The training program on Project Monitoring and Evaluation (P M&E) opened last May 7th with 20 participants from 5 GMS countries: Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. The training is organized by the Mekong Institute and is sponsored by ADB-Phnom Penh Plan. The course will develop the participants capacity to design, plan and implement effective monitoring and evaluation missions or assignments, especially on projects which have transboundary implications. 

In his welcome speech, Dr Suchat Katima mentioned that the purpose of the training was to strengthen the knowledge and skills of government officials on project monitoring and evaluation. He continued by informing that many Project M&E activities in the Mekong countries were done by consultants who were not from the region. Less than half of the recommendations on project improvements have ever been implemented. He also said that the training course will address this situation by making sure that government officials know about the efficiency of the project as well as know how to involve people to monitor and evaluate the project. 

The training course will run from May 7- 18, 2012 at the MI Residential Training Facility in Khon Kaen, Thailand. During the course, the participants will have an opportunity to visit the 3rd Laos-Thai Friendship Bridge in Nakhon Phanom, one good example of Mekong regional development and cooperation.