and responsibilities of the attendees.

  The meeting is part of an ongoing efforts of the Strengthening the Effectiveness of Official Development Assistance Management in Laos - Project LAO/033 which aims to build capacity of the Ministry of Investment and PIanning’s Department of International Cooperation and six provincial Sections for International Cooperation in the provinces. 

  LAO/033 project is co-financed by the Government of Laos and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and implemented by the Ministry of Planning and Investment and LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency.

   

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• • 29 June
  • By Undraa Bayanaa
  • 
  • Asia Office LAO/027
  • Health
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  LAOS - Capacity development for ophthalmic nursing in Lao PDR

  According to the data published by the World Health Organization in the “Global strategy on human resources for health: Workforce 2030”, there is a global shortage of health workers, mostly in low-and lower-middle-income countries, with nurses and midwives representing over 50% of the current shortage in health workers. This shortage of health workers equally affects the eye care sector, showing an important unmet demand for ophthalmic nurses and doctors. As the population worldwide is aging, chronic eye diseases such as cataract and glaucoma are becoming the leading causes of blindness and visual impairment amongst elderly men and women.  

  In Laos, despite the increasing number of trained eye care practitioners over the last years, it was observed that eye care services were less attended in 2020 and 2021, in parallel with the general reduction in hospital consultations, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This has severely affected the provision of eye care services by mobile teams in remote districts, thereby increasing the risk of permanent vision loss due to the postponement of essential eye care.

  

  The Director of the National Ophthalmology Center (NOC), Dr Khamkhoun Hosavanh, handed over a certificate to an ophthalmic nurse during the ophthalmology nursing graduation ceremony at the NOC in Vientiane capital (June 2021). © LuxDev

  The Lao-Luxembourg Health Sector Support Programme Phase II (LAO/027) has established a long-standing collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the University of Health Sciences to identify and support human resource development needs in the health sector. 

  In particular, the LAO/027 programme is collaborating with the National Ophthalmology Center in Vientiane capital and with The Fred Hollows Foundation (FHF) to develop the ophthalmology care capacity in the three provinces of Vientiane, Bolikhamxay and Khammouane. Since 2018, under a service agreement with the FHF, the LAO/027 programme is supporting the provision of upgrading and clinical specialization programmes for eye care and is offering various short- and long-term scholarships to provide additional training to eye nurses and specialist doctors. 

  Investing in people

  The delivery of quality ophthalmic care directly depends on adequate training of specialized staff. To meet the training needs for eye care nursing in Laos, a short-term training programme was specifically designed for qualified nurses to strengthen the provision of healthcare and the management of people with ophthalmic diseases. 

  On 22 June 2021, thirteen ophthalmology nurses have successfully completed a four-months training programme as ophthalmic nurses at the National Ophthalmology Center in the Vientiane capital, with ten graduates from the provincial and district hospitals of Khammouane (2), Bolikhamxay (4) and Vientiane (4) provinces supported by the LAO/027 programme.

  This brings the total number of scholarships offered by Luxembourg to upgrade the qualifications and capacities of ophthalmology nurses to thirty-one (21 female and 10 male ophthalmic nurses) between 2018 and 2021. 

  

  Ophthalmic nursing graduation ceremony at the National Ophthalmology Center (June 2021). © LuxDev 

  This training programme covers every aspect of ophthalmic nursing, including the physiology of the eye, diseases that affect the eye, clinical management, and the complexities of managing people with a variety of eye disorders. After the training programme, the ophthalmology nurses are posted in provincial and district hospitals to provide basic eye care services and to raise awareness among their communities on avoidable blindness through community outreach activities. 

  Besides the short-term Ophthalmic nursing programme, the LAO/027 programme is supporting the following eye care focused courses, in collaboration with the FHF:

  • Blindness course for ophthalmologists (one-week workshop for trained ophthalmologists);
  • Basic Eye Doctor (BED) training (one-year training programme for general practitioners and newly graduated medical doctors);
  • Ophthalmologist Specialist Residency (three-years specialization programme to train Basic Eye Doctors to become Ophthalmologists; 1 year in Thailand, 2 years in Laos) 

  Investing in equipment and technology 

  While investing in training capacity is one of the key components to building a stronger health workforce and strengthening the health system, the LAO/027 programme is also supporting the creation of an enabling environment for ophthalmology services in the health facilities in the three provinces of Vientiane, Bolikhamxay, and Khammouane.

