Mr. Ekk Pathammavong, SNV governance advisor and Ms Buakhai Phimmavong, EDC Managing Partner have just returned after officially representing Laos in the five-day Capacity Development Learning Week event held from May 24 to 28, 2010 in Manila Intercontinental Hotel in Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines under the auspices of the UNDP Asia Pacific Regional Centre in Bangkok. With the overall theme of Reducing Poverty; Delivering Services, the event attracted more than 50 participants from 18 countries and from UNDP, SNV and ADB. The event showcased some of the country’s CD initiatives via the event’s three segments: Practice Meets Policy, CD Talk and Panel Discussion, and CD Policy Dialogue.

On the first day, the event implemented a CD Knowledge Fair which enabled each participating group Read the rest of this entry »

EDC has successfully completed the Professional Project Management Course for Aid for Trade course for 32 staff and senior officers of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MoIC), National Implementation Unit (NIU) and other staff involved in the implementation of Aid for Trade (or AfT) in Laos. It was implemented from March 29 to April 2, 2010 in the Vansana Hotel in Vangvieng. EDC assembled a team of trainers consisting of Dr. Ed Canela (Chief Trainer), Buakhai Phimmavong (EDC Partner) and Nicolas Tomecko (EDC Consultant). The course was done in English and featured interactive sessions, engaging exercises and dynamic work groups.Three proposals were drafted by the groups: (a) Sustainable Handicraft Souvenir Production Project, (b) Improving Food Safety in the Domestic Markets, and (c) Improved Value Added Exports of Wood Products. The proposals would have generated US$ 7.1 Million in aid money. In addition, the participants and the Trainers constructed two interactive slideshows (Trade and Memories), a functional website (http://projectnui.ning.com) and asembled a 500 MB CD of all the basic documents, templates, references, manuals, powerpoint, videos, photos and books.The participants were fascinated and impressed with the methodology which allowed them to learn more while doing that they confront in their jobs. During the closing ceremonies, four participants reported: (a) “great training style”; (b) “a lot of hard work, energy and effort that was much appreciated”; (c) “I would like to recommend this course and say the trainers are “exceptional”; and (d) “good presentation and team building exercises”. Both NIU and EDC plan to continue developing this new found partnership.

EDC has successfully completed the Professional Project Management Course for Aid for Trade course for 32 staff and senior officers of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MoIC), National Implementation Unit (NIU) and other staff involved in the implementation of Aid for Trade (or AfT) in Laos. It was implemented from March 29 to April 2, 2010 in the Vansana Hotel in Vangvieng. EDC assembled a team of trainers consisting of Dr. Ed Canela (Chief Trainer), Buakhai Phimmavong (EDC Partner) and Nicolas Tomecko (EDC Consultant). The course was done in English and featured interactive sessions, engaging exercises and dynamic work groups.Three proposals were drafted by the groups: (a) Sustainable Handicraft Souvenir Production Project, (b) Improving Food Safety in the Domestic Markets, and (c) Improved Value Added Exports of Wood Products. The proposals would have generated US$ 7.1 Million in aid money.

Read the rest of this entry »

Fair Trade is a growing market and offers both opportunities and challenges for the Lao producers. This was the message conveyed during a seminar on Fair trade, organised by the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI) in Lane Xang Hotel last September 9, 2009. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SADC), the Royal Dutch Embassy and Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV) co-sponsored the event.

The Fair Trade concept was primarily developed to fight poverty by creating just, honest and transparent trade agreements between producers and buyers. With Fair Trade certification, consumers are assured of buying products and services that have been produced or delivered under fair conditions. Fair Trade principles complement the current policies of the Government of Laos to promote more value adding initiatives and investments in the country.

Sales of Fair Trade products are 70 times larger than ten years ago. Sales of products carrying the World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO) or the Fair Trade Labelling Organisations (FLO) marks are specially booming. In 2007, certified products sales were €2.381million (46% up from 2006), and non-certified products added up to €265 million (7% up from 2006). Popular products having the Fair Trade marks include coffee, tea, cocoa and cotton. Read the rest of this entry »

The Laos Extension for Agriculture Project (LEAP) (www.laoex.org) and the National Agriculture and Forestry Extension Services (NAFES) (www.laolink.org) have jointly produced and printed the working draft of the Economic Calculation Manual for Small Scale Agricultural Production and Agro Processing last May 2009. Both the Faculty of Agriculture (NUOL) (www.nuol.edu.la) and EDC collaborated with the publisher.

The 86-paged well-illustrated Manual has many fathers and mothers. It was put together by Assoc. Prof. Souklaty Sysaneth (FOA-NUOL), Phoukhong Ounlamany (EDC), Ms Andrea Schroeter (LEAP) and Phoutthasin Phimmachan (LEAP).  Additionally, Ms Bouakhai Phimmavong (EDC), Chalern Daohuang (NAFES), Thitphachan Inthilit (NAFES), and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sitha Khemmarath, FOA-NUOL provided additional support materials and much needed advice.

The Manual has five main chapters. Introduction sets the context with respect to background, targets, contents and what it wants to achieve. Chapter 2 defines the terms used. Chapter 3 describes the calculation tools and the various revenue and cost components. Chapter 4 shows the calculation process. The last chapter aptly describes how the calculation results are discussed with the farmers. It has a lot of illustrative examples and is designed for use by extension agents and agropreneurs. Click here to download the Manual.

The Laos Extension for Agriculture Project (LEAP) (www.laoex.org) and the National Agriculture and Forestry Extension Services (NAFES) (www.laolink.org) have jointly produced and printed the working draft of the Economic Calculation Manual for Small Scale Agricultural Production and Agro Processing last May 2009. Both the Faculty of Agriculture (NUOL) (www.nuol.edu.la) and EDC collaborated with the publisher.

The 86-paged well-illustrated Manual has many fathers and mothers. It was put together by Assoc. Prof. Souklaty Sysaneth (FOA-NUOL), Phoukhong Ounlamany (EDC), Ms Andrea Schroeter (LEAP) and Phoutthasin Phimmachan (LEAP). Additionally, Ms Bouakhai Phimmavong (EDC), Chalern Daohuang (NAFES), Thitphachan Inthilit (NAFES), and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sitha Khemmarath, FOA-NUOL provided additional support materials and much needed advice.

The Manual has five main chapters. Introduction sets the context with respect to background, targets, contents and what it wants to achieve. Chapter 2 defines the terms used. Chapter 3 describes the calculation tools and the various revenue and cost components. Chapter 4 shows the calculation process. The last chapter aptly describes how the calculation results are discussed with the farmers. It has a lot of illustrative examples and is designed for use by extension agents and agropreneurs. Click here to download the Manual.

For the past few weeks, two American Interns, Tyanne Benallie and Pema Domingo-Barker have been working with EDC. The interns accompanied Mr. Visay Sayyavongsa on a field assignment to the Nalongkhoun Village in the Phon Hong District in the Vientiane Province. The field assignment allowed the interns to see how EDC works in partnership with local villagers who produce handcraft bamboo/rattan products. Mr. Visay Sayavongsa and the interns talked with a local salesman in the Nalongkhoun Village. The local salesman took them around the village to see how the bamboo/rattan products are made. EDCs role in the whole process is to help prepare a website for the local salesman’s business in the Nalongkhoun Village. Intern Pema took various pictures for the local business upcoming website; these pictures will be used to advertise the local bamboo/rattan furniture products. This activity is within the frame of the Forest Connect Project in Lao PDR. For more information about the project, please visit Lao Bamboo Rattan Products