Savannakhet – On 17th -21st January 2022, Ms. Sia Kondeh, Project Officer of Labour Mobility and Human Development Unit IOM Lao PDR joined the lead delegation from Vientiane Capital, for a field visit to Savannakhet Province to conduct monitoring and evaluation of activities under the programme “Protection and Services for Vulnerable settlements, Migrants and Youth in Savannakhet and Champasak".  

The field visit was conducted alongside co-programme implementing partners @UNFPALaoPDR and @UNHABITATLaoPDR. The delegation also comprised of technical representatives from the donor the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, alongside the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare.  

Delegates visited various sites in Savannakhet provinces, including in Kaysone Phomevihanh, and Song Khone district, where the programme is being implemented. This included visits to the Ban Nonsavad Quarantine Centre where IOM supports returnee migrant populations with non-food items and orientation sessions and information resources on safe migration; COVID-19 and vaccination; and access to employment support. 

The delegation also visited the local civil service organization, Sengsavang who IOM is supporting to provide skills development training to 100 returnee migrants and vulnerable populations. Village Focus International, who will also provide skills development training to an additional 100 beneficiaries in Champassak, also provided virtually tour of their training site in Champassak Province. Other partners visited included the Department of Public Health and the Provincial Taskforce Committee for Covid-19, Lao Women’s Union, Song Khone District Governor’s office, and the Department of the Labour and Social Welfare where IOM was part of the discussions about greater cooperation and partnership to support migrants and communities.  

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For more information, please contact: Shareen Tuladhar, Chief of Mission, IOM Lao PDR at Shtuladhar@iom.int