The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed a Record of Discussions (R/D) with the Government of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) on August 22 in Vientiane for the technical cooperation project “Capacity Enhancement of Water Supply Project Operation and Management (MaWaSU3)”.
The Lao government, in its “Nine-Year Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Development Strategy (2022-2030),” aims to provide a 24-hour safe water supply to 90% of the population living in urban areas by 2030. (MaWaSU) project in 2012-2017, JICA mainly focused on strengthening the development of water supply business plans for three water supply corporations in the capital city of Vientiane, Luang Prabang Province, and Kamuang Province. In the second phase of the “Project for Capacity Improvement of Water Supply Business Operation and Management (MaWaSU2)” for 2018-2023, we are also working on improving water supply administration and preparing technical standards necessary for water supply business, in addition to expanding the results of the preceding project to 18 provinces and cities nationwide.
As the third phase of the project, the project will strengthen the capacity of the Department of Water Supply (DWS) of the Department of Public Works and Transportation (DPWT) in the enforcement, monitoring, and management of water supply laws and other laws and regulations. In addition, the project will build a framework for collaboration among the DPWT and the waterworks public corporations to formulate waterworks facility development plans, and systematize a sustainable program for waterworks human resource development. This will strengthen the sustainability of the water supply sector in the national and prefectural governments and contribute to Goal 6 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is to provide safe water and latrines worldwide.
© Source JICA