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• 2020
• • 13 Novembre
  • Par María del Rocío VÁZQUEZ LAMELA
  • 
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  Practitioners' Network - Teamwork is key

  Enabel and LuxDev have been holding the co-presidency of the Practitioners’ Network since May 2020. Despite the difficulties encountered with the Covid19 outbreak, the Network composed of 17 European Development Organisations has been working hard to enhance the synergies and collaboration between the network members.

  One of the newest developments for the Practitioners’ Network is the Team Europe approach. An opportunity for all the organisations to work together on a common European response to development cooperation challenges.

  >

  Within this framework, Enabel and LuxDev have developed and implemented different activities:

  Establishing a co-working space

  The Co-presidency has established a PN Hub at Enabel headquarters, where the Co-Presidency team as well as all PN Members can meet to collaborate. The objective is to encourage collaboration between PN Members, PN Coordination and the Presidency in addition to regular meetings of the Network.

  Improving the visibility of the Network

  A global communication strategy has been designed to highlight the activities of the Network and to showcase the PN events and advancement of the working groups. The communication strategy includes a renewal of the website, a database management system for the joint implementation projects and an accounting management system to facilitate administrative work.

  Sharing a common vision

  For the first time in the network’s history, high level strategic exchange meetings between the CEOs of the agencies has been established. These meetings aim to define common objectives and messages with regard to operational responses to European development cooperation.

  A result of this initiative was the formulation of a joint declaration on the added value of development agencies in sync with public development banks which was announced during the “Finance In Common summit” in Paris.

  Working on the operationalization of Team Europe

  A Team Europe Task Force has been established to stimulate interactions between agencies and the European Commission in order to best implement the Team Europe approach.

  

  It is crucial for the Practitioners’ Network to continue working as a Team Europe and to develop joint implementation projects in order to reach the Sustainable Development Goals 2030.

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• • 11 Novembre
  • Par Manon LIENARD
  • 
  • NIG/802
  • Eau et Assainissement
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  NIGER - De l’eau potable à Filingué

  Filingué est le premier département à fournir de l’eau potable grâce au Programme régional d'urgence d'aménagement d'infrastructures de proximité du G5 Sahel (PDU) 

  Plusieurs localités du département de Filingué dans la région de Tillabéri ont bénéficié d’infrastructures hydrauliques dans le cadre du « Programme régional d’urgence d’aménagement d’infrastructures de proximité dans les zones transfrontalières fragiles » (PDU) qui vise à fournir l’accès à l’eau potable à 84.500 personnes dont 7000 dans ledit département. C’est le cas du village de Talcho et du hameau de Toudou qui ont bénéficié d’une mini Adduction d’eau potable (AEP). Des infrastructures qui ont positivement changé le quotidien des populations, jadis confrontées à un sérieux problème d’approvisionnement en eau potable. 

  Ce projet est co-financé par l’Union Européenne et le Royaume des Pays-Bas et mis en oeuvre par le ministère de l’Hydraulique et de l’Assainissement via le Mécanisme commun de financement (MCF), avec le soutien de LuxDev. 

  Découvrez l'article complet en PDF (3,5 MB). 

  Vidéos en lien avec l’article :

  De l’eau pour la paix - entretien avec madame Talata Bouzou , du village de Toudou au Niger.

  De l’eau pour la paix - entretien avec Oumarou Ibro, préfet du département de Filingué

  ↑ Haut de la page
• • 6 Novembre
  • Par Ben Wandivinit
  • 
  • Bureau régional de Vientiane LAO/029
  • Éducation - Formation et Insertion professionnelles
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  LAOS - The Academy Training Hotel and Restaurant opens its doors in Vang Vieng

  During a ceremony on 2 November 2020, the Vientiane Province Technical College officially launched a new tourism and hospitality practical training facility built at the Vang Vieng campus. The facility, named The Academy Training Hotel and Restaurant, will provide tourism and hospitality students and the teachers with a modern training environment to improve practical skills.

