With the rapid growth of English language learners in Bac Kan province, the Bac Kan Vocational College team, with encouragement and support from the Project VIE/034, incubated a new start-up enterprise - the Galaxy English Center – which was launched in early June 2018 to serve the increasing demand for English language training among the local community. The English language program has proved to be an instant success. Thanks to the use of social media as a marketing tool, more than 20 students enrolled just 2 days after launch and the number has been increasing rapidly ever since. The learner age group ranges from 8 to 15 although there are also working adults on the waiting list. To cater for the additional demand, more teachers are being recruited.
The English language program team is composed of people who work closely and collaboratively to serve the expanding demand for English language training within the local community. They commit to ensuring that each student reaches their desired level in English language learning.
The high number of enrollments, 86 as of today with more than 28 on an admission waiting list, is proof of the satisfaction with the center’s services.
The Centre makes learning English language fun through games and most activities are designed to stimulate imagination and instill self confidence among learners. Substantial progress has been made in a short period of time as students are enjoying this interactive form of learning as it broadens their horizons and helps them to grow as a person.
The newly established Center is still growing and is continuously being refined and improved.
Monitoring the learner’s progress to ensure quality learning
Nothing beats teamwork
Participating in activities to increase confidence in openly speaking English
Le ministère de l’Hydraulique et de l’Assainissement en collaboration avec ses partenaires a organisé du 19 au 21 juin la 11e revue sectorielle de l’eau et de l’assainissement sur le thème « secteur eau et assainissement, vecteur de développement ».
L’objectif de la revue sectorielle était, entre autres, de présenter le bilan d’activités depuis la dernière revue, de débattre des préoccupations en rapport avec la performance du secteur et de sensibiliser l’ensemble des décideurs sur le besoin d’investir dans le secteur de l’eau au Niger.
Borne fontaine, Zinder
À l’ouverture des travaux de la revue, le ministre de l’Hydraulique et de l’Assainissement, Pr. Issoufou Katambé, a rappelé qu’au cours de l’année 2017, qui constitue la deuxième année de mise en œuvre du Programme sectoriel eau, hygiène et assainissement (PROSEHA), il a été réalisé, entre autres, 2 415 équivalents point d’eau moderne en milieu villageois et 123 autres en milieu pastoral. Ces réalisations ont permis d’augmenter le taux d’accès théorique à l’eau potable, en passant de 45,5 % en 2016 à 45,91 % en 2017.
Le chef de bureau de l’ambassade du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg, M. Eric Dietz, chef de file des partenaires techniques et financiers du secteur, a souligné l’importance cruciale de l’eau comme source de coopération, facteur de paix, de développement durable, de sécurité et de stabilité et en tant que facteur de réduction des inégalités de droit. Il a aussi rappelé l’importance de l’eau dans le domaine de la sécuritaire alimentaire, de la santé publique, de l’éducation et de la lutte contre la pauvreté.
Pendant trois jours, les participants ont évalué l’état de mise en œuvre des recommandations de la revue précédente et la cohérence des démarches par rapport aux objectifs poursuivis.
Table de séance de la 11e revue sectorielle, Niamey
A handing over ceremony of the brand new Bolikhamxay provincial hospital took place on 10 July 2018 in the provincial capital Pakxan.
The ceremony was attended by Associate Professor Dr Bounkong Syhavong, Minister of Health, PhD Mr Kongkeo Xaysongkham, Governor of Bolikhamxay Province, PhD Mr Kikeo Chanthabouly, Deputy-Minister of the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Mr Claude Jentgen, Chargé d’affaires at the Luxembourg Embassy in Vientiane, senior officials from the concerned Ministries of Bolikhamxay Province and representatives from the Luxembourg Development Cooperation.
The newly built hospital complex includes a new core development and renovation of buildings from the old provincial facilities.
The new complex has been designed to function as the referral centre for Bolikhamxay but will also perform as the teaching and training centre for the comprehensive and expanded programme of human resource capital development supported by the Luxembourg Development Cooperation.
The hospital includes a modern technical block of three high-tech operating theatres, a central sterilizing department, an expanded maternity department complete with two delivery suites, radiology and laboratory departments incorporating bacteriology and hematology specialties.
Specialized outpatient services include dentistry, physiotherapy, Ear-Nose-Throat and Eye clinics.
Inpatient services have been designed to focus on patient-centred quality of care. Dedicated resting and open spaces have been provided to facilitate a friendly climate for both patients and staff. Dedicated overnight shelters for families are foreseen in the next phase.
This development is part of the long-standing support to the Lao health sector support project LAO/027 by the Luxembourg Development Cooperation. The focus is on health system strengthening and it is fully aligned with the national health sector reform strategy. In addition to supporting human resource capacity development, health financing, provincial governance and improvements to quality in service delivery, the construction and provision of equipment underpin the establishment of a suitable enabling environment.
