| Project Detail |
With continued low enrollment and completion rates and even lower participation in higher vocational education, education and skills levels in Laos continue to lag behind those of its regional neighbors, resulting in reduces the countrys economic competitiveness and growth prospects. The five-year LAO/336 program (2023-2027) focuses on two key areas of Laos future economic growth: the tourism and hospitality sector; the agriculture and forestry sector. These two key sectors are directly relevant and important to many of the poorest, most disadvantaged and most vulnerable workers and entrepreneurs. These sectors also offer significant potential for green and digital growth and innovation. The tourism industry has been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, with a significant decrease in employment. However, as the industry recovers over the next five years, a supply of quality graduates will ensure a continued increase in the sectors skills profile, strengthening Laos regional and international competitiveness as a tourism destination. The agriculture, agro-industry and processing, and forestry sectors remain major economic drivers in the four target provinces. These sectors not only employ large numbers of women, men and youth, but also support large numbers of micro and small businesses, providing services up and down the respective value chains. With the lifting of controls on trade and movement, supported by investments in key road and rail links with China, Thailand and Vietnam, these sectors are expected to see significant growth in the coming years, driven by exports . The program is therefore ideally placed to ensure that disadvantaged individuals and communities in rural Laos have the skills and capabilities to benefit from this growth and to ensure that the resulting rural economic development is sustainable. both inclusive and equitable. The geographic focus will be on the four priority provinces of Bolikhamxay, Bokeo, Khammouane and Vientiane. Support for strengthening Vocational Skills Development (PSD) in tourism and hospitality will extend beyond these provinces to all those where tourism is a key economic driver. Activities supporting agriculture and forestry will also extend to Luang Prabang province, where significant growth is observed in these sectors. Interventions will necessarily aim to support and develop the capacities of a wide range of DCP stakeholders, including public and private DCP providers, major employers and value chain actors in key sectors, as well as national and provincial government agencies with DCP-related mandates. In addition, relevant ministries and partner mass organizations will be mobilized to support and strengthen the relevance of services. The final beneficiaries are the thousands of young women and men who receive DCP services, as well as job seekers who undergo training and support with a view to self-employment and improved employability. Particular priority will be given to strengthening access to DCP for women and girls, ethnic minorities and people with disabilities. The LAO/336 program focuses on five key interim changes towards an improved DCP system better suited to industry: DCP services and their delivery are relevant and of good quality; demand for quality DCP services is increasing among employers, job seekers and entrepreneurs; investment in DCP services, including in disadvantaged communities, is more cost-effective; the Laotian population, including disadvantaged communities, has access to DCP services; the Laotian population is aware of the possibilities of obtaining secure and decent employment. This approach is complemented by the collaborative investment of multiple development partners, including Luxembourg Cooperation, the Swiss Directorate for Development and Cooperation and the European Union. |