  

  Cataract surgery at the Bolikhamxay provincial hospital in July 2020. © LuxDev

  To reinforce the scope and the quality of curative ophthalmological services at the provincial level, the LAO/027 programme has renovated the old ophthalmology unit of the Bolikhamxay provincial hospital and has provided additional eye care equipment for eye surgeries.  

  The ophthalmology surgical department established at the Bolikhamxay provincial hospital opened its doors last year in July 2020 and is staffed by a qualified ophthalmologist team trained in Thailand and at the University of Health Sciences in Vientiane capital. The Bolikhamxay provincial hospital provides care and treatment services, including services for eye-related diseases such as cataract and glaucoma. 

  The Lao-Luxembourg Health Sector Support Programme Phase II (LAO/027) is co-financed by the Government of Lao PDR and the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg and is implemented by the Lao Ministry of Health and LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency.

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• • 25 June
  • By Samba BIBA
  • 
  • Mali Office MLI/023
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  MALI - Donner la parole aux jeunes des régions de Ségou et Sikasso

  En août 2020, le Programme MLI/023 « Décentralisation et bonne Gouvernance » dans le cadre de la pré-formulation du nouveau PIC (PIC IV) a convenu avec le bureau ICCO Coopération la réalisation d’une étude  intitulée « Donner la parole aux jeunes femmes et jeunes hommes dans les régions de Ségou et de Sikasso ». Pour rappel, les régions de Ségou et de Sikasso comptent une population de 7 033 429 habitants avec une tranche d’âge de jeunes de 15 à 24 ans estimée à 1 319 188 habitants.

  L’initiative de l’étude est partie du constat que la problématique de la jeunesse a toujours été au centre des préoccupations des populations de même que les politiques gouvernementales.

  Aussi, beaucoup de clichés circulent sur la jeunesse, notamment sa propension à migrer, sa précocité à avoir plusieurs enfants, sa propension à céder aux extrémismes, son désintérêt dans les métiers de leurs parents tels que l’agriculture. Toutefois, très peu d'études se sont penchées sur les causes profondes des problématiques auxquelles les jeunes font face, en particulier en milieu rural.

  En donnant la parole aux jeunes femmes et jeunes hommes, le Programme MLI/023  a donné la possibilité aux deux régions de mieux connaître et comprendre les préoccupations et les aspirations des jeunes face aux problématiques de l’emploi et de l’entreprenariat ainsi que mieux appréhender les potentialités socio-économiques dans les régions.

  
  Lien vers le rapport synthétique de l'étude « Donner la parole aux jeunes hommes et jeunes femmes des régions de Ségou et Sikasso »: cliquez ici.

   

  Pour y parvenir, un échantillon de 53 communes sur 264, soit environ 20% du total des communes des deux régions a été retenu pour des raisons de coûts et d’efficacité des enquêtes.

  Les enquêtes ont touché un total de 3233 jeunes de 15-35 ans, 1050 décideurs et 214 acteurs du secteur privé. En termes de méthode qualitative, 848 focus groups ont été réalisés auprès des organisations socio-professionnelles, ainsi que des organisations de femmes et de jeunes. Aussi, six (06) ateliers ont été tenus avec des jeunes des conseils locaux et communaux, des associations féminines et leaders et 300 jeunes ruraux, dont 50% femmes et 50% hommes.

  Les constats et résultats obtenus au terme de l’étude sont instructifs et édifiants :

  • la jeunesse est fortement rurale mais avec une propension forte des plus jeunes (15 à 24 ans) à vivre en milieu urbain ;
  • les jeunes ont accès à la terre agricole mais avec un faible contrôle sur le foncier ;
  • la production agricole, aspiration professionnelle par défaut d’une frange importante de jeunes ruraux (30 à 40%);
  • la formation, l’aménagement, les innovations techniques et technologiques et l’accès au financement apparaissent comme les facteurs clés pouvant rendre le secteur agricole plus attractif pour les jeunes ;
  • une jeunesse sous-représentée dans les instances de prise de décisions ;
  • une jeunesse dans le besoin d’autonomisation pour plus de participation aux prises de décisions ;
  • des jeunes peu qualifiés et sous-payés dans le secteur informel ;
  • l’accès et le contrôle des ressources naturelles, facteurs de divergences intergénérationnelles ;
  • le chômage et le manque d’opportunités pour les jeunes, facteurs favorisant l’insécurité ;
  • les jeunes adoptent des stratégies plus ou moins résilientes face au changement climatique.

