Lao People's Democratic Republic : Strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training Project

Sovereign Project | 42278-022

Project Name Strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training Project
Project Number 42278-022
Country / Economy Lao People's Democratic Republic
Project Status Closed
Project Type / Modality of Assistance Grant
Source of Funding / Amount
Grant 0211-LAO: Strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training Project
Asian Development Fund US$ 23.00 million
Strategic Agendas Inclusive economic growth
Drivers of Change Gender Equity and Mainstreaming
Governance and capacity development
Private sector development
Sector / Subsector

Education / Technical and vocational education and training

Gender Gender equity theme
Description
Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy
Impact

A more highly skilled and diverse workforce in Lao PDR

Project Outcome
Description of Outcome

An accessible formal vocational training system that is more responsive to labor market needs

Progress Toward Outcome

Outcome indicators will be assessed during PCR mission in 2018. Development of competency based training standard for 17 jobs were completed and being implemented at TVET schools.

Implementation Progress
Description of Project Outputs

1. Improved quality of TVET

2. Increased and more equitable access to TVET

3. Increased private sector involvement in TVET strategy and delivery

4. Strengthened governance and management of the TVET system

5. Effective project management and implementation

Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues)

All expected outputs were delivered.

- The TVET law was passed by the National Assembly in June 2014. The project supports strengthening the capacity of the National Training Council-Permanent Officer (NTC-PO) through various channels, including a review of the existing roles, responsibilities, and structure.

- About 1,449 (326 female or 22%) senior management, teaching and technical staff received training on strategic management, leadership as part of capacity building. More than 490 teaching staff in seven public and two private TVET institutes attended training on competency standards and Competency Based Training.

- With project support, MOES has developed competency-based standards for 17 jobs in 4 priority skills (Certificate III). National skills standards for four priority trades: construction, automobile and machinery service and repair, furniture and basic business were developed through public private partnership. These documents are available in English and Lao and were uploaded on the project website for public view and use.

- Construction of 11 student dormitories were also completed to accommodate 2,200 students from rural and isolated areas, of which six are reserved for girls which can accommodate about 1,200 girls. With project support, 5,031 students (1,658 are female) from poor households in rural areas received assistance training through voucher scheme.

- Six private training providers are engaged to provide practical training (specialist skills training program) to strengthen technical skills and industrial working experience to more than 560 teachers and final year students. Five private training providers have also engaged to provide short-term training to more than 3,000 young secondary students and unemployed.

- Social development campaign and program were developed and implemented through TV, radio, print media. Job and career counseling has been conducted between April and May every year at secondary schools, particularly in remote areas.

- Number of TVET students in public schools increases from 23,182 in 2014/15 to 30,221 in 2015/16 (number of female students also increases from 8,594 (37%) to 12,322 (41%) in the same period).

Geographical Location Champasak, Khoueng Savannakhet, Luang Prabang Province, Vientiane, Vientiane Province
Safeguard Categories
Environment C
Involuntary Resettlement C
Indigenous Peoples B
Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects
Environmental Aspects Environmental categorization is C. During project implementation, automotive workshops ensured proper disposal of hazardous waste such as engine oil. During construction of the dormitories, the contractors kept noise and dust within locally acceptable levels, as well as managed fill, excavated material, and solid waste in a manner that did not create a permanent impact. Water supply in the dormitories will meet national drinking water quality standards.
Involuntary Resettlement Involuntary resettlement category is C, as civil works is limited to upgrading TVET institution facilities and constructing new buildings within existing boundaries, which will not require land acquisition or resettlement.
Indigenous Peoples An ethnic group development plan was prepared to ensure integration of ethnic groups' needs and interests in project outputs, and ensure ethnic group access and participation. Key features include (i) ethnic group enrolment in certificate and diploma education in the 4 priority skill areas reaches 20%; (ii) at least 30% of vouchers and dormitory spaces are reserved for ethnic students; (iii) the social marketing campaign is targeted to ethnic communities to encourage TVET and present positive role models, especially in nontraditional skill areas; and (iv) ethnicity sensitivity training is provided to project stakeholders.
Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation
During Project Design

Project preparation involved two stakeholder workshops each with over 100 participants; an Labor Market Assessment (LMA) involving 817 enterprises in eight provinces and a questionnaire survey on skills, facilities and equipment in public and private TVET institutions in Luang Prabang, Champasak, Vientiane Province, Vientiane Capital and Savannakhet. Discussions were held with the Ministry of Education and its relevant departments; the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Ministry of Mining and Energy; the Lao Women's Union, Lao Youth Union, NGOs, the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, international development partners and private TVET institutions.

In order to gather a range of views and challenges from community/village/student level, fieldwork was undertaken in Luangnamtha, Bokeo and Vientiane. Discussions were held with students in the TVET institutions about their choice of training, affordability and aspirations for employment. Two ethnic secondary schools were visited and discussions held with the headmaster, deputy headmasters and students. Village meetings were held to discuss parent and student perception of TVET.

