AESA has won a new project in Laos. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is funding this work.

The project is called Implementation Support Consultant (ISC) – SASSP-CS-01 Sustainable Agrifood Systems Sector Project.

It will run for 50 months and is worth over 3 million USD.

AESA’s South and East Asia Department is managing the project. The department is led by Andrea Pisante. Our partner on this project is EDC

What is the project about?

The team will help local agencies run the project smoothly. They will make sure everything follows ADB rules and Lao national policies.

The goal is to deliver real development results.

We will focus on three things:

• Building stronger institutions
• Improving how projects are implemented
• Creating sustainable systems that last

These efforts will happen at the national and local levels.

Who are we working with?

We will support three main agencies:

• Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC)
• Department of Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion (DOSMEP)
• Bank of the Lao PDR (BOL)

Our team will help them turn complex plans into everyday actions. This includes the Project Administration Manual (PAM), financing agreements, and the Design and Monitoring Framework (DMF).

What will the team do?

Here are the six main objectives:

1. Manage the project effectively
We will handle planning, coordination, procurement, financial management, and reporting.

2. Build stronger teams
We will offer hands-on support, mentoring, and training. Over time, local agencies will be able to manage complex tasks on their own.

3. Deliver high-quality subprojects
We will make sure technical designs, procurement, and supervision are practical, climate-resilient, and suited to local needs.

4. Track progress and results
We will set up monitoring systems and prepare regular reports on performance and outcomes.

5. Create a real capacity development program
The program will adapt as needs change. It will focus on long-term skills, not short-term fixes.

6. Follow all safeguards
We will meet environmental, social, and gender equality standards. We will also engage with local communities and take corrective action when needed.

How will AESA help?

The ISC team will act as an enabler and quality assurer.

That means we will:

• Help agencies make smart decisions
• Solve problems that slow down progress
• Build good practices that stay long after the project ends