  Nonobstant ces nombreux défis et contraintes relevés par l’étude et auxquels font face  les jeunes, ceux-ci constituent la couche la plus importante de la population des régions de Ségou et de Sikasso. Ils représentent une force qui pourrait transformer positivement l’économie, la société et devenir les principaux acteurs de changement. Ainsi, espère-t-on  tirer profit du dividende démographique que ces jeunes peuvent offrir.

  Les résultats atteints par  l’étude constituent des axes conceptuels de tout  plan d’actions  autour de la problématique des jeunes dans ces régions. A ce titre, l’étude représente une référence de base pour les deux Conseils régionaux (Ségou et Sikasso) et LuxDev pour d’éventuelles initiatives en lien avec ladite problématique au cœur des préoccupation visée par le prochain Programme Indicatif de Coopération.

  Le programme MLI/023 est financé par le Grand-Duché de Luxembourg et mis en oeuvre par LuxDev, l’agence luxembourgeoise pour la coopération au développement. 

   

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• • 21 June
  • By Gilberto VAZ
  • 
  • Cabo Verde Office CVE/083
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  CABO VERDE - Le Cabo Verde dispose déjà d'un Système de gestion de l'information sur l'énergie (SGIE)

  Le Système de gestion des informations sur l'énergie (SGIE)

  Le pays a bénéficié d'un financement de la Coopération luxembourgeoise dans le cadre du programme d'Appui au secteur des énergies renouvelables (PASER) pour le développement et la mise en œuvre du Système de gestion de l'information sur l'énergie (SGIE), dans le cadre des activités de renforcement des capacités et des instruments de planification, de gestion et de suivi et évaluation du secteur énergétique du pays.  

  L'objectif est d'offrir en un seul point les données statistiques du secteur en fournissant des informations utiles, pour soutenir l'élaboration de politiques fondées sur des preuves, la prise de décision, le suivi et l'évaluation. L'accent est mis sur la numérisation des services publics fournis par la direction des services énergétiques, qui contribuera à l'amélioration de la capacité organisationnelle, à l'accroissement de la productivité et de l'efficacité et à l'amélioration de la communication avec les principaux acteurs du secteur énergétique et le grand public.

  Ce système comprend cinq composants :

  • Statistiques / soumission et affichage des données

  Cet outil permet la soumission, la gestion et la disponibilité des données du secteur de l'énergie. Elle facilitera le processus de soumission des données par les opérateurs sur une plateforme unique de manière intégrée, permettant la visualisation des données statistiques par différents utilisateurs et le grand public.

  • Système d'enregistrement des microproductions

  Permet l'enregistrement des microsystèmes de production d'énergie qui englobe la gestion de l'ensemble du processus, de la demande d'enregistrement à la certification en passant par la programmation des inspections. Cet outil contribuera à l'opérationnalisation du marché de la microproduction dans le pays, une avancée dans l'automatisation du processus d'enregistrement des systèmes de microproduction.

  • Registre des professionnels

  Les professionnels de l'énergie peuvent désormais s'inscrire et faire partie de la liste des professionnels rendue publique par la Direction du service de l'énergie. Cette liste peut être consultée par le public et servir de référence. 

  • Octroi de licences pour les centrales électriques

  L'ensemble du processus d'octroi de licences aux centrales électriques peut désormais être réalisé dans cet outil, qui permet la soumission de documents, le suivi de l'état d'avancement, les interactions entre le demandeur et la DNICE jusqu'à la phase finale d'octroi de la licence, ce qui rend le processus simple et rapide.

  • Législation et documentation

  Un portail d'accès à toute la documentation, aux plans, aux décrets-lois, entre autres documents sur le secteur de l'énergie, auquel le public aura accès à tout moment.

