Laos

Projects

Waste to Value

Swisscontact's Waste to Value project strengthens the environmental performance in service sector SMEs (hotels, restaurants, cafés and mini-marts) by improving their waste management practices and access to green products. The project further strengthens business operations and improves workplace safety for informal waste pickers increasing their income and quality of livelihood. This is complemented with awareness raising among service sector SMEs and the wider population along with encouraging public-private consultation meetings in the Lao PDR in line with national and municipal government strategies.

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Vocational Training and Employment Support Services in Laos

VTESS will be an important vehicle to support the build-up and strengthening of an inclusive vocational education and training system in Laos. The focus will be on the strengthening of the Integrated Vocational and Education Training (IVET) pathway in order to facilitate the school to work transition of early school leavers, to provide them with...

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Agroecology and Safe Food System Transitions in Southeast Asia (ASSET)

The Agroecology and Safe food System Transitions (ASSET) project is a regional project funded by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the European Union (EU), and the Fonds Français pour l’Environnement Mondial (FFEM) over five years from 2020 to 2025 in four targeted countries: Cambodia, Laos PDR, Myanmar, and Vietnam.

The project aims at developing and promoting a shared vision of the agroecological and safe food system transitions at South East Asian level. The project is coordinated by GRET in a strong articulation with CIRAD, in charge of the scientific coordination, the project will mobilize the expertise of 27 national, European and International partners, from research institutions, universities, NGOs, UN agencies, Ministries of Agriculture of the four countries. The project acts within the three overlapping spheres of influence, namely the societal sphere (citizen awareness and possible demands for safe agro-ecological products), the policy sphere (enabling environment at local, national and regional levels), and the technical and economic spheres (agroecological and safe food system innovations at territorial level in flagship sites).

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Senior Expert Contact

Promoting entrepreneurship through expertise - Imparting technical skills through volunteer work Through their services, Senior Expert Contact (SEC) experts provide hands-on, direct support to companies and institutions in their efforts to grow.
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News

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13.10.2023

Advancing Tourism and Hospitality (T/H) marketing knowledge on social media to promote green practices.

The Advanced Green Marketing Training was organized by the Waste to Value project in collaboration with Aleph Laos at the Academy Hotel in Vang Vieng on October 13, 2023. Aleph is the official representative of Meta in Laos, which includes Facebook. The half-day training was chaired by Mr. Bountai Sipaserd, Deputy Head of the Vang Vieng Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DoNRE). 23 representatives from Vang Vieng's Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), as well as government partners (the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Provincial and District Offices of Natural Resources and Environment), attended the training. The training program was developed and led by trainers from the Aleph Laos team, along with an industry trainer, Mr. Catter, from the Riverside Boutique Hotel.

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30.08.2023

Fostering digital skills in the Global South

Swisscontact and the Dariu Foundation together are starting a long-term initiative to promote digital skills among youth. Swisscontact is a leading organization in the implementation of skills development projects in developing and emerging countries. The Dariu Foundation is a new partner that for many years has been helping young and economically disadvantaged people gain access to the digital world. The first projects will be implemented in the southeast Asian countries of Laos and Cambodia.

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17.08.2023

VTESS Project Phase 2 and MoU Consultation Meeting

Vientiane, August 17th, 2023 - The progress and collaboration inherent in the Vocational Training and Employment Support Services (VTESS) Project Phase 2 and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Consultation Meeting were evident on Thursday, August 17th, 2023, held at the Crowne Plaza in Vientiane capital.

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Country Director

Michael Fink

OUR INTERVENTIONS

The private sector drives economic development by creating income and jobs. Swisscontact Laos collaborates closely with the local private sector to strengthen the country's existing social and economic structures. We see development as the foundation for making economies and the people who live in them more resilient.

Vocational education and training, as well as labor market insertion, are central to our work in Laos. We improve people's skills and provide opportunities for a secure income and active participation in society. We focus on the service sector for sustainable development in order to create green jobs, increase income, and promote economic well-being without negatively harming the environment.

10 years creating opportunities in Lao PDR

Where did we come from and where do we go

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Pheun Than Heng A Sip Training Programme

The tourism and hospitality sector in Lao PDR has expanded rapidly in recent years and the trend is set to continue. Tourism and hospitality services often drive revenues for micro, small and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs), particularly in rural areas, which in turn can provide the livelihood for people from poor backgrounds. However, often...

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Economically strong regions through sustainable tourism (MIGIP Laos)

The objective of the project is to introduce new models for promoting localities that involve the social, environmental, and economic needs of local populations while creating additional income and jobs.Despite high and sustained economic growth, Laos remains one of the UN’s “Least Developed Countries” – one third of the population lives...

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Team

The abilities and readiness for action of our employees are decisive for our projects’ ability to achieve sustainable impact, as well as our long-term success. As an attractive employer, Swisscontact invests in a positive management and work culture. This is defined by our fundamental understanding of development intended to serve not only our beneficiaries in project countries but our employees as well.

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Services

Swisscontact’s core business is the implementation of projects funded by bilateral, multi-lateral and private sector donors.

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Jobs

Motivated and productive employees with initiative constitute the most important success factor in all areas of our work. We count on individuals who are looking to the future, impact- and team-oriented, and want to work in international development cooperation.

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