USAID Laos Counter Trafficking in Persons Quarterly Performance Report January - March 2018

The project's overarching purpose is to support vocational training and employment opportunities for targeted vulnerable populations, beginning with survivors of human trafficking to prevent their re-trafficking. These efforts will showcase a "model of prevention and protection" for the Government of Lao PDR to learn from, support, and sustain as it builds its response to counter human trafficking. The project's objectives include strengthening the Government of Lao PDR's response to lead anti-human trafficking efforts through improved coordination among government agencies and cooperation between government agencies and CTIP stakeholders. Additionally, the project aims to improve access to economic opportunities and employment among target vulnerable populations through skills training and enhanced private sector partnership. Furthermore, the project seeks to increase access to support and services among trafficked persons through improved identification and availability of quality services. During the second quarter of FY2018, the Chief of Party (COP) was fully onboarded and engaged in reviewing Laos CTIP deliverables, including the Year One Work Plan, Gender and Inclusive Development (GID) Plan, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Plan, and others. The COP introduced the USAID Laos CTIP project to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (MLSW) and met with USAID Country Office Director Alexandria Huerta and US Ambassador to Laos Ambassador Rena Bitter. The COP also met with various development partners and government offices to introduce the project and initiate conversations on cooperation. Key accomplishments for Q2 included meeting with MOFA and MLSW to introduce the USAID Laos CTIP program, meeting with USAID Front Office, and submitting revised work plans to USAID. In Q3, Winrock anticipates continuing outreach to key stakeholders working on CTIP in Lao PDR, particularly key government ministries responsible for providing approval of Winrock's Operations Permit (OP) and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Other planned activities include developing the grants manual for the Support Services Fund (SSF), initiating conversations with NGO stakeholders on aligning activities, and outreach to the private sector. The USAID Laos CTIP project will operate within the context of what the Government of Lao PDR and their partners are currently supporting, as well as what they are identifying as needs in the response to human trafficking. The project will be purposeful and based on consultations with the Government of Lao PDR and CTIP stakeholders. The project's approach will focus on vocational training and employment opportunities for targeted vulnerable populations, including survivors of human trafficking, to prevent their re-trafficking. The project's implementation will involve close coordination with the USDA-funded CLEAN program, which is providing logistical and operational support to the Operations Permit (OP) process. The USAID Laos CTIP COP has actively communicated with MOFA and MLSW to follow up on the progress of the project's application for an OP. The COP also discussed the MOU process with GoL officials, including the possibility of additional target provinces and a primary needs assessment jointly conducted with MLSW. The project's objectives and activities are designed 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 implementation will be based on consultations with the Government of Lao PDR and CTIP stakeholders, and will operate within the context of what the Government of Lao PDR and their partners are currently supporting.