The World Bank has approved a $35 million, six-year project in Laos aimed at improving the performance of frontline workers in education and health. The initiative, titled Improving Frontline Workers Performance in Education and Health, seeks to address long-term human capital challenges by enhancing staff management, professional development, and training systems.
In the education sector, the project will provide comprehensive continuous professional development for teachers, including classroom observation and learning assessments. It will strengthen teacher training colleges with smart classrooms, support an existing two-year continuous bachelor program, and modernize online professional development platforms. Measures will also focus on attracting and retaining teachers, particularly in rural and underserved areas, while improving management systems to optimize workforce distribution.
In health, the project will expand health worker registration and licensing and enhance both pre-service and in-service training. Targeted interventions at district hospitals and health centers across eight provinces will improve skills, retention, and staff deployment. At the national level, the project will reinforce frameworks for health workforce recruitment, personnel management, and overall performance monitoring.
The project comes amid challenges in Laos, where spending on education and health has declined from 4.9% of GDP in 2013 to an estimated 2.3% in 2023. Surveys show a partial reversal of earlier gains in child nutrition, and workforce shortages are acute, particularly in rural, high-poverty areas. By building capacity, improving management, and focusing on equitable distribution of staff, the project aims to strengthen the quality and reach of both education and health services across the country.
