Laos

The ADB-supported Northern Rural Infrastructure Development Sector Project will be implemented by MAF in close collaboration with relevant line agencies. It will mainly invest into the rehabilitation of rural infrastructure, such as access roads and irrigation schemes, and therefore provide improved access to markets and services.

To maximize the potential from associated initiatives, the implementation consulting team will include value chain specialists to assist in subproject design and feasibility studies ensuring engagement of private sector actors in such processes to strengthen the market linkages for products grown in the Project’s area of influence. The value chain specialists will provide intermittent inputs and will be responsible to the Team Leader.

Resettlement is unlikely to be a significant issue in the implementation of the proposed Project in view of the identification criteria and the pre-screening activities already undertaken during the preparation phase.

In view of the fact that roads represent some 20% of the infrastructure allocation, and that many of these roads are to be rehabilitated in challenging mountainous environs, there is a need to have access to advanced engineering skills in road design to ensure quality and thereby achieve sustainability. With the emphasis being on quality of design and construction, the specialists will review road designs prepared by national consultants with particular attention being paid to designing road sections to the local conditions.

  To maximize the potential from associated initiatives, the implementation consulting team will include a value chain specialist to assist in subproject design and feasibility studies ensuring  engagement of private sector actors in such processes to strengthen the market linkages for products grown in the projects area of influence       The value chain specialist will provide intermittent inputs and will be responsible to the Team Leader  Review the PPTA consultant’s Final Report and the value chain studies and assessed constraints and opportunities therein;