7. The National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Vietnam (NCFAW)

The NCFAW was established by the Prime Minister's Decision No. 72/ TTg on 25 Feb, 1993 based on renaming from the National Committee for Women's Decade.

1. Objectives and functions of NCFAW:

1. To continue broad activities of information and propaganda on the significance of the Convention on Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women; to sum up and introduce the results of movements and good examples in the movements for emancipation of women and measures to implement the Convention and the guidelines, policies and laws of the State concerning women
2. To organize the coordination with related organs to ensure the guidance, supervision, control of implementation by different branches and levels of the State laws and policies related to women.
3. To develop relations and coordination of activities with the United Nations and other international organizations, governmental and non-governmental organizations striving for the Objectives "Peace, Equality and Development"
4. To make national report on the implementation of CEDAW, to provide other information and documents concerning the implementation of the Convention at request of the United Nations and international organizations.

• Shortly, the NCFAW has 2 main functions as follows:
• To advise the Government about gender equality and advancement of women policies.
• To monitor the implementation of these policies and laws related to women in different ministries, branches and provinces.

2. The capacity of the organization:

2.1 NCFAW members includes 17 people who are ministers or equivalent from difference ministries and central agencies. There are 7 people in the Secretariat. Besides, NCFAW office includes 4 full-time staff.

According to the Decree No. 646/ TTg of the Government, NCFAW network is possible to expand down to grass-root. At present, there are 61Committees for the Advancement of Women (CFAWs) in 61 provinces and 48 CFAWs at ministries and central agencies. Leader of CFAW is Vice-President of People's Committee at the provincial level and minister or equivalent at ministerial or central agency level.

2.2 The NCFAW staff have received training in special skills by participating in following activities:

• Training courses on increasing awareness of gender and integrating gender into development fields: agriculture, information....
• Seminars with theme related to women such as health, education, leadership, information, environment....
• Study tours on machinery for the advancement of women, women's situation....
• Participating in United Nations, ASEAN, International and regional Meetings. The length of these trips are around 3 days to 1 month.

2.3. Annual budget: All expenses of the NCFAW are covered by the Government and supports from international partners.

3. The cooperation with other organizations:

3.1. Local organizations:

- Vietnam Women's Union at all levels

- Labour Federation

- Vietnam Peasants' Union

- Youth Union

- Centre for Family and Women's Studies

3.2. national authorities

- Ministries and central agencies

- Provincial People's Committees

3.3. International non-organizations and other international organizations: NCFAW is the member of ASEAN Sub-Committee on Women (ASW) and APEC. NCFAW is observer of UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) and ESCAP. And NCFAW has closed relationship with:

- Southeast Asia Watch (SEAWatch)

- Women's Environment and Development Organization

- Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Center for Women

- Asian-Pacific Development Center

- Southeast Asia Gender Equity Program....

4. NCFAW collaborates to implement small projects with themes as follows:

- Provide supports to implement the National Plan of Action for the Advancement of Women By the Year 2000 (POA) in Bac Can, Ca Mau, Quang Tri, Cao Bang provinces...

- Increasing the capacity for women: in almost provinces

- Increasing the capacity for CFAWs staff: at all provinces

5. NCFAW doesn't work with village-based development and capacity building.

6. We would like to cooperate with RETA project and we could provide consultancy, training and monitoring.

7. Our expectations are to improve the implementation of the National Plan of Action for the Advancement of Women By the Year 2000 that was adopted by the Government in 1997 and to improve the situation of women in rural areas.

8. We are interested in increasing women's role in environmental management and natural resources (including water resource) and improving women's life conditions

9. Contact information:

8. Research Centre for Gender, Family and Environment in Development (CGFED)

Established in May 1993

Registered with Hanoi Service of Science, Technology and Environment

1. What is the philosophy of the organisation?

As a non-profit research NGO, CGFED aims at social development with Gender and Development approach and multi-disciplinary method.

2. Which are the main areas of specialisation?
5 groups: Gender and Development; Gender and Family; Gender and Environment; Gendering Health and Training.

3. The capacity of the organisation: Consultant, Implement basic and apply research and Training.

3.2 Give details and length of e.g. training courses, seminars, study tours...:

• Seminars:

• Courses:

• Study tour in Denmark and Sweden: "Women organisation after Beijing"

And hundreds national seminars, training courses on Gender, Family Planning, Reproductive Health, Social Policies.

