USAID LAOS COUNTER TRAFFICKING-IN-PERSONS PROJECT QUARTER 3 PROGRESS REPORT, FISCAL YEAR 4 2021

The project's primary objective is to strengthen the Government of Lao PDR's response to lead anti-human trafficking efforts, improve access to economic opportunities and employment among target vulnerable populations, and increase access to support and services among trafficked persons. The project's progress during Quarter 3 of Fiscal Year 2021 was hindered by the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown, which delayed several planned activities, including meetings, workshops, trainings, and community-level beneficiary identification. Despite these challenges, project staff worked remotely to prepare for upcoming activities, such as preparing for and following-up on the USAID data quality assessment, coordinating with government partners, and planning and designing new information, education, and communication materials. The project's key interventions include improving coordination among government agencies, strengthening cooperation between the government and counter-trafficking stakeholders, providing skills training based on labor market needs, and enhancing private sector partnerships to offer economic and employment opportunities and safe migration services to target populations. The project also focuses on identifying trafficked persons, improving the availability and quality of services provided to trafficked persons, and increasing access to support and services among trafficked persons. During Quarter 3, the project held meetings with key government stakeholders, including the new Director General of the Anti-Trafficking Department, to discuss collaborating on the development of information, education, and communication materials on trafficking in persons prevention and the workshop on trafficking in persons and media. The project also worked with the Lao Women's Union to coordinate the in-kind contribution and discuss the development of the Lao National Minimum Standards of Care. The project's progress in Quarter 3 was marked by several challenges, including delays in government approvals and the ongoing COVID-19 precautions and lockdown, which affected activity implementation. Despite these challenges, the project continued to work with government partners to strengthen the government's response to human trafficking and improve access to economic opportunities and employment among target vulnerable populations. The project's key indicators for Quarter 3 include the number of government agencies participating in the project's activities, the number of private sector partners engaged in the project, and the number of target populations benefiting from the project's interventions. The project's progress in Quarter 3 was also marked by the completion of the first draft of the private partners mapping report, which includes available training opportunities for at-risk and vulnerable youth, employment opportunities for low-skilled workers, and potential private-sector partnerships for internships. Overall, the USAID Laos Counter Trafficking-in-Persons Project continues to make progress in its efforts to combat human trafficking in Laos, despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The project's interventions aim to strengthen the government's response to human trafficking, improve access to economic opportunities and employment among target vulnerable populations, and increase access to support and services among trafficked persons.