  Formation des utilisateurs et phase pilote

  Des sessions de formation ont été organisées en octobre 2020, et en novembre 2020 a eu lieu la phase de test pilote des outils qui composent cette plateforme. Dans les deux activités, des techniciens de la Direction nationale de l'industrie, du commerce et de l'énergie (DNICE) et des différentes institutions qui font partie et bénéficieront également de ce système, comme les fournisseurs de données, les entreprises d'installation de systèmes de microproduction, les inspecteurs de systèmes de microproduction, entre autres, et une partie représentative des utilisateurs finaux qui ont testé toutes les fonctionnalités du système, l'ont évalué et ont contribué à son amélioration.

  Dans le cadre des activités de commémoration de la Journée internationale de l'énergie, le 28 mai 2021, le ministère de l'Industrie, du Commerce et de l'Énergie a lancé le SGIE dans la ville de Praia avec la participation du ministre de l'Industrie, du Commerce et de l'Énergie, du Chargé d'Affaires A.I. de l'Ambassade du Luxembourg au Cabo Verde. L'événement a été suivi par plusieurs acteurs du secteur (15 participants en personne et 103 par vidéoconférence).

  Dans son discours, le ministre de l'Énergie, Alexandre Monteiro, a souligné l'importance d'une planification adéquate du secteur dans ce processus de transition énergétique et qu'il est nécessaire de disposer de données fiables et de qualité pour atteindre cet objectif. Le chargé d'affaires de l'ambassade du Luxembourg, M. Thomas Barbancey, a renforcé le soutien de la Coopération luxembourgeoise à la transition énergétique du pays, et au développement des énergies renouvelables. Il a souligné les progrès réalisés dans le secteur et s'est félicité de cette plateforme qui facilitera la prise de décision, en soulignant les gains en matière d'accès à l'électricité comme les principaux défis et la contribution à la réduction du prix de l'énergie.

  
  Atleir de lancement du SGIE

  Témoignage

  

  Ingénieur Rito Évora - Directeur national de l'industrie, du commerce et de l'énergie

  Une étape importante pour le secteur

  C'est avec une grande satisfaction que nous marquons cette étape importante lors de la Journée mondiale de l'énergie.  Nous disposons désormais d'un instrument qui facilitera notre travail et améliorera l'interaction et l'intégration des processus, en plus de permettre l'accès à une multitude de données, contribuant ainsi au renforcement du système de planification et de suivi du secteur énergétique. Nos remerciements à la Coopération luxembourgeoise qui a été une pièce maîtresse dans la mise en œuvre de notre stratégie de transition énergétique développée dans le cadre du Programme national pour la durabilité énergétique.”

  Un nouveau pas vers la transition énergétique

  Le système est maintenant opérationnel et prêt à servir le secteur de l'énergie. Il jouera désormais un rôle clé dans la diffusion d'informations importantes dans le secteur et rendra les services numérisés fournis par la Direction nationale de l'industrie, du commerce et de l'énergie toujours plus rapides et efficaces.

  Il sera un instrument essentiel pour assurer une bonne gouvernance et un suivi continu du secteur, pour soutenir la prise de décision, pour permettre l'adaptation des objectifs sectoriels, ainsi que fondamental dans la collecte et la diffusion des données relatives au secteur de l'énergie, et dans le suivi continu de l'impact de la politique énergétique du pays. Un gain important pour le secteur, et pour le pays en particulier qui vise à promouvoir une transition énergétique durable.

  Le programme CVE/083 est financé par le Grand-Duché de Luxembourg et mis en œuvre par LuxDev, l’agence luxembourgeoise pour la Coopération au développement.

  ↑ To the top
• • 21 June
  • By Cam Do Hoang Le
  • 
  • Asia Office VIE/032
  • Inclusive and innovative finance
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  VIETNAM - The project VIE/032 continues supporting to Vietnam’s development of Financial Market Development Strategic Plan 2021-2025

  A virtual roundtable on “Vietnam Financial Market Development Strategic Plan 2021-2025, Vision to 2030" drawed attention of almost 50 speakers and advisors, including officials and technical experts representing such strategic economic and financial organisations of Vietnam as Central Institute for Economic Management or Department of Finance and Monetary from Ministry of Planning and Investment, National Institute for Finance and Department of the Insurance Supervisory Authority of Ministry of Finance, State Bank of Vietnam, State Securities Commission, Securities Companies, Insurance Companies, Commercial Banks.

