SINGAPORE, 31 August 2023 – Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), in collaboration with the Republic Polytechnic of Singapore and the ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC), concluded the fourth cycle of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) Project Proposal Writing Training for Lao PDR officials today.

The Lao PDR-Singapore Cooperation Centre in Lao PDR hosted the hybrid training on 22-31 August. It was attended by 25 Lao PDR officials from 9 ministries and agencies based in Vientiane. The Republic Polytechnic of Singapore facilitated the first part of the training on 22-25 August while ASEC continued the second half on 28-31 August.

ASEC trained the officials to develop a regional project proposal and manage the ASEAN cooperation projects (ACPs) using a results-based management approach that includes budget formulation, fund disbursements, and reporting. Meanwhile, the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund Management Team shared relevant information and experiences on project proposal formulation, implementation and monitoring from an ASEAN partner’s perspective.

At the training, participants learned about the mechanisms to access available resources with the ACPs and the processes throughout the ASEAN project cycle.

Following the four-day training with ASEC, participants developed four drafts of regional project proposals on developing new technologies in fish farming system, promoting road safety for big cities in CLMV, improving the quality of teacher education institutes in CLMV, and enhancing the sustainable development of MSMEs in CLMV.

At the end of the training, all participants received a certificate jointly issued by Singapore’s MFA and ASEC.

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