  

  Minister of Education and Sports, Mme Sengdeuane Lachanthaboune highlighted the “greater knowledge, skills, professional attitude and employability” students will gain at the new practical training facility. Photo by: Phoonsab Thevongsa

  The Academy Training Hotel and Restaurant is a multi-purpose building offering six guestrooms and a 32-seat restaurant, with services provided by tourism and hospitality students. The five hundred thousand EUR project started in June 2019 and took twelve months to complete.

  The Skills for Tourism Project - LAO/029 is assisting the Vientiane Province Technical College to establish the proper operational systems and to build capacity of the management team to enable the college running the training facility in a sustainable manner.

  The opening of the new training facility occurs at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic is severely impacting Vang Vieng, a popular tourism destination in the Lao PDR. Director General of the Technical Vocational Education Department of the Ministry of Education and Sports, Mr Nouphan Outsa, stated, “Although the sector has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, Lao PDR will continue to aim for excellence in the provision of vocational and technical education. This training facility highlights that resolve.”

  

  (From left to right) Luxembourg Embassy Charge d’Affaires, Mr Sam Schreiner, Minister of Education and Sports, Mme Sengdeuane Lachanthaboune and Deputy Director of Cooperation from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Mr Christian Engler, officially inaugurated the Academy Training Hotel and Restaurant on 02 November. Photo by: Phoonsab Thevongsa

  Stressing the tourism sector’s proven ability to recover from adversity, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Luxembourg in Vientiane Laos, Sam Schreiner restated that the donors’ shared vision behind the practical training facility remains unchanged: “improved access to work-relevant education, highly sought-after graduates and standards on par with those expected of an attractive ASEAN travel destination.”

  Christian Engler, Deputy Director of Cooperation and Head of Employment and Skills Domain, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, commented: “The Academy Training Hotel and Restaurant represents an important milestone illustrating the fruitful and lasting collaboration between Lao PDR, the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg and Switzerland, which will ultimately facilitate the resurgence of a deeply impacted but resilient tourism and hospitality sector.”

  As part of her remarks at the opening ceremony, Minister of Education and Sports, Mme Sengdeuane Lachanthaboune, added that, “By giving students exposure to a real service environment at the Academy Training Hotel and Restaurant, Vientiane Province Technical College will improve the quality of education, as well as ensure that graduates of tourism and hospitality courses acquire the knowledge and skills demanded by the industry”.

  The establishment of the training facility builds on the Skills for Tourism Project’s aim of improving training facilities and standards of technical vocational colleges in Lao PDR.

  The Vientiane Province Technical College is currently offering two-year programmes in tourism and hospitality that lead to a Diploma in Restaurant Operations or a Diploma in Travel and Tourism. There are over 130 students who enrolled in the academic year 2019, with a similar amount expected to enrol in 2020. The college also offers shorter courses in tourism and hospitality that lead to C1 accreditation.

  The Academy Training Hotel and Restaurant expects to welcome Vang Vieng locals and tourists taking advantage of the Lao Thiao Lao domestic tourism marketing campaign and the soon to be inaugurated expressway.

  The construction and fitting out of the Academy Training Hotel and Restaurant are co-financed by the Governments of Lao PDR, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and Switzerland, and implemented by the Ministry of Education and Sports of Lao PDR and LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency.

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• • 3 Novembre
  • Par Manon LIENARD
  • 
  • Bureau Niger NIG/801
  • Formation et Insertion professionnelles
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  NIGER - Formation professionnelle : Rencontre avec les maîtres artisans

  Pour une meilleure insertion des jeunes dans le tissu économique de leur région, le Projet d’appui à la formation et à l’insertion professionnelle des jeunes filles et garçons des régions de Zinder et d’Agadez (A- FIP, NIG/801) a opté pour deux modes d’insertion :

  • l’insertion à travers un emploi salarié ; et
  • l’insertion à travers l’appui à la conception et à la mise en œuvre de projets de micro-entreprise collectifs et individuels (subvention (40%) adossée à un crédit (53 %) et avec un apport personnel (7%)).

