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Job Description Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Manager, USAID Okard May 2023 Background World Education, Inc. (WEI) has been operational in the Lao PDR since 1992. WEI has worked in a number of sectors (agriculture, education, health, microfinance, and repatriation) over the past 25 years. Projects are currently focused on: Disability Inclusion, Explosive Ordnance Risk Education, Capacity Building, and Economic Development. Current projects include: 1. USAID Okard: Promotes the independence and functional ability of persons with disabilities through equal access to health and social services, partnering with the public and private sectors to support persons with disabilities in the areas of health, economic empowerment and stakeholder engagement. 2. Lawang: Explosive Ordnance ...

“Data is critical to inform the future direction of the Ministry of Health on rehabilitation. Reviewing the progress of the Rehabilitation Strategy, developing a monitoring framework and increasing availability of data will help us to plan for the next 10 years so we can support the growing number of people who need rehabilitation and increase access to quality rehabilitation services, to build capacity of the health workforce, and to inform the availability of assistive products through a multi-sectoral approach” said Dr Bounfeng Phoummalaysith, Health Minister. On 21-22 March 2023, the Ministry of Health, technically supported by WHO and USAID Okard, conducted a meeting to review the ...

The USAID Okard (ໂອກາດ) Activity is guided by the philosophy of Disability Inclusive Development (DID) and the belief that no one should be left behind. It is a 5-year project managed and implemented by World Education that intends to improve and sustain the independent living and functional ability of persons with disabilities, regardless of factors such as age, sex, gender expression, ethnic origin, or indigenous status, and their households in Lao PDR. It is implemented in three target provinces – Vientiane Capital, Xieng Khouang and Savannakhet with partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare. The CBID demonstration model districts in Xieng Khouang and Savannakhet have been conducted by local organizations with ...

Photo: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) donated rehabilitation equipment to Center of Medical Rehabilitation (CMR) – Photo credit: Souliya Ounavong, USAID Okard Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR — On March 13, 2023, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) donated rehabilitation equipment, valued at 348,472,000 LAK, to Center of Medical Rehabilitation (CMR), Ministry of Health at a ceremony in Vientiane Capital. The donation will strengthen the delivery of quality rehabilitation services to people with disabilities in Laos. The rehabilitation equipment includes an ultrasound machine, shortwave diathermy machine, laser machine and hot packs, funded by USAID through its Okard Project, implemented by World Education. “We ...

Rehabilitation is a key health strategy for the entire population addressing the broad needs of people who have difficulties in functioning across the human lifespan, not just for persons with disabilities. After a six-week training on essential rehabilitation services at Chiang Mai University, supported by USAID and World Education Laos,13 health and rehabilitation professionals commonly known as core trainers are now ready to train more than 150 doctors and nurses from provincial and district hospitals. Equipped with their new pedagogical and training skills and rehabilitation knowledge, they are now working with USAID Okard to develop and deliver in-service training, which they will then provide to 150 ...

On January 13, 2023, the USAID Okard project conducted an Implementation Management Committee (IMC) meeting in Vientiane Capital. The meeting was attended by the National Committee for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) from the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, the Ministry of Health, the Quality of Life Association (QLA) and relevant partners from provincial and district levels. These key stakeholders reviewed the progress of the USAID Okard project as well as discussed lessons learned, achievements, challenges and future plans of the project in order to support disability inclusion in Lao P.D.R. before the project ends. Key government stakeholders shared their appreciation for the considerable progress of ...

Another important step for the LAWANG “Beware” Project: Expanding the Scope of Explosive Ordnance Risk Education in Laos phase II, funded by the U.S. Department of State. In December, a workshop for developing the EORE curriculum for Non Formal Education (NFE) and EORE Handbook for Village Education Development Committees (VEDC) and Youth Volunteers (YVs) occurred in Vientiane Province. The meeting was Chaired by the Honorable Mr. Visan Somphong, Deputy Director General of the Non Formal Education Department and Mrs. Rebecca Derry, Country Director of World Education (WEI) in Laos. Also in attendance were representatives from NFE, General Education, the Department of International Organization, Lao Youth Union, ...

Request for Proposals (RFP)Community Based Inclusive Development (CBID) Demonstration ModelImpact Assessment–Endline SurveyRFP No: AID–486–A–17–00004–RFP–2 The USAID Okard Activity, implemented by World Education, Inc., is soliciting proposals for the Community Based Inclusive Development (CBID) Impact Assessment– Endline Survey. The USAID Okard Activity is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and is subject to all applicable Federal regulations and provisions. Please submit your most competitive proposal in accordance with the instructions to offerors and terms of reference.   Any award issued as a result of this RFP will be subject to all instructions, terms of reference/ specifications, certifications, terms and conditions and funder required clauses. For more ...

On December 3, Vientiane residents came together to celebrate the contribution of people with disabilities in honor of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The celebration raised awareness about the rights of persons with disabilities and to mobilize support to promote their dignity and wellbeing. This year’s theme is “Transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation in fuelling an accessible and equitable world”, which focuses around the overarching theme of innovation and transformative solutions for inclusive development, covering in three different interactive dialogues the following thematic topics: innovation for disability inclusive development in employment, innovation for disability inclusive development in reducing inequality and ...

“Children, Youth are the most valuable resource for the Nation. Therefore, we need to teach them the dangers from UXO ” said the U.S. Ambassador, Dr. Peter M. Haymond. On November 14, 2022 in Vientiane, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Silinthone Sacklokham, Director General of the Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Education and Sports, and Ms. Rebecca Derry, Country Director of World Education (WEI) in Laos signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the project called LAWANG (“Beware”): Expanding the Scope of Explosive Ordnance Risk Education in Laos phase II, funded by U.S. Department of State. Also in attendance were the honorable Vice Minister of the Ministry ...