Waterworks officials complete training in Japan

Lao government officials have completed a training course in Tokyo, Japan, on the roles and activities of the Water Works Association as part of the Project for Improvement of Management Capacity of the Water Supply Sector (MaWaSU 2).
The project, which runs from May 2018 to May 2023, is a Technical Cooperation Project supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) with the aim of strengthening the water supply sector in terms of the government’s management system and the operational ability of Water Supply State Enterprises (WSSEs).
The project comprises four outputs: Output 1: Transparency, accountability and governance is enhanced in water supply sector institutions by improving the administration of water supply services.
Output 2: Capacity of WSSEs for planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of water supply projects is enhanced. Output 3: Technical standards necessary for water supply service are developed. Output 4: Operational capacity necessary for the WSSEs to implement the water supply service is enhanced.
To accelerate the activities of Output 4, the project has been assistng the enterprises to establish the Lao Water Works Association.
Expecting the association to be established in the near future, the project organised a custom-made training course in Japan from February 3 to 11.
The course was attended by officials from Vientiane WSSE, Luang Prabang province WSSE, Khammuan province WSSE and the Department of Water Supply under the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, which will take a central role in running the Lao Water Works Association.
Director of the Water Supply Division, Department of Water Supply, Mr Khanthone Vorachith, led the trainee delegation.
In Japan, the six training participants visited the Japan Water Works Association to learn about its organisation and operation management, and develop activity plans for the Lao Water Works Association through discussion with Japan Water Works Association officials.
Out of the six categories of Lao Water Works Association activity, four categories (1) research, (2) training, (3) international activities and (4) disaster response will be started right after its establishment.
Public relations, and inspection and certification activities, will be conducted two to three years after the association’s establishment.
Japanese media showed an interest in the training course. Nihon Suido Shinbun, a Japanese newspaper specialising in water supply, interviewed the training participants about their experience at the Japan Water Works Association, and future cooperation between the Lao and Japan Water Works Associations. The interview will be published in the newspaper sometime in March.

By Phomphong Laoin
(Latest Update February 17, 2020)