  L’insertion des jeunes à travers un emploi salarié consiste à faciliter aux jeunes formés, arrivés au terme de leur stage dans les ateliers ou entreprises, le processus d’insertion dans ces mêmes structures en tant qu’employés salariés. Cette occupation leur permet non seulement de se fixer, de se perfectionner et de disposer d’un revenu régulier mais aussi d’acquérir la maturité requise pour initier leurs propres projets d’entreprise. Ce mode d’insertion fait partie intégrante des contrats signés entre le Fonds d’appui à la formation professionnelle et à l’apprentissage (FAFPA) et les opérateurs de formations dans lesquelles ces derniers s’engagent entre autres à assurer, à travers les ateliers de stages appuyés en équipements, un emploi salarié à au moins 50 % de jeunes finalistes des formations. Il est formalisé à travers un contrat de prestation signé en début d’insertion, lequel précise le mode de rémunération entre l’employeur et le jeune formé.

  Nous sommes allés à la rencontre de maîtres artisans qui ont embauché des jeunes dans leur atelier. La plupart exercent leur activité depuis de longues années et ont déjà eu à former de nombreux stagiaires. Un des avantages principaux du projet, pour eux, est que ces apprentis sont restés dans leurs ateliers à la fin de la période de formation (au moins la moitié d’entre eux), leur fournissant une main d’œuvre formée, comme ils le souhaitent. Comme en témoigne Abdoul-Aziz Bouhari Anzi, vulcanisateur : « J’avais déjà l’habitude de recruter des apprentis avant le projet, mais après leur stage, ils ne restent pas chez moi. Le projet NIG/801 est un projet innovant et bien réfléchi. Il nous a permis non seulement d’avoir les jeunes en stage mais aussi la possibilité de garder d’autres avec nous pour développer notre micro-entreprise. »

  Abdoul-Aziz Bouhari Anzi, vulcanisateur, et ses employés © LuxDev

  L’autre avantage non négligeable a été le relèvement du plateau technique de ces ateliers pour fournir aux jeunes les meilleures conditions d’apprentissage. Toujours selon Monsieur Bouhari Anzi : « Faire partie du projet m’a permis de renforcer mes capacités entrepreneuriales à travers l’augmentation des postes de travail (acquisition d’un nouveau compresseur et petits outillages nécessaires à mon activité de vulcanisation, etc..), l’augmentation de la main d’œuvre qualifiée (meilleures prestations) et mon encadrement technique en tant que maître d’apprentissage. De plus, participer aux réunions organisées dans le cadre de la mise en œuvre du projet NIG/801 m’a permis de rencontrer mes confrères de la corporation. Cela a été aussi une fierté pour moi d’être reconnu par le FAFPA et la Chambre des métiers de l’artisanat du Niger (CMANI) comme étant un maître d’apprentissage. Pour conclure, je peux dire qu’à travers le projet NIG/801, j’ai eu une opportunité de bien développer ma petite entreprise et je peux travailler dans de bonnes conditions. Je sensibilise mes camarades de la corporation que le fait d’accepter les jeunes en stage dans notre atelier est une issue de promotion de l’entrepreneuriat ».

  Amina Awais, formatrice en couture, fait également état de l’importance de l’aide apportée par le projet et également des rencontres avec les autres artisans du secteur : « J’ai choisi de participer à la mise en œuvre du projet NIG/801 afin de contribuer à l’insertion des jeunes et aussi profiter de l’occasion pour renouveler mes équipements et avoir l’opportunité de recruter quelques apprentis. Travailler avec les projets renforce aussi nos capacités à travers les échanges entre les couturiers de la commune. Cela nous donne l’occasion de nous retrouver ensemble et renforce notre activité ».

