2023.08.24
On August 22, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed a Record of Discussions with the Government of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic in Vientiane for the Project for Improvement of Management Capacity of Water Supply Sector (MaWaSU3), a technical cooperation project.
The Government of Lao has set a goal of providing safe water, 24 hours a day, to 90% of the urban population by 2030 with its 9-Year Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Development Strategy (2022-2030). Under the 2012-2017 Capacity Development Project for Improvement of Management Ability of Water Supply Authorities (MaWaSU), JICA strove for the improvement of the capacity of the three main water utilities in the country (in the capital Vientiane, in Luang Prabang Province, and in Kham An Province) to formulate water utility plans. In the second phase, the Capacity Development Project for Improvement of Management Capacity of Water Supply Sector (MaWaSU2), which was carried out from 2018 to 2023, the results of the previous phase were applied to target water utilities in a further 18 provinces nationwide, and activities for the improvement of water supply administration and the creation of technical standards were also included.
Signing Ceremony
As the third phase, this project aims to improve the management, planning, and operation capacity of the water-supply sector at the national and provincial levels. It will do so by strengthening the abilities of the Department of Water Supply (DWS) regarding legal execution, monitoring, and management in water supply administration. In addition, the project will build a framework for collaboration between local governments and water utilities to formulate feasible water facility development plans, and will also systematize sustainable programs for the development of human resources within the water-supply sector. As a result, the project will contribute to the achievement of SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) Goal 6 (Clean water and sanitation).
Details for the project are provided below.
| Country | The Lao People’s Democratic Republic |
|---|---|
| Project title | The Project for Improvement of Management Capacity of Water Supply Sector (MaWaSU3) |
| Planned implementation period | February 2024 ~ January 2028 (total of 48 months) |
| Executing agency | Department of Water Supply, Ministry of Public Works and Transport (DWS), Department of Public Works and Transport (DPWT), Water Supply State Enterprise (WSSE), Lao Water Works Association (LWWA) |
| Target region | Lao nationwide |
| Specific project details (provisional) | 1.Building of the capacity of the DWS to implement, monitor, and manage laws and regulations within water supply administration. Since existing laws and regulations are not properly disseminated to water sector personnel, the project will assist the DWS with the standardization and routinization of operations to monitor and manage their enforcement. In addition, methods for managing and evaluating water supply-related data nationwide will be implemented. 2.Building of a framework for collaboration between the government and water utilities on the feasibility of water supply facility development. Model provinces will be selected with the aim of enabling the government and water utilities to collaborate on the making of a profitable water supply facility development plan. The lessons learned from this process will be disseminated to other provinces through workshops. 3. Systematization of capacity development programs for water utilities in a sustainable manner. Since there is no sustainable capacity development program for water utilities personnel in Lao, training programs and training of trainers will be implemented by the three leading water utilities. |
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