The major constraint for using modelling tools in Lao PDR is indeed the lack of national well-trained modelling staff at MoNRE level that could by the end constitute a modelling team to provide the Clients (RBCs, Sector Agencies, stakeholders in general) with adequate modelling services. Several projects have included modelling in their activities, but generally under the leadership of external or international consultants. When such projects are completed, the sustainability of the national modelling teams supported by these projects is rapidly jeopardized by lack of resources and strategic vision on what model to develop for what purpose.
In many countries of the world, modelling tools have been developed by research institutes or universities. The modelling Teams are often part of such research institutions and in the most advanced countries, companies were created from these research Teams in a form of “spin up” generally with the support of the national governments. This makes sense in a way that modelling technics need to permanently adapt to new computing technologies and new tools. Therefore, the modelling teams need to remain at the top of the most recent development. For example new technics for interpreting climate data and related uncertainties have been recently developed for Climate Change purpose but are promising for areas where few climate data are collected in the field. Such recent developments may thus be very useful to be followed up in the case of Lao PDR and need permanent new scientific knowledge for which a research center or a university is more appropriate than a government agency.
It is indeed quite impossible to only train the government officials and that it is unlikely that MoNRE may afford in a near future stable and sustainable modelling Teams associated with the related necessary resources. Therefore the focus was shifted to the NUoL. Building capacities within NUoL and offering specific training to Professors and Research Assistants is therefore an attractive option in such a way that they could provide capacity to students in the framework of Master or PhD and undertake pragmatic exercises in learning by doing approach. On the longer run, NUoL could be a learning center for post-graduates who would like to join Lao Consulting Companies or Lao Official Agencies for specific modelling projects.