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MoU Signing for VTESS Phase 2: Expanding Vocational Training and Employment Support

Laos
Initial vocational education and training
15.10.2024
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Department of Technical Vocational Education & Training (DTVET), Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES), and Swisscontact Lao PDR, formally marking the start of the project’s second phase. The signing was conducted by Mr. Vilayphone Phommahaxay, Acting Director General of the TVET Department, Ministry of Education and Sports, and Mr. Michael Fink, the Country Director of Swisscontact Lao PDR, witnessed by representatives from line ministries of Lao PDR.
Lao officials from line ministries and representatives of SDC and Swisscontact attend a ceremony to mark the extension of the project.

The signing ceremony was held on 15 October 2024 at the DoubleTree by Hilton and was attended by government officials from the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Planning and Investment, Labour and Social Welfare, Ministry of Education and Sports, among others, alongside representatives from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Swiss Foundation for Technical Cooperation (Swisscontact). 

Mr. Vilayphone Phommahaxay (right) and Mr. Michael Fink (left) shake hands after signing an MoU

The Vocational Training and Employment Support Services (VTESS) project, in its previous phase, concentrated on five provinces and has now expanded to include the Vientiane capital in phase two, with a special emphasis on the coaching cycle. It is expected that more than 6,000 individuals (combined phase 1 and phase 2) from disadvantaged backgrounds, especially those with and without lower secondary education, will benefit from the enhanced training and employment support services provided by the project. 

Mr. Michael Fink, the Country Director of Swisscontact Lao DPR, delivered a welcoming remark on MoU signing for VTESS Phase 2

H.E Dr. Sourioudong Soundara, Vice Minister of Education and Sports, remarked the importance of the VTESS Phase 2 and collaboration between Lao PDR and Switzerland

"The remarkable achievements of the VTESS project, made possible by the dedication of all parties involved and the generous support of our donors, demonstrate the transformative power of vocational training in Laos. The project's success has led to a renewed commitment from our partners, ensuring its continuation for another four years. This enduring collaboration between the Lao PDR and Switzerland is a testament to our shared vision of a prosperous and equitable future."
H.E Dr. Sourioudong Soundara, Vice Minister of Education and Sports

Mr. Jean-Gabriel Duss, Regional Director of the Swiss Cooperation Office for the Mekong Region, emphasized the support through the VTESS Phase 2

"Switzerland's total investment for the VTESS project phases 1 and 2 amounts to approximately USD 20 million.  From 2024 to 2027, with a budget of CHF 8.6 million or around USD 10 million, VTESS phase 2 aims to support 3,500 people from disadvantaged backgrounds, including primary education completers, lower secondary dropouts, and up to 50% of lower secondary graduates. It is essential that we ensure the benefits of this project reach vulnerable groups such as women, ethnic minorities, and other marginalized populations, in keeping with the SDG principle of leaving no one behind."
Mr. Jean-Gabriel Duss, Regional Director of the Swiss Cooperation Office for the Mekong Region

The Vocational Training and Employment Support Services (VTESS) project will be implemented by Swisscontact together with the Ministry of Education and Sports, represented by the Department of Technical and Vocational Education and Training, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare’s Department of Employment. The University of Lucerne’s School of Social Work is also one of the key partners of the VTESS project. Building on the foundation of prior Swiss-funded vocational training programs and the success of project phase 1, VTESS will replicate the pioneering ‘coaching cycle’ methodology for employment support services. This project phase will introduce the TVET Development Fund component to contribute to the establishment of a sustainable funding mechanism by Lao Government.

Mr. Vilaphone Phommahaxay emphasized the remarkable results from VTESS Phase 1 and the target set in Phase 2

"Through the first phase of the project, we have witnessed remarkable outcomes, with over 4,000 disadvantaged youth receiving vocational training and many finding successful employment. This demonstrates the power of education and skills development in transforming lives. For the second phase of the project, we aim to support more youth to access vocational training, counseling and career guidance services, basic entrepreneurship training, and job placement."
Mr. Vilaphone Phommahaxay, Acting Director General of DTVE, MoES 

VTESS Phase 2 aims to broaden its impact by targeting 4,000 young individuals from underprivileged backgrounds. The objective is to offer them initial vocational training and employment services, thereby improving their chances of securing meaningful employment or starting their own income-generating ventures. VTESS is a collaborative project between Switzerland through SDC and the Lao government with total budget of CHF 8,600,000 (approximately 8.6 million USD). The project will be working in Oudomxay, Xayaboury, Xiengkuang, Khammouane, Salavan, and Vientiane Capital—with its operations spanning from late 2023 to 2027.

In the welcoming remark, Mr. Michael Fink, said

"The VTESS project has ambitious targets for this next phase, focusing on the sustainability of its interventions by building capacity and institutionalizing activities. This will go hand in hand with capitalizing on the lessons learned, ensuring that the project’s impact endures beyond its lifespan. We are excited to move forward with this MoU, continuing the excellent cooperation we've had with our partners."
Mr. Michael Fink, The country director of Swisscontact Lao PDR
2019 - 2027
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.
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