Laos

Lao PDR has some notable advantages for growth: it has a young population, shares borders with some of the world’s fastest growing economies and is developing rail and road connections that can activate this trade potential. To meet this challenge, Laos needs to rapidly foster positive and sustainable change for our target groups. The private sector is the engine of economic development because it generates income and jobs. Working for and with the private sector lies therefore at the heart of Swisscontact’s activities in Laos.
about laos

Country Facts 

  • Area: 236 800 km²
  • Population: 7 million
  • Capital: Vientiane

Swisscontact in Laos

  • since 2013

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Projects

Laos
Green cities
Sustainable Consumption and Production in Lao PDR (SCP Lao)
The goal of the project is to enable environmental Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), particularly those focusing on youth and women, to contribute to green and inclusive economic growth in the Lao PDR. This will be achieved by strengthening their capacities in three main areas: policy dialogue, awareness raising, and income generation.
Laos
Initial vocational education and training
Digital Literacy Initiative Laos
The Digital Literacy Initiative (DLI) aims to better prepare youth form disadvantaged backgrounds for productive activities in the digital economy through basic coding and programming lessons, coding clubs and digital entrepreneurship courses for students of upper secondary schools and TVET (technical and vocational education and training) colleges.
Laos
Initial vocational education and training
Vocational Training and Employment Support Services in Laos
The VTESS project aims at vocational training and labour market insertion or re-entering of schooling of the main project beneficiaries, who are people between 15 and 35 years of age, have completed primary and/ or lower secondary education only (early school leavers), and are subjected to income poverty. The main objective of the project is to improve the income and, ultimately, the livelihood of its beneficiaries.
Laos
Green cities
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.
Benin, Bolivia, Cambodia, Kosovo, Laos, Nepal, Nicaragua, Peru
Entrepreneurial ecosystems
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.
Website

News

Laos
Initial vocational education and training
21.02.2024
Signing Ceremony for Digital Literacy Initiative Project in three Provinces of Lao PDR
In a significant stride towards advancing digital literacy among students of upper secondary schools and TVET colleges, the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) – represented by its International Cooperation Department – joined forces with Swisscontact in the Lao PDR. A signing ceremony for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to implement the Digital Literacy Initiative (DLI) took place on 21st February 2024 at the Crown Plaza in Vientiane Capital, Laos. 
Laos
Initial vocational education and training
11.01.2024
SDC extends support for vocational training project
Some 3,548 young Lao people have benefited from Phase 1 of the Vocational Training and Employment Support Services project supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). This has involved four years of vocational training and employment support, short course training, employment support for 1,263 people, and basic business training for 311 people, of whom 210 also received seed money for business start-up and coaching.
In addition, the project supported the development of new curricula and training materials for four new certificate level courses, including for the repair and maintenance of e-bikes.
Laos
26.12.2023
Swisscontact in the Lao PDR: A decade of contributing to sustainable developments in the Lao PDR
Lao PDR has developed rapidly since the mid-1990s with a GDP growth of on average 7% per year and significant improvements in poverty reduction and livelihoods for the Lao population. However, the effects of COVID-19 and the subsequent economic crisis created major challenges for the country with high inflation, a depreciating currency, and many young Laotians seeking opportunities abroad. In addition to economic challenges, climate change and environmental pollution in the context of urbanisation are other key challenges that need to be addressed.
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
Laos
Sustainable tourism, Initial vocational education and training
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...
Laos
Sustainable tourism
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...
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.
Services
Swisscontact’s core business is the implementation of projects funded by bilateral, multi-lateral and private sector donors. 
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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Contact

Swisscontact in Laos

3rd floor, 108 Hill Building,49 Dongpaina
Ban Saphanthong Neua 
Sisattanak District Vientiane Capital