3.3 Estimate annual budget 1998 and 1999: USD 60,000

Funding source: SIDA, CIDA, Ford Foundation, Toyota Foundation, UNICEF, FAO, LNFPA, ILO, DED, ARROW, The Global Fund for Women, Radda Barnen, Embassies of Denmark, Canada, Netherlands, Sweden

4. List co-operation with organisations:

4.1 Local non-government organisations:

• Centre for Reproductive and Family Health

4.2. Various national authorities, such as: Department of Training- HNU; PMU1- Ministry of Transportation; MOLISA; Institute for Law Research; Provincial - commune Women's Unions.

4.3 International NGOs, and other international organisations: ARROW, APDC, Mahidol University, IHCAR Sweden, California University, ASCENT Philippines

5. Projects

• Production, Reproduction and Family Well-being; Lang Son Province and Hanoi; Survey on econo-sociology; Mahidol University.
• Rural Women in the Red River Delta: Gender, Water Management and Economic Transformation; Hai Hung and Ninh Binh provinces.
• Seeking measures to prevent the children sex abuse evil; Hanoi forms in Asia; Subregion Mekong (6 countries).
• Socio-economic survey and monitoring compensation for land acquisition in Lang Son and Hanoi; PMU1 - Ministry of Transportation.
• Serial training courses focus on Gender, Reproductive Health and Rights, Sexual Health and Rights in Hanoi, Lang Son and other provinces;

6. Please describe the manner in which your organisations is working with village-based development and capacity building: Co-operate and support women's unions at provinces and districts to implement projects: research and training, and seek donors.

7. Would you like to co-operate with the RETA project? Yes.

8. What type of input could you provide? All of them:

9. Our expectations are: to contribute to project goals, objective and achievement; to engage co-operation; to change experiences.

10. Are there any special restrictions/ official concerns relating to your involvement in the RETA project? No, there is not.

11. Name of contact person:

Prof Le Thi Nham Tuyet
Visiting address: 32A Dien Bien Phu Str., Hanoi
TeI/Fax: 8.233 130
E-mail: Ngoc@cgfed.org.vn
The form has been filled in by Ms. Nguyen Hoang Anh, Researcher (signed),Date: 24/3/1999

9. Oxfam Hong Kong- Vietnam Office

Established in year: 1993

Registered with: PACCOM

1. What is the philosophy of the organisation?

Oxfam Hong Kong is an independent development and relief agency based in Hong Kong and it is a member of Oxfam International. It works with poor people regardless of race, sex, religion or politics in their struggle against poverty, distress and suffering.

2. Which are the main areas of specialisation?

• Irrigation (dam)
• Water supply & sanitation
• Credit and savings
• Agro-forestry

• Environment
• Handicrafts
• Women’s health

• Advocacy (on landmines and Mekong development)

3. The capacity of the organisation

3.1 Personnel (separate full time and part time)

Note: Program/Project Officers are getting involved in programme. They are responsible for all integrated activities

3.2 Has your staff received training in special skills by participating in e.g. training courses, seminars, study tours, etc. Give details and length of training.

• All programme staff have received short training in Viet Nam relating to their works: Community development (1 week); Training of Trainers (1 week); Environmental screening (1 week);
• Almost all programme staff have been to China, Laos on study tours
• All programme staff have been to 1-2 day workshop on gender issues, ethnic minority
• 1 PO has been on 3 month course " Development study course" in UK
• 1 PO is going to Australia for 3 month internship

3.3 Estimated annual budget 1998 and 1999. U$700,000 annually

Funding sources: from Hong Kong

4. Please list co-operation with other organisations

4.1 Local non-government organisations

4.2 Various national authorities, such as

• central government agencies
• provincial authorities
• district authorities
• communes

4.3 International non-government organisations, and other international organisations.

5. In which provinces is your organisation working and in which area of specialisation? If you have participated in special projects please give the name of the projects and which the implementing agency was.

OHK Vietnam has carried out dozens of development projects of the above-mentioned areas (see 3) in our focus areas: Ky Son and Tuong Duong of Nghe An, Huong Khe of Ha Tinh and Da Krong, Gio Linh of Quang Tri provinces.