  Amina Awais, formatrice en couture dame © LuxDev

  Ali Gonda fait, quant à lui, état du manque de main d’œuvre auquel est confronté son secteur (électricité auto) et de la pertinence des filières choisies pour l’apprentissage des jeunes : « La filière électricité auto est une filière avec un besoin important en main d’œuvre qualifiée. C’est une filière qui emploie de la main d’œuvre des pays de la sous-région (Bénin, Togo, Nigéria, etc..) parce que la main d’œuvre locale n’est pas disponible en quantité et qualité suffisante. Vu le développement rapide des technologies automobiles, les véhicules ont plus tendance de nos jours à être électriques que mécaniques, d’où le besoin en main d’œuvre qualifiée ».

  Ali Gonda, électricien voiture, et ses employés © LuxDev

  Le Projet NIG/801, financé par le Fonds fiduciaire d’urgence pour l’Afrique de l’Union européenne et mis en œuvre par LuxDev, a déjà atteint des résultats probants tant en matière de formation que d’insertion directe : 

  • 347 actions de formation de trois et six mois ont permis de doter environ 6 592 jeunes, dont 41,6 % de filles, de compétences professionnelles leur permettant de s'insérer dans le tissu économique de leur région ;
  • 347 centres de formation ont été dotés de matières d’œuvre, d’outillages et d’équipements offrant ainsi aux jeunes des conditions d’apprentissage et de travail améliorées ;
  • 891 ateliers des maîtres artisans ont été équipés, améliorant ainsi le plateau technique des différents ateliers ayant accueilli les jeunes en stages pratiques et en insertion directe ;
  • 1 268 jeunes, dont 450 filles (35,5%), sont insérés à travers un emploi salarié en rapport avec leur domaine de formation (données de la dernière enquête sur l’insertion réalisée en novembre 2019).

   

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• • 3 Novembre
  • Par Mone SYSAVATH
  • 
  • Bureau régional de Vientiane LAO/029 LAO/027
  • Éducation - Formation et Insertion professionnelles Santé
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  Luxembourg and Thailand International Cooperation Agency inks Partnership Agreement on Human Resource Development Cooperation for LAOS

  The Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency and the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA) have established a long-term partnership focusing on the strengthening of human capital development in on Lao PDR. The Letter of Understanding (LoU) signing ceremony took place in Bangkok on 20 October represented by H.E. Jean-Paul Senninger, Ambassador of Luxembourg to Thailand on behalf of the Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and Ms Pattarat Hongtong, Director-General of Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

  H.E. Jean-Paul Senninger, Ambassador of Luxembourg to Thailand (left) and Ms Pattarat Hongtong Director-General of Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Photo by: TICA

  The LoU aims to establish a development and cooperation framework which focuses on:

  • improving the effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability of projects or programmes in Lao PDR by combining TICA’s and LuxDev’s technical expertise in complementary fields;
  • developing and sharing good practices and lessons learned within the framework of human capital development in Lao PDR, particularly in the fields of public health, local/rural development and Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

  Based on TICA and LuxDev’s joint fact-finding mission in Laos in November 2019, certain activities will be launched immediately in late 2020 including:

  • technical support and training for the Lao-Luxembourg Health Sector Support Programme - LAO/027; and
  • twinning of TVET colleges with Thai tourism-related training institutes for the benefit of the Skills for Tourism porject - LAO/029.

  Photo by: Luxembourg Embassy in Bangkok

  The agreement will cover the entire duration of the next Indicative Cooperation Programme between Lao PDR and Luxembourg (2021 – 2025) and will end on 31 November 2025. Both parties will review and update the collaboration annually in order to take stock and capitalise on good practice and update the planned collaborations for subsequent years.

   

   

   

   

   

  ↑ Haut de la page
• • 2 Novembre
  • Par Mone SYSAVATH
  • 
  • Bureau régional de Vientiane LAO/031 LAO/033
  • Formation et Insertion professionnelles Divers
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  LAOS - Officials from the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Planning and Investment learn results-based Monitoring and Evaluation

  Between July and August 2020, LuxDev Regional Office in Vientiane Laos, jointly with the Support Programme for Legal Teaching and Training and to the Promotion of the Rule of Law Concept in Laos, LAO/031 and the Strengthening the Effectiveness of Official Development Assistance (ODA) Management in LAO PDR programme, LAO /033, conducted a set of Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) workshops for the Department of International Cooperation (DIC), Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) and the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). These governmental agencies are the key national partners for the above-mentioned projects.

