Across 30 villages in Vientiane Capital and Vientiane Province, village chiefs, unit leaders, Women’s Union representatives, and other local authorities are being equipped to become frontline communicators for the Decentralized Waste Collection Service (DEWACS). Through a tailored Training of Trainers (TOT), these leaders are learning not only what DEWACS is, but how to guide their communities into a practical “new normal” of waste separation and reliable collection services.

Impact Snapshot

• 265 village representatives (122 women) from 30 villages in Vang Vieng, Sangthong, Sikhottabong, and Sisattanak district in Vientiane Province, completed DEWACS communication TOT sessions in November 2025.​
• Training covered project background, clear communication techniques, waste types and sorting, managing difficult conversations, and leadership roles in driving long-term waste solutions.​
• A refresher training in Nong Douang Neua village on 28 November provided additional coaching to previously trained village chiefs and unit heads, equipping them with refined scripts, printed flyers, and a short “How to Sort” video to support information dissemination at home and household level.​

Two village chiefs perform a role‑play about a resistant resident, practicing how to deliver clear health messages and guide the conversation toward enrolling households in the DEWACS system.

Feature Story: Methodology and Real‑World Testing

The TOT was built around a three‑pillar methodology—Awareness, Waste Separation, and Trust—delivered through group discussions, waste‐sorting games, role‑play scenarios, and simple communication tools rather than one‑way lectures. Mr. Viengkeo Bounpukdy, a unit leader from Sithan‑Neua village in Sikhottabong District, shared that because his village is close to the airport and a tourist area, he feels a strong responsibility to keep it clean as “the face” of the country; after the training, he said he now understands more clearly which wastes are polluting or toxic, which can be recycled, and which can become valuable resources that he is eager to explain to the community he serves. Miss Lamphoun Phoutthachan, a Women’s Union representative from Nakham village, reflected that learning how kitchen waste can be turned into compost, and how organic and general waste will be collected separately, gives her confidence to clearly explain the new system to households that previously saw all waste as “just rubbish”.​

During the refresher training in Nong Douang Neua, these previously trained communicators revisited the household scripts and worked through real questions that arise in their communities. Unit heads repeatedly raised concerns about leftover soup, rice, and curries that should not go into the green bin because of odor and hygiene; one trainee remarked that people are ready to cooperate but “need simple, realistic ideas for managing leftovers so the kitchen does not always smell,” underlining the need for practical demonstrations and clearer food‑waste guidance. To support their upcoming home visits, the project provided each unit head with DEWACS flyers to hand directly to the households they are responsible for, along with a short “How to Sort” video clip they can share via phones and messaging groups. Hence, families receive both in‑person explanations and visual reminders for daily sorting. Another village leader observed that when households hear about concrete benefits—receiving a free green bin for organics, training on how to sort, free and consistent organic pickup, and the chance to earn income from recyclables—they become much more open to trying the DEWACS system instead of burning or dumping their waste.

Participants laugh and learn how to separate waste correctly by practicing with colorful mini-bins in the DEWACS sorting game.

Key Lessons for the 2026 Campaign

• Stronger village leadership through targeted refreshers: Low attendance at large district workshops showed that smaller, village‑based trainings—like in Nong Douang Neua—are important to keep a core group of communicators active, skilled, and confident for household visits, especially in villages that need extra support.​
• Clearer guidance on food waste: Frequent questions about leftovers and soupy food waste highlighted the need for simple, step‑by‑step guidance and practical examples; the updated sorting guide will now include tips on de‑watering, meaning draining liquids from soupy food waste before collection, to reduce bad smells and confusion.​
• Service and incentives build trust: Participants stressed that households support separation when they see reliable collection and real benefits, so campaign messages now highlight free green bins, consistent organic pickup, practical training, and opportunities to earn from recyclables as core reasons to register with DEWACS.​

These lessons are being integrated into the 2026 awareness and enrollment campaign so that future communication responds to village realities and supports lasting behavior change across the four project districts.

Looking Ahead

In early 2026, trained village communicators will lead door‑to‑door enrollment and awareness campaigns, applying lessons from Nong Douang Neua to refine scripts, offer clearer advice on managing kitchen waste, and respond more confidently to community concerns. This work will help DEWACS reduce open burning, improve neighborhood cleanliness, and support greener livelihoods across Vang Vieng, Sangthong, Sikhottabong, and Sisattanak.

Facilitators introduce the DEWACS flyer that explains how to sort household waste, guiding village leaders through each step in a small group discussion.

The TOT initiative is part of the KOICA‑funded USD 10.5 million Phase II project, implemented by GGGI and the Government of Lao PDR, which aims to improve environmental management and public health for approximately 227,000 urban and peri‑urban residents. KOICA’s support is enabling village leaders to become powerful agents of behavior change, turning everyday waste problems into opportunities for cleaner, greener, and more livable communities.

Project Contact

Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) Lao PDR

Project code LA18: Scaling Out Sustainable Solid Waste & Wastewater Management in Lao PDR, Phase II

Email: george.asiimwe@gggi.org