During Project Implementation

Level of consultation and participation envisaged during the project implementation and monitoring is information sharing.

ADB fields review bi-annual review missions.

Business Opportunities
Consulting Services

All consultants will be recruited according to ADB's Guidelines on the Use of Consultants.

To support project implementation, a firm will be engaged to provide 148 person months of international consultant inputs and 336 months of national consultant inputs. The consulting firm will be engaged using the quality- and cost-based selection (QCBS) method with a standard quality:cost ratio of 80:20. Full technical proposals (FTPs) will be required for submission; shortlisted consultants allowed 45 days to prepare FTPs.

Specialization of experts are as follows:

TVET system management and institutional development

Training development

TVET access

Buildings and facilities

Employment system

Skills standards, curriculum and teacher training for construction trades

Skills standards, curriculum and teacher training for mechanical trades

Skills standards, curriculum and teacher training for furniture trades

Skills standards, curriculum and teacher training for business skills

IT, TVET EMIS and LMIS Development

PPP Implementation and Monitoring

Social and Gender

Procurement

All procurement of goods and works to be financed under the grant will be undertaken in accordance with ADB's Procurement Guidelines (2007, as amended from time to time) and the procurement plan prepared and agreed between the Government and ADB.

Under the project, international competitive bidding procedures will be used for civil works contracts estimated to cost $1,500,000 or more, and supply contracts valued at $500,000. Contracts for works of more than $100,000 but less than $1,500,000 will follow national competitive bidding procedures. Supply contracts for goods estimated below $500,000 but above $100,000 will be awarded on the basis of national competitive bidding. Items costing $100,000 or less will be procured through shopping.

Before the start of any procurement, ADB and the Government will review the public procurement laws of the central and state governments to ensure consistency with ADB's Procurement Guidelines.

Responsible ADB Officer Khamtanh Chanthy
Responsible ADB Department Southeast Asia Department
Responsible ADB Division Lao Resident Mission (LRM)
Executing Agencies
Ministry of Education and Sports
Timetable
Concept Clearance 14 Apr 2010
Fact Finding 19 Apr 2010 to 05 May 2010
MRM 31 May 2010
Approval 09 Jul 2010
Last Review Mission -
PDS Creation Date 15 Apr 2010
Last PDS Update 28 Sep 2017

Grant 0211-LAO

Milestones
Approval Signing Date Effectivity Date Closing
Original Revised Actual
09 Jul 2010 29 Jul 2010 01 Sep 2010 31 Mar 2016 31 Dec 2016 05 Dec 2017
Financing Plan Grant Utilization
Total (Amount in US$ million) Date ADB Others Net Percentage
Project Cost 24.80 Cumulative Contract Awards
ADB 23.00 17 Jun 2022 22.78 0.00 99%
Counterpart 1.80 Cumulative Disbursements
Cofinancing 0.00 17 Jun 2022 22.78 0.00 99%
Status of Covenants
Category Sector Safeguards Social Financial Economic Others
Rating Satisfactory Satisfactory Satisfactory Satisfactory - Satisfactory

Project Data Sheets (PDS) contain summary information on the project or program. Because the PDS is a work in progress, some information may not be included in its initial version but will be added as it becomes available. Information about proposed projects is tentative and indicative.

The Access to Information Policy (AIP) recognizes that transparency and accountability are essential to development effectiveness. It establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced.

The Accountability Mechanism provides a forum where people adversely affected by ADB-assisted projects can voice and seek solutions to their problems and report alleged noncompliance of ADB's operational policies and procedures.

In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of, or reference to, a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area.


Safeguard Documents See also: Safeguards
Safeguard documents provided at the time of project/facility approval may also be found in the list of linked documents provided with the Report and Recommendation of the President.

Title Document Type Document Date
Strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training Project: Indigenous Peoples Plan Indigenous Peoples Plans/Indigenous Peoples Development Plans Jun 2010

Evaluation Documents See also: Independent Evaluation

Title Document Type Document Date
Lao People’s Democratic Republic: Strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training Project Validations of Project Completion Reports Jun 2020

Related Publications

Title Document Type Document Date
Addressing Skill Shortages in the Lao People's Democratic Republic Papers and Briefs Jul 2011

The Access to Information Policy (AIP) establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced in its operations to facilitate stakeholder participation in ADB's decision-making. For more information, refer to the Safeguard Policy Statement, Operations Manual F1, and Operations Manual L3.

Requests for information may also be directed to the InfoUnit.

Tenders

No tenders for this project were found.

Contracts Awarded

No contracts awarded for this project were found

Procurement Plan

Title Document Type Document Date
Strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training Project Procurement Plans Jun 2013