VIET/Self-management and development in villages in Vietnam

Description What is done in the programme or project and why, what results are pursued, who benefits from the activities and who are involved in the implementation.

To strengthen, expand and monitor the project for strengthening local democracy with an aim to improve living conditions and enhance democracy in the villages. PROJECT CONTINUATION 2013-15: Village self-reliance and cooperatives in Vietnam The main objective of the project is to support local democracy to grow and flourish. Of the cross-cutting development objectives the enhancement of women's rights and status, and equality are very well taken into account in the project: the project activities are being implemented by single mothers and rural poor, the official partner of the project is Women's Union (11 million members). When selecting Village Development Boards, 40 % gender quota is expected. Environmental aspects are well focused on, too: the project will keep evaluating and strengthening solar cooker experiments, and will explore possibilities for the farmers to produce silicon oxide or its raw material from rice hulls. Project supports re-establishment of traditional village meetings and establishes as a new structure Village Development Boards, which are managed by the local people themselves. Otherwise the project is being implemented within the structures of Vietnam Women's Union and the local government. Main beneficiaries of the project are single mothers and the poor small farmers, and rural poor. Main activities are to expand self-reliant village self-help movement into new geographical areas and to strengthen single mothers' income generating possibilities with micro credit and savings programme (single mothers in Tan Minh will support the expansion of the programme into new municipalities). Project will support establishment of cooperatives by single mothers and the rural poor where there is interest and ideas for it. Project strengthens participation and cooperation, and income generation in particular in rural communities which are on the verge of loosing their farming land or where livelihood is threatened for some other reasonin the near future.