International Development Grant

Advancing Women's Economic Empowerment in Vietnam

Project Number: CA-3-P007336003

Status: Operational

Country/Region:

Vietnam 100.00%

Maximum Contribution: $600,000.00

Start Date: November 03, 2023

End Date: March 30, 2026

Duration: 2.4 years

Project Description

This project aims to improve the economic well-being of poor rural women particularly ethnic minorities in Vietnam by increasing their participation in paid economic activities. This project aims to influence the provision of public services infrastructure childcare and social protection policies. This helps to reduce and redistribute the unpaid care work disproportionately shouldered by women and girls. This project targets a total of 4 885 participants (3 050 women and 1 835 men) in 15 communes of Ha Giang and Lai Chau provinces. This project is supporting 1 550 EM women predominantly tea and ginger farmers along with 150 women identified for women-led grassroots social enterprises (GSEs). Additionally the project seeks to support 1 085 EM men to participate in activities such as agricultural training and gender-responsive dialogues. AWEEV indirectly benefits 12 000 household members of EM beneficiaries. Project activities include: (1) providing technical assistance for gender-responsive and inclusive governance with duty bearers particularly village chiefs and communal officers; (2) providing technical assistance on organizing production and sustainable climate-smart agricultural practices to rural and ethnic minorities particularly women; and (3) facilitating policy dialogues by studying the benefits of reducing unpaid care work to encourage government authorities to focus on investments in infrastructure.

Expected Results

The expected outcomes of this project include: (1) enhanced promotion of economic rights for poor rural and ethnic minority women in Vietnam including in terms of unpaid work responsibilities; and (2) increased participation by poor rural and ethnic minority women in paid economic activities.

Progress & Results Achieved

Results achieved as of March 2024 include: (1) formed 72 livelihood and tea production of Village Saving and Loan Association groups with 1527 members (1389 women and 148 men). This helped these groups to emphasize environmental protection and Climate-Smart Agriculture practices; (2) established 23 climate resilience and environmentally friendly livelihood models where women are involved throughout the process; (3) established the Grassroots Social Enterprises (GSE) Fund and supported 31 women entrepreneurs to participate in workshops held by VietED to develop their business ideas and present their business plans. This helped 76 business ideas to be submitted during the second round of GSE selection; (4) supported gender dialogue workshops and 60 community events raised awareness of the unequal distribution of unpaid care and domestic work (UCDW) on women and Gender-Based Violence; (5) established a network of 34 (men) champions in both provinces. They created new initiatives within their communities in which 858 men participated in community events. Supported champions to develop action plans to promote women's voice and leadership; and (6) supported efforts to reduce the unequal UCDW for ethnic minority women in the project provinces. This includes in particular gender training for 373 village leaders and communal officers. They allowed to provide timesaving technologies like cookstoves and improving childcare facilities at 18 schools to support ethnic minority parents' engagement in income-generating activities.

Key Information

Executing Agency:
CARE Canada

Reporting Organization:
Global Affairs Canada

Program:
OGM Indo-Pacific

Last Modified:
September 19, 2025

Development Classifications

DAC Sector:

Democratic participation and civil society 10%
Media and free flow of information 10%
Women's rights organisations and movements and government institutions 30%
Social/welfare services 10%
Agricultural development 30%
Agro-industries 10%

Aid Type: Contributions to specific-purpose programmes and funds managed by implementing partners

Collaboration: Bilateral

Finance Type: Aid grant excluding debt reorganisation

Selection Mechanism:
Department-Initiated

Policy Markers
Level 2 Gender equality
Level 2 Environmental sustainability (cross-cutting)
Level 2 Participatory development and good governance
Budget Breakdown
2023-04-01 to 2024-03-31 $600,000 CAD
Geographic Information
000""
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