  Group work on the results chain quiz of project LAO/033, © LuxDev

  The workshop focused on:

  • basic understanding of Monitoring and Evaluation (concepts and the relationship);
  • Monitoring and Evaluation within LuxDev (including guides and result-based reporting).

  The workshop was chaired by the Vice Minister of Justice and attended by Director Generals, Deputy Director Generals, representatives from line departments, divisions, cabinet office, District Justice Office and Provincial Justice Department in Bolikhamxay and Khammouan provinces.

   

  Participant’s reflection after the workshop, © LuxDev

  During and after the workshop we spoke with Mr. Sysomphorn Phetdaoheuang, Deputy Director General of DIC/MPI and Ms. Saikit Visisomebath, Deputy Director General of DIC/MoJ:

  Question: Why does this M&E workshop matter for your departments?

  Answer:

  "We are really keen to understand and learn the basic and principles of M&E for results. We, as a key coordinating agency on behalf of the government in mobilizing Official Development Assistance (ODA), should know what are we focusing on and what we aim to deliver. What exactly are we trying to achieve? The most important thing is how we will tell whether our support is working.

  Lack of monitoring tools and reliable data are ongoing challenges in our legal sector and so is ODA, when it comes to annual reviews and reporting to the government and the National Assembly.

  As you might know, our country has signed up for many international treaties and development agendas, including the 2030 Agenda and more importantly, the Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation (GPEDC). As a part of our international commitment, having proper monitoring tools help us to systematically track progress and demonstrate the impact of our activities.

  This M&E workshop allows us to gain some basic understanding and answers to the above-mentioned questions. Furthermore, while in the past we have read many project design documents, terms of reference of project evaluations, we did not fully know what to look for in those documents and how to provide good advice to our senior managers and constructive feedback to our development partners.

  Question: Could you tell us three things that you’ve learned from this workshop?

  Answer:

  The three key take away from this M&E workshop are:

  • understanding what is the result chain or intervention logic;
  • understanding what is M&E and its relationship; and
  • understanding the concept of indicators in terms of what we should consider as a good project indicator.

  Question: Could you tell us one specific tool or strategy that you will use right away after the workshop when you come back to your office?

  Answer:

  The specific tool that I will use right after this workshop is the result chain concept which I think is particularly important for the project planning. If we understand it well and get the logic right, it would be easy for us to monitor the progress and meaningfully assess to what extent we are moving towards our project objectives.

   

  The workshop facilitator elaborates the results chain concept, © LuxDev

   

  Ms. Saikit Visisomebath, Deputy Director General, Department of International Cooperation, MoJ explains the different stages of the project LAO/031 results chain, © LuxDev

   

  Participants from Department of International Cooperation, Department of Inspection-MPI, Department of International Organisation - Ministry of Foreign Affairs  and the Lao Securities Commission Office, © LuxDev

  M&E is increasingly perceived as important for key line ministries who are responsible for Official Development Assistance projects in Laos, as the country has signed up for many international treaties and development agendas, including Global Partnership for Effectiveness Development Co-operation and the Sustainable Development Goals. Lao PDR was among the earliest countries to localize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and integrate them into its Eighth National Socio-Economic Development Plan (NSEDP) in 2016, with around 60 % of the 160 NSEDP indicators linked to the SDGs.

  ↑ Haut de la page
• • 16 Octobre
  • Par Vildane Minci
  • 
  • KSV/019
  • Décentralisation et Gouvernance locale
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  KOSOVO-Human Capacity Development Facility (HCDF) after the Covid-19 lockdown

  Immediately after the lockdown, the activities interrupted by Covid-19 continued and others were initiated. Due to the situation and preventive measures in force, activities were organized respecting social distancing and through online platforms.

