The meeting was chaired by Mr. Vilayphone Phommahaxay, Director General of the Department of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (DTVET), Ministry of Education and Sports, and co-chaired by Mr. Jean‑Gabriel Duss, Regional Director of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. Representatives from line ministries, development partners, provincial authorities, and the implementing partner Swisscontact also participated.
The annual meeting provided a platform for stakeholders to review implementation results, discuss key studies and strategic developments, and formally endorse the work plan and budget for 2026.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Vilayphone Phommahaxay emphasised the importance of vocational training in responding to current economic challenges and supporting young people in accessing employment opportunities.
Project implementation results presented at the meeting highlighted significant progress in expanding access to vocational skills development across partner provinces. In 2025 alone, 495 trainees completed Level 1 vocational training across 13 trades, with 46 percent female participation and 47 percent of trainees coming from ethnic minority backgrounds.
Following their internships, 250 graduates received Post-Training Support, with women representing 63 per cent of participants. In addition, 437 youth completed the full coaching cycle for employment and entrepreneurship, and outreach training programmes engaged over 300 young people across 10 trades.
Innovation and sustainability were also key elements of the project’s progress. Through collaboration with the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Lucerne, the project localised the Coaching for Employment and Entrepreneurship (C4EE) methodology, strengthening the capacity of national trainers and institutional partners. Meanwhile, the Greening of IVETS initiative introduced new training opportunities linked to sustainable development, including solar panel installation and maintenance, greenhouse cultivation, biogas installation, and waste management.
A Tracer Study conducted in late 2025 further demonstrated encouraging results, indicating positive employment and livelihood outcomes among graduates of both the Integrated Vocational Education and Training (IVET) and Entrepreneurship Support Services (ESS) pathways.
In his remarks, Mr. Jean-Gabriel Duss highlighted the collective efforts behind these achievements.
During the meeting, the Steering Committee also reviewed the transfer of responsibilities for Post-Training Support (PTS) activities to national partners and discussed preparations for the TVET Development Fund (TDF), which received approval in February 2026 and is expected to pilot implementation later this year.
Participants reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the vocational training system and expanding employment opportunities for young people across the Lao PDR. The project will continue to build institutional capacity, promote inclusive training approaches, and document lessons learned through a capitalisation process planned through 2027.
The Vocational Training and Employment Support Services (VTESS) Project supports improved access to market-relevant vocational training and employment opportunities for youth in the Lao PDR. The project focuses particularly on disadvantaged groups, including women and ethnic minorities.
The project is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and implemented by Swisscontact in close cooperation with the Department of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (DTVET) under the Ministry of Education and Sports.
VTESS is implemented across several provinces, including Oudomxay, Xayaboury, Xiengkhouang, Khammouan, Saravan, and Vientiane Capital, to strengthen vocational training institutions, enhance employment coaching and entrepreneurship support, and promote inclusive economic development.