Mr Vilayphone Phommahaxay (right) and Mr Michael Fink shake hands after signing an MOU on the VTESS project extension on Tuesday.

Switzerland extends job training support for disadvantaged youth

The Ministry of Education and Sports and Swisscontact Laos have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to launch the second phase of the Vocational Training and Employment Support Services (VTESS) project.
The MOU was signed in Vientiane on Tuesday by the Acting Director General of the TVET Department, Ministry of Education and Sports, Mr Vilayphone Phommahaxay, and the Country Director of Swisscontact Laos, Mr Michael Fink.

Dr Sourioudong Soundara gives a speech.

The signing was witnessed by government officials from the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Planning and Investment, Labour and Social Welfare, and Education and Sports among others, alongside representatives from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Swiss Foundation for Technical Cooperation (Swisscontact).
The VTESS project, in its previous phase, concentrated on five provinces and has now expanded to Vientiane in Phase 2, 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.
Deputy Minister of Education and Sports Dr Sourioudong Soundara emphasised the significance of this collaboration, saying “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.”
From 2024 to 2027, the second phase will target 3,500 beneficiaries from marginalised groups, including young people with primary-level education and those who dropped out of lower secondary school.
Regional Director of the Swiss Cooperation Office for the Mekong Region, Mr Jean-Gabriel Duss, underscored the inclusive nature of the initiative.
“Switzerland’s total investment for the VTESS project phases 1 and 2 amounts to approximately US$20 million. From 2024 to 2027, with a budget of CHF8.6 million or around US$10 million, VTESS phase 2 aims to support 3,500 people from disadvantaged backgrounds, including primary education completers, lower secondary school dropouts, and up to 50 percent 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 marginalised populations, in keeping with the Sustainable Development Goals principle of leaving no one behind.”
Mr Michael Fink highlighted the project’s ambition to achieve long-term sustainability, saying “The project has ambitious targets for this next phase, focusing on the sustainability of its interventions by building capacity and institutionalising activities.”
“This will go hand in hand with capitalising 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.”
VTESS Phase 1 provided vocational training to more than 4,000 young people, many of whom secured meaningful employment.
Reflecting on this success, Mr Vilayphone Phommahaxay said “Under the first phase of the project, we have witnessed remarkable outcomes, with over 4,000 disadvantaged young people receiving vocational training and many finding successful employment. In the second phase, we aim to support more young people to access vocational training, counselling and career guidance services, basic entrepreneurship training, and job placement.”
In Phase 2, VTESS will operate in Vientiane and the provinces of Oudomxay, Xayaboury, Xieng Khuang, Khammuan and Saravan.
Swisscontact will implement the project in close partnership with the Department of Employment under the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare and the University of Lucerne’s School of Social Work.
A key component of this phase is the introduction of a TVET Development Fund, designed to help the Lao government establish a sustainable funding mechanism for future vocational training initiatives.
With a strengthened commitment from both Laos and Switzerland, VTESS Phase 2 is set to broaden its impact, empowering more disadvantaged youth and contributing to economic growth across the country.

Lao officials from line ministries and representatives of SDC and Swisscontact attend a ceremony to mark the extension of the project.

By Advertorial Desk
 (Latest Update October 16, 2024)