  

  Training of Kosovo Business Registration Agency (KBRA). Central and municipal staff on the use of the electronic business registry system.

  The interrupted training “Enhance capacities of Public Finance Management Coordination Group (PFMCG) to draft the Public Finance Management Reform Strategy (PFMRS) related annual reports”, as the third pillar of Public Administration Reform provided to the Ministry of Finance and Transfers has continued and was concluded in July.

  Technical assistance on the European Corporate Governance Code on the chapter of Company Law was implemented and a follow-up training will be provided later on when the circumstances allow.

  Several training sessions on Network Security, Linux, EMC were provided in the chapters of :

  • Justice;
  • Freedom and Security; and
  • Public Procurement for the beneficiaries from the Kosovo Police and Public Procurement Regulatory Commission (PPRC).   

  Contracts with different experts have been signed for training and technical assistance in six different Acquis Chapters activities. Close coordination with the beneficiaries is currently being undertaken in order to start implementation as soon as possible. 

   

  The "Technical Assistance in the Context of European Integration of Kosovo" programme, KSV/019, is funded by the Luxembourg Cooperation and implemented by LuxDev.​

  ↑ Haut de la page
• • 16 Octobre
  • Par Renea Bula
  • 
  • KSV/020
  • Éducation - Formation et Insertion professionnelles
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  KOSOVO – Development and implementation of 13 different profile qualifications

   

  Project KSV/020 developed the qualification sets for 13 different profiles identified as a priority in the manufacturing, construction, health and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sectors. The Ministry of Education and Science (MES) devised a strategic plan for the start of the new academic year and, with the support of the Project, achieved to start the implementation of 10 of the 13 profiles in selected Vocational Education and Training (VET) schools.

  The process of creating qualification sets includes the development of occupational standards, the respective and aligned core curricula and lastly, the teaching and learning materials (TLM). The Project managed to effectively coordinate the virtual working sessions, ensuring that the qualification sets match international standards.

  

  Qualification Sets Development

  The profiles, in the sector of manufacturing and construction are:

  • metalworker; 
  • electrical installer; 
  • water, sewage & heating and air conditioning installer; and
  • building insulation technician.

  The profiles in the sector of health are:

  • professional nurse; 
  • professional midwife; 
  • medical laboratory technician; and
  • dental assistant.

  The profiles in the sector of ICT are:

  • graphic design,
  • IT system technician;
  • IT business support technician; 
  • interactive media designer; and
  • application developer.

  The Project followed a methodology that built on the one that was used for the establishment of the two Centres of Competence (CoC) in Ferizaj and Prizren, increasing peer reviewing and cooperation with the private sector at local and international level.

  The manufacturing, construction, and health profile qualifications are to be implemented at a national level, following a Ministerial decision. Looking at the 5 ICT profiles, two profiles (IT System Technician and IT Business Support Technician) are being implemented in seven of the Project’s supported schools, while the others will be introduced in the following years.

  These achievements have been very motivating for the project team. The good collaboration with the different beneficiaries and stakeholders are what has made these achievements possible.

   

  The "Support to Vocational Education and Training (VET) Reform in Kosovo" programme, KSV/020, is funded by the Luxembourg Cooperation and implemented by LuxDev.​

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• • 16 Octobre
  • Par Artan Sadiku
  • 
  • KSV/017
  • Santé
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  KOSOVO-Public services protecting from impoverishment

  The General Hospital of Gjilan, being one of the main beneficiaries of the "Health Sector Support Programme in Kosovo (Phase II)", has worked on improving the quality of its services during the project course. The hospital got a Computed Tomography (CT) scanner, which was considered as a major benefit for the diagnostic services of the hospital.

  

  CT Scanner

  The hospital has invested in the facilities hosting the scanner, in order to improve this service, meet international standards, improve quality and safety, and increase patient satisfaction. Around 1,000 CT scans have been performed, since the beginning of 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the cancellation of elective services, meaning that the scanner has not yet reached its full operational capability.

