Action Aid Vietnam Funds Sustainable Livelihoods in Mekong Delta District

Action Aid International Vietnam has provided Long Phu district, in the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang with VND18 billion ($807,000) in funding over the past decade under a development support program. The program, which has been transferred back to local authorities, focuses on developing sustainable livelihood models, enhancing gender equality and women rights, improving children’s learning and living conditions as well as authorities’ accountability; offering training on disaster prevention and climate change, and HIV/AIDS prevention. Under the program, 23,500 people have been trained in crop cultivation and animal and aquatic breeding techniques, agriculture and livelihood models. They were also educated about issues regarding poverty and the right to have access to land and natural resources, contributing to reducing the rate of poor households. Additionally, 11,000 people and communal officials have been given insight into the state law, grassroots democracy regulations and joined dialogues on public services and accountability to promote local socio-economic development. Nearly 3,000 officials, especially those in the villages’ disaster mitigation committees, have been able to analyze vulnerability, thereby actively designing community-based disaster mitigation and climate change adaptation schemes. Vu Minh Duc, head of the program’s office, expressed his hope that experience and models developed over the process will continue spreading to other localities, contributing to sustainable poverty reduction. (Vietnam News Agency July 13)