6. Please describe the manner in which your organisation is working with village-based development and capacity building.

Our project is designed based on the needs assessment involved villagers’ participation at the village levels. OHK’s projects required the involvement of villagers in the whole project cycle. By this way, plus training in forms of agriculture extension training for villagers, environmental education for villagers (starting in Huong Tho, Huong Khe this year in cooperation with WWF), studytours for villagers, sending project management team to training courses in Ha Noi etc, capacity of villagers will be improved.

7. Would you like to co-operate with the RETA project?—Yes

8. What type of input could you provide:

This needs more understanding of each other’s works. We believe that we have experience in development works and that working at grassroots level.

9. What would be your expectations with regards to the above-mentioned involvement?
Experience sharing and take full use of each other’s strong points.

10. Are there any special restrictions/official concerns relating to your involvement in the RETA project?

11. Please give your contact information:

Name of contact person: Susannah Hopkins Leisher or Nguyen Thi Yen
Visiting address: Oxfam Hong Kong, 218 Doi Can, La Thanh hotel, HN
Post address: same as above
Phone/fax no: 8328076/8328134
E-mail address: oxfamhk@netnam.org.vn
The form has been filled in by Nguyen Thi Yen/ Programme Assistant, 6/3/99

10. ENDA Vietnam

Established in year: 1995

Registered with: PACCOM

1. What is the philosophy of the organisation?

ENDA is an international NGO, south country based, focusing on a "search-action-training" process by local staff in environment and poverty fields. ENDA’s goals are:

• To help local authorities and associations working with grassroots groups on the basis of their needs and priorities;
• to play an active role in searching for more sustainable development at all levels, including diverse training programmes making this development possible;
• to contribute to all people, specially intellectuals, involving in the setting up and implementation of development programmes in the service of the largest number of people possible.

2. Which are the main areas of specialisation?

• Community development
• Environmental improvement

3. The capacity of the organisation.

3.1 Personnel

National Staff

Expatriate staff

3.2 Has your staff received training in special skills by participating in e.g. training courses, seminars, study tours, etc. Give details and length of training.

• Community development (at least 1 or 2 weeks a year)
• Project management (at least 1 or 2 weeks a year)
• Training on micro-credit system (one week over 2 years)a
• Water management (3 months in 1999 for one colleague, Institut Eco-Conseil de Namur, Belgique)
• Exchanges of experiences on waste management in 1998 (Indonesia)
• Exchanges of experiences on social housing in 1998 (Thaïlandia)

3.3 Estimated annual budget 1998 and 1999: 400,000 to 500,000 USD
Funding sources: UE, UNESCO, French Foreign Ministry, Canada Fund, NGO

4. Please list co-operation with other organisations

4.1 Local non-government organisations: No

4.2 Various national authorities,

• central government agencies: No
• provincial authorities: provinces of Giai Lai, Dak Lak, Quang Ngaï and Phu Yen
• district authorities: District I, II and V of HCMC, Hue People Committee
• communes: several Wards People Committee of HCMC

4.3 International non-government organisations, and other international organisations: Villes en Transition, CODEV Viet Phap (Electricity supply), SIDI (Small company financing), Centre National de Recherches Scientifiques (France)

4.4 Others: Mass organisations: Youth Association, Women Union

5. In which provinces is your organisation working and in which area of specialisation? If you have participated in special projects please give the name of the projects and which the implementing agency was.

6. Please describe the manner in which your organisation is working with village-based development and capacity building.

ENDA’s support is based upon:

• integrated action, research and training;
• interdisciplinary and constant reference to the environment,;
• priority use of local and national technical and human resources;
• maximize participation of the population in the planning, implementation and evaluation of development actions and initiatives;
• intensify exchanges of experiences and techniques within the country and within Asia.

7. Would you like to co-operate with the RETA project?

We would be interested to co-operate, subject to the respect of our organization philosophy and involvement in project, described in point 7.

8. What type of input could you provide:

• Consultancy: yes
• Training: yes
• specific tasks, such as social survey, pilot project implementation on a specific area…

9. What would be your expectations with regards to the above-mentioned involvement?

• Increase of exchanges of experience