  Despite the pandemic, the overburdened hospital staff found time to work on activities improving the quality and safety of the General Hospital of Gjilan, in order to fulfil the Quality Improvement Plan.

   

  The "Health Sector Support Programme in Kosovo (Phase II)", KSV/017, is funded by the Luxembourg Cooperation and implemented by LuxDev.​

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• • 14 Octobre
  • Par Ben Wandivinit
  • 
  • LAO/029
  • Éducation - Formation et Insertion professionnelles
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  LAOS - Handicraft Grants Boost Lao Artisans’ Skills

  As highlighted by the recently launched Lao Handicraft Festival in Vientiane, preserving and promoting local handicrafts and culture is more important than ever in the times of Covid-19. To contribute to those efforts, the Skills for Tourism Project (LAO/029), which is implemented by the Ministry of Education and Sports and LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency, supported handicraft-related enterprises in providing training to artisans in their existing supply chain, also with the goal to increase producers’ income.

  Thirteen handicraft enterprise applicants qualified for grants that averaged €9,000, their common training goals being production techniques, and for artisans to understand what the market wants.

  Ma Te Sai, one of the grantees, is focusing on sewing, for instance. “I want our 20 trainees to finish products at home, not only to earn more income, but so that we save on sewing elsewhere,” said Managing Director Emi Weir. She added that Ms Khambang, an experienced seamstress, conducts the training to ensure quality, as they export and sell online.

  Production methods, product demand, and quality also guide trainings by other grant recipients. TaiBaan Crafts Founder Shui-Meng Ng said she gathered artisan groups from several provinces to share their experiences. “Participants discuss and demonstrate their various dyeing techniques and materials.” Additional sessions on quality control rely on feedback from overseas buyers, so participants can understand quality standards, size specifications, expectations on colours and consistency.

  The export market also drives Gaebi Studio’s training. “Our current focus is on designing products that target middle and higher classes, both in Laos and internationally,” said Founder/Designer Shin Yoonsun. Gaebi’s training additionally stresses basic business operations with a focus on all operations, from production planning and design to market access and business operations. Achieving standardisation can however prove to be difficult for products that are particularly characterised by their uniqueness. “Electric sewing machines are not very popular in the villages, so they create products made by weaving without them, and based on the villagers’ skills.” 

  Other grantees, such as Khang Lao Handicrafts, divided training into different categories. “Our sessions help artisans produce better quality items and adjust their work to new market trends and demands,” said Founder Viengkham Nanthavongdouangsy. Khang Lao quality-control training covers all aspects of production from raw materials, yarn, and dying through packaging.

  
  Artisans weaving textiles together during a training organised by Khang Lao. © LuxDev

  Much like their training foci, the selected handicraft enterprises’ product lines differ. While TaiBaan’s range aims to suit urban and overseas buyers seeking household items, Ma Te Sai’s training pinpoints products such as masks, bags, Lao sinhs and simple western-style clothing, with a focus on design, colour, and marketing. “We want them to understand what customers like Ma Te Sai expect, and how we can co-create products based on traditional patterns and processes,” Ms Weir explained.

  TaiBaan uses the fabric to make home decor items, cushion covers, blankets, and placemats. “We do not change artisans’ woven designs or techniques, but select designs and motifs more suited to urban buyers.”  Khang Lao’s founder Ms Viengkham agrees, “Lao textiles are rich in production techniques, and present a variety of unique traditional motifs.”

  The grant programme mitigates Covid-19’s impact by adjusting its timeline, while accounting for village’s farming schedule. Even though handicraft production continues at lower levels, retail shops see rewards in investing in their rural supply chain. Artisans are learning new dyeing and sewing techniques, and quality control. They better understand market demand and are adapting their products that remain based on traditional skills and designs.

  The Handicraft Skills for Tourism Small Grants Facility is financed by the Skills for Tourism Project (LAO/029) which is funded by the Governments of Lao PDR, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and Switzerland, and implemented by the Ministry of Education and Sports of Lao PDR and LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency.

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