  The event took place on 15 June 2021 and jointly organised by the National Financial Supervisory Commission (NFSC) and Project VIE/032 – Capacity Building on Finance Sector on both online and offline platforms. This was to ensure Vietnam government’s required distancing during the heat of Hanoi’s summer and fourth wave of COVID-19.

  

  
  Mr Hung Xuan PHAM opens the virtural roundtable

  The roundtable focused on: 

  • development model of financial markets in the coming time: bank-based or market-based (focusing on strong capital market development);
  • establishment of a Regional Financial Centre in Vietnam;
  • orientation and solutions to develop digital economy and digital banking (fintech);
  • promotion of fair competition and transparent information on financial market and protection of financial consumers; 
  • supervision and ensuring of safety and soundness of the financial system.

  
  _{Mr Kien LE from State Bank of Vietnam on his presentation on national finanancial market supervision standards}

  Based on opinions, advices and policy recommendations at the roundtable, NFSC would complement and finalise their Report on Strategy and Orientation for Vietnam Financial Market Development that would be submitted to the Prime Minister. 

  
  _{Financial and economic experts discussing protection of financial consumers in Vietnam}

  Being one of the project’s active stakeholders, in late 2019, NFSC received supports from the project for organising its annual National Financial Report Launching Workshop that was warmly welcomed by national and international financial and economic institutions, donors and press media. Since the 2020 event could not happen due to the global pandemic, NFSC saved this roundtable opportunity to collect and advocate ideas with top technical experts and professionals. Mr Hung Xuan PHAM - General Director of Financial Supervisory Policy Coordination and Research Department of NFSC and his colleagues expressed great appreciation to Luxembourg and LuxDev’s meaningful cooperation and supports so far, not only in organisation of these critical high-expertise events but also in other training and capacity building activities to the NFSC.

  
  Screen recorded 32 online participants attending the Roundtable

  The Capacity Building in the Financial Sector – VIE/032 project is co-financed by the Government of Vietnam and the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg and is implemented by the Vietnamese State Securities Commission and LuxDev, the Luxembourg Developmen Cooperation Agency.

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• • 17 June
  • By Pascal FABING, Estelle LYON-CHAUDRON
  • 
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  Collaboration renforcée entre LuxDev et Luxinnovation

  Le secteur privé est souvent présenté comme une des pièces manquantes du puzzle pour l’atteinte des Objectifs du Développement Durable des Nations unies.

  La facilité de financement «Business Partnership Facility (BPF)» financée par la Coopération luxembourgeoise et mise en œuvre par LuxDev, l’agence luxembourgeoise pour la Coopération au développement, encourage depuis 2016, à travers son fonds annuel d’un million d’euros, le secteur privé luxembourgeois et européen à s’associer avec des partenaires de pays en développement pour mettre en place des projets commerciaux durables dans ces pays.

  Travaillant en étroite collaboration depuis 2020, notamment dans l’analyse financière des propositions de projets, LuxDev et Luxinnovation renforcent leur partenariat. Ainsi Luxinnovation est-elle désormais davantage impliquée dans plusieurs étapes clés de l’appel à candidatures des entreprises désireuses de participer à la BPF.

  Luxinnovation accompagne depuis plus de 35 ans les entreprises luxembourgeoises dans leurs projets d’innovation. Si l’objectif premier est de soutenir le développement et la diversification de l’économie nationale, les innovations suivies peuvent également contribuer à solutionner des challenges rencontrés par des partenaires dans des pays en développement.

  La sélection des projets soutenus par la BPF s’effectue à travers un appel à candidatures en deux étapes : remise d’une note conceptuelle suivie, si le projet est sélectionné, d’une proposition détaillée.

  Business plan et proposition de valeur

  Si LuxDev est en charge de la mise en œuvre du processus, le comité de sélection des candidatures est multipartite associant le ministère des Affaires étrangères et européennes, le ministère de l’Économie, la Chambre de commerce et LuxDev.