The facility serves a population of 285,000 inhabitants and is the reference centre for seven district hospitals and 40 health centres. The hospital complex employs 180 staff members, of which 30 are medical doctors and specialists and 75 nurses and midwives. Based on previous months’ operations, the projected 2018 attendance figures are 35,000 external out-patients visits, including 1,500 dental and 2,800 ophthalmology patients. A total of 140 beds are equipped for 7,000 hospitalisations, 1,100 deliveries and 1,400 surgery cases, among which 200 are expected to be caesarean sections. More than 25,000 laboratory examinations, 10,000 radiology and echo examinations are forecast during 2018. Currently, the bed occupancy rate is 83 per cent.
The hospital services scope is also fully compliant with the recently issued “Essential Health Services Package 2018-2020”. The facility also provides preventive services, focused on mother and child care, while the recent Ministry of Health Insurance Initiative will increasingly reach the more vulnerable segments of the population with equitable health care.
The work started in August 2015 and was completed in April 2018. Luxembourg contributed 2,965,000 USD for the construction of the 4,800 square meters central facility and 2,300 square meters of ancillary services such as the technical maintenance department, waste management, central medical gasses infrastructure, parking lots and landscaping. An additional 980,000 USD was provided on high-end medical equipment, instruments and medical furniture.
Although building construction and medical equipment installation is completed, some works are ongoing and are planned in 2018-19, including the renovation of the administration building, an additional general medicine ward, a joint venture ophthalmology operation theatre, emergency room and hospital link, pharmacy store and laundry services.
The LAO/027 project will continue to provide onsite technical expertise in hospital management, nursing and midwifery. Collaboration with third-party organizations will complement the onsite expertise to strengthen the quality of services. A three-year dedicated programme of scholarships and regional partnerships is operational for the upgrading of skills of health care providers at both the new facility and in the province.
Le « projet d’appui à la formation et à l’insertion professionnelle des jeunes filles et garçons des régions de Zinder et d’Agadez en vue de contribuer au développement économique de ces deux régions » (A-FIP/NIG801) est exécuté par LuxDev avec un financement du Fonds fiduciaire d’urgence pour l’Afrique de l’Union européenne d’un montant de 6,9 millions EUR. L’objectif du projet est de contribuer au développement socio-économique des deux régions d’Agadez et Zinder par le biais de la formation, du renforcement de l’employabilité et de l’insertion professionnelle des jeunes filles et garçons. Les bénéficiaires cibles sont en priorité les jeunes des régions d’Agadez et Zinder de 15 à 30 ans, ruraux et déscolarises ou faiblement scolarisés.
Sur la base d’un accord de partenariat opérationnel signé avec le Fonds d’appui à la formation professionnelle et à l’apprentissage (FAFPA), organisme sous-tutelle du ministère des Enseignements professionnels et techniques (MEPT), une première vague de formations accompagnée par le projet NIG/801 a pris fin début juin 2018. Elle a permis à 1 995 jeunes nigériens (860 à Agadez et 1 135 à Zinder) d’acquérir des compétences techniques de base dans diverses filières pour une insertion rapide dans la vie active. Parmi les 1 995 jeunes formés, il est important de souligner la présence significative de jeunes filles (771), représentant 38,6 % de l’effectif total. Les parcours de formation initiale professionnalisante (FIP) suivis par les jeunes étaient caractérisés par un cycle de deux mois de formation technique auprès d’un opérateur de formation (public ou privé) et un mois de stage auprès d’un atelier d’un maître d’apprentissage. Les filières de formation ciblées étaient le maraîchage, la laiterie-fromagerie, la transformation des produits agro-sylvo-pastoraux, l’embouche, la coiffure, l’énergie solaire, la vannerie et la mécanique motopompe.
Afin d’assurer aux jeunes un apprentissage de qualité et d’améliorer les conditions de travail, les opérateurs de formation ainsi que les ateliers ayant accueilli les apprenants en stage ont été appuyés par le FAFPA en équipement, outillage et matière d’œuvre. Le processus d’accompagnement à l’insertion de plus de la moitié des jeunes formés comme employés salariés dans les différentes structures d’accueil est en cours. La partie restante des jeunes formés sera insérée dans le tissu économique local par le biais de l’auto emploi, notamment à travers un accompagnement pour la création de microentreprises collectives ou individuelles.
D’autres vagues de formation sont prévues d’ici la fin du projet NIG/801, programmée pour novembre 2019, et permettront à d’autres 4 080 jeunes des régions d’Agadez et de Zinder d’acquérir des compétences techniques pour s’insérer dans des métiers porteurs de l’économie locale.
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.
Log in 
Group photo
