Laos

Projects

Waste to Value

The “Waste to Value” project seeks to promote a circular economy in Laos by improving the cooperation between local actors in the waste and recycling value chain, thereby focusing especially on strengthening green businesses and building resilience of the vulnerable group of informal waste workers.

Digital Literacy Initiative Laos

The Digital Literacy Initiative (DLI) aims to better prepare youth 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.

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.

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.

News

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06.05.2026

Strengthening partnerships for youth employment and entrepreneurship

On 6-7 May 2026 the VTESS Project under Swisscontact Lao PDR, and Friends-International officially signed a Letter of Agreement (LoA), marking an important milestone in the extension of the Coaching Cycle for Employment & Entrepreneurship (C4EE).

31.03.2026

The final batch of the Coaching Cycle for Employment and Entrepreneurship marked a significant launch in Vientiane Capital

The Coaching Cycle for Employment and Entrepreneurship – Batch 5 Kick-off Meeting, under the Employment Support Services (ESS) component of the VTESS project, marked a significant launch with coaches from 6 provinces. Batch 5 is the final batch of the project.

13.03.2026

VTESS Project Phase II Reviews Progress in Youth Skills Development and Approve 2026 Plan

The Government of the Lao PDR and development partners assembled for the Project Steering Committee (PSC) meeting of the Vocational Training and Employment Support Services (VTESS) Project Phase II in Vientiane Capital to review the project’s progress in 2025 and to approve the implementation plan for 2026.

Country Director

Mujibul (Cezanne) Hasan

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.

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Our Journey

10 years creating opportunities in Lao PDR

Where did we come from and where do we go

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...

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...

Swisscontact in Lao PDR

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.

Collaboration

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.