  Collaborant déjà étroitement dans l’analyse financière des propositions de projets, Luxinnovation et LuxDev renforcent encore leur partenariat : il est désormais proposé aux entreprises éligibles un accompagnement par Luxinnovation dans la préparation de leur proposition détaillée.

  Cet accompagnement visera essentiellement à renforcer la partie financière de la proposition détaillée des candidats à travers une réflexion sur leur business plan et la proposition de valeur associée. Une lettre d’entente pour les deux prochaines années a été signée entre les deux agences pour matérialiser cette collaboration.

  Cette collaboration entre deux agences luxembourgeoises s’inscrit dans les axes stratégiques de la vision 2030 de LuxDev qui entend développer des partenariats multi-acteurs pour l’atteinte des ODD.

  Pour Luxinnovation, ce partenariat s’inscrit dans l’une de ses priorités stratégiques qui consiste à encourager un développement économique durable à travers la recherche et l’innovation.

  La facilité de financement «Business Partnership Facility (BPF)» financée par la Coopération luxembourgeoise et mise en œuvre par LuxDev, l’agence luxembourgeoise pour la Coopération au développement.

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• • 10 June
  • By LAO/027 Project
  • 
  • Asia Office LAO/027
  • Health
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  LAOS - Luxembourg provides an additional 1 million EUR to support COVID-19 response in Lao PDR

  The Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg continues to work alongside its partner country, Laos, to strengthen the national capacities to detect, assess and respond to acute public health events. In response to the recent upsurge in COVID-19 cases, Luxembourg, through the Lao-Luxembourg Health Sector Support Programme Phase II (LAO/027), has committed an additional 1,000,000 EUR (equivalent to 11.5 billion LAK) to detect, mitigate and prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the country. 

  An official handover ceremony was held on 10th June 2021, at the Ministry of Health in Vientiane in the presence of Dr. Bounfeng Phoummalaysith, Minister of Health, senior members from the Ministry of Health, the National Centre of Laboratory and Epidemiology, the Institut Pasteur du Laos, representatives from the Embassy of Luxembourg in Laos, and representatives from the LAO/027 health programme.

  

  Mr. Sam Schreiner, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Luxembourg in Laos and Dr. Bounfeng Phoummalaysith, Minister of Health, during an official handover ceremony at the Ministry of Health in Vientiane capital. (June, 2021)

  Mr. Sam Schreiner, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Luxembourg, congratulated the Government and the people of Laos for the, so far, successful handling of the ongoing crisis and stated that a strong COVID-19 response should include, besides a rapid vaccination drive, a comprehensive surveillance and testing strategy. In this regard, support to strengthen laboratory capacity is essential for the rapid detection of positive cases and the roll out of a timely response to contain the spread. Mr. Schreiner furthermore stressed the “absolute need for close donor coordination with the Government of Laos in the ongoing fight against COVID-19 in order to avoid any unfortunate duplication of efforts or gaps and to husband the all too rare resources”. 

  In coordination with the Ministry of Health, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation will provide this additional funding to the National Centre of Laboratory and Epidemiology (NCLE) and the Institut Pasteur du Laos (IPL), the two official laboratories for sample screening. The additional funds will, amongst others, be used to support the procurement of laboratory equipment, reagents, and swabs to meet the high demand for testing. 

  Furthermore, the LAO/027 health programme is continuing to support the Ministry of Health and the three Luxembourg supported provinces of Bolikhamxay, Khammouane and Vientiane, through the acquisition of medical devices, personal protective equipment (PPE) and consumables which are currently in high demand. 

  Through this latest funding assistance, Luxembourg’s support is expected to:  

  • strengthen case management, detection, monitoring and surveillance capacities;
  • maintain and support temporary provincial isolation and treatment facilities;
  • support infection prevention and control (IPC) mechanisms and surge capacities;
  • enhance operational support and logistics; and 
  • provide technical support, IPC consumables and personal protective equipment (PPE) support. 

  This support is part of the Team Europe joint response and is in addition to the 3,000,000 EUR (34.5 billion LAK), which were transferred in 2020 by the Government of Luxembourg to support the Government of Lao PDR’s COVID-19 preparedness and response.

  The Lao-Luxembourg Health Sector Support Programme Phase II (LAO/027) is co-financed by the Government of Lao PDR and the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg and is implemented by the Lao Ministry of Health and LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency. 

   

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• • 8 June
  • By Undraa Bayanaa
  • 
  • Asia Office LAO/027
  • Health
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  LAOS - Neurology remote training for health professionals in Lao PDRTraining offered under the Thailand – Luxembourg – Laos Trilateral Cooperation

  The Lao – Luxembourg Health Sector Support Programme Phase II (LAO/027) launched its first remote training under the LuxNet platform in Laos. The Neurology for non-neurologists training was held between 17 and 21 May 2021 and was presented by clinicians and neurology specialists from the Neurological Institute of Thailand (NIT). 26 health professionals from the three Luxembourg supported provinces of Bolikhamxay, Vientiane and Khammouane attended the five-days intensive remote training via Zoom.

  

  Remote neurology training provided by the Neurological Institute of Thailand (May 2021). 

  The objective of the training was to increase the knowledge, understanding and skills of health personnel who are involved in providing care to patients in this area of specialisation. Providing neurology training in Laos is crucial taking into consideration that disease profiles, health-seeking behavior and clinical requirements are changing in the country. Indeed, hospitals are expected to see a substantial increase in lifestyle diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and stroke.

  The online training offered by the NIT consisted of 35 different lectures targeted to physicians and practicticing registered nurses. The five-days intensive online education (6-7 hrs/day) consisted of live webinars and group discussions. During the lectures, the participants had the opportunity to learn about neurological assessment, anatomy and physiology, and the clinical aspects and treatment of such disorders including trauma brain injury, stroke, and seizures. The topics covered included for instance: seizure management in pregnancy and other special situations, common pediatric neurological diseases, nursing management for epilepsy and stroke patients. 

  The LuxNet training platform 

  Conventional face-to-face training is challenged due to travel restrictions and current social distancing measures; in response, the LAO/027 programme has accelerated the introduction of remote teaching and training mechanisms in the health sector in Laos. 

  The remote neurology training is part of the broader LuxNet training platform established by the LAO/027 health programme to strengthen human resource capital development. Improving the skills of health workforce, forecasting the workforce needs in the short and medium term, and ensuring that the most appropriate skill-mix is available in the hospitals, are some of the key focus areas of the LAO/027 programme. The remote trainings are designed: 

  • to provide continuous, routine, short-term training to health service providers; 
  • to encourage peer learning under national and international experts' mentorship; 
  • to establish an on-site remote training environment at provincial and district hospital levels.

  The LAO/027 programme is supporting key stakeholders for effective use of the LuxNet platform. The provincial hospitals in the three Luxembourg supported provinces of Bolikhamxay, Khammouane, and Vientiane, have already received a LuxNet installation. The installation of LuxNet is currently being rolled out to the Ministry of Health, the National Health Insurance Bureau, the provincial and district health offices, and to 28 preselected district hospitals.

  Trilateral Cooperation between Thailand, Luxembourg, and Laos

  The LuxNet initiative aims to improve communication between a network of stakeholders from academia, teaching and technical partners providing remote teaching and training. The University of Health Sciences (UHS) has been linked to the LuxNet platform as the active participation of national training institutions is critical. The UHS is currently responsible for identifying the training needs and for connecting the national academic training institutions to the different provincial hospitals. 

  In addition, LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency, is collaborating with the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA) in the field of public health. TICA plays an important role in facilitating cooperation with Thai hospitals and training institutions. The long-term goal is to establish collaborative partnerships between Laos and Thailand in the health sector (e.g., through the twinning of Lao provincial hospitals with Thai border hospitals, through the development of a telemedicine hub in Laos and Thailand, and through the provision of technical assistance and short-term trainings by Thai health experts). 

  The Lao-Luxembourg Health Sector Support Programme Phase II (LAO/027) is co-financed by the Government of Lao PDR and the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg and is implemented by the Lao Ministry of Health and LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency.

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• • 1 June
  • By LAO/031 Project
  • 
  • Asia Office LAO/031
  • Governance
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  LAOS - Adjusted approaches to virtual during the COVID-19 lockdown

  On 22 April 2021, the Lao Government had announced the countrywide lockdown, affecting all sectors of society not least in Vientiane. Pursuant to the Prime Minister’s Order No. 15/PM, dated 21 April 2021, on COVID-19 Prevention and Controlling Measures, suggested all the government offices to initiate rotation staff except the Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Health, firefighters, electricity and public water supply officials, communication officials and task force committee officials. Furthermore, the Ministry of Education and Sport issued a notice for the educational institutions to be closed until further notice and that remote learning would be implemented as appropriate. 

  As a result, all activities of both the LAO/031 project and its counterparts went temporary virtual, as illustrated below through a few examples. 

  

  The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has dealt with the lockdown by scheduling a rotation for respective staff, necessary because domestic bureaucratic procedures are conducted through paperwork. However, the internal communication is generally done via WhatsApp and phone call. The physical meetings are occasionally organized within the conditions set forth by the government, with no more than 10 individuals in attendance. 

  The Institute for Legal Support and Assistance (ILSTA) has adapted to move to online delivery of training events, and their e-learning platform has been in greater demand during lockdown. ILSTA produces e-Lectures on a range of legal topics based on their Technical Guides which are taught during ILSTA workshops throughout the country and are preparing new online content for capacity building. Examples of this revised modality has included Open Lectures scheduled at the Faculty of Law with online Q&A sessions, as well as e-Lectures with quizzes on the subject matter for more than 270 judiciary and law enforcement officers in all provinces. Furthermore, the English for Law training programmes, including placement testing of new students for the course had to be completed online. This has necessitated developing instructions on how to use apps such as Zoom, the translation of the learning platform (Vedamo) into Lao and circulation in Whatsapp messenger groups, trial classes and training of students in how to access and take part in online lessons. To further facilitate effective participation, students are provided with monthly mobile broadband top-up to enable them to access classes. Based on this experience, ILSTA will continue to develop, deliver and facilitate training and engage with beneficiaries through online forums, viewing it as an opportunity for Lao government staff to enhance their ICT skills and to open up to the world of online learning. 

  The Faculty of Law and Political Science (FLP) of the National University of Laos has launched E-Learning of the five-study programmes to keep the teaching and learning practice on track including: Civil Law, Criminal Law, Business Law, Political Science and International Relations Department. The faculty members have conducted remote learning and disseminate the materials through multiple channels including WhatsApp, Messenger, Google Classroom, Zoom and e-mail. Aside from the instructors’ E-Lectures, students are assigned to collaborate in small groups on research, presentations and interaction sessions. Following that, these students are required to submit their assignments on the due time. Nevertheless, given the lack of online teaching and learning experience, not all faculty members have found themselves able to deliver lectures remotely. 

  

  The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) has also transferred all the learning and teaching activities online instead of the temporary closure, with students attending the virtual classes via computers and mobile phones. However, challenges still to be addressed include a lack of proper equipment, facilities and steady internet connection for both faculty members and students, the need for intensive instruction for teachers on how to use e-learning resources, and the need to enhance students’ knowledge of how to optimize the benefits of remote learning. 

  In contrast to the FLP and NIJ, the Faculty of Law and Administration (FLA) of Champasak University has not implemented remote learning, finding that most of students in provinces unlike students in the capital are unable to make this transition due to lack of capacities, the availability of learning tools and stable internet connections. 

  

  Lastly, the LAO/031 project team has also adjusted all aspect of work to online, from partner support, team collaboration over financial administration. In early May 2021, the annual project audit by the external auditors from Ernst & Young Global Limited was conducted remotely. Switching from mainstream to remote auditing enable auditors to inspect the records anywhere on their convenience; however, this required a massive effort in terms of scanning all supporting documents, a far more time-consuming process than merely consulting binders of physical documents and being able to ask for clarifications from the related staff, which is instead done by e-mail. Furthermore, on 26 May LAO/031 hosted a Zoom-based Technical Coordination Meeting with more than 30 stakeholders from the partner institutions including the universities and justice sector institutions, Luxembourg Development and the Embassy. Successfully conducting the meeting virtually, with each participant connecting individually, sharing of documentation, discussion and exchange, with simultaneous translation Lao/English, is a positive indicator of the capacity and willingness of also the Lao stakeholders to adopt to this new reality – although IT-infrastructure especially outside the capital continues to challenge bridging the gap between the capital and provinces.

  LAO/031 project is financed by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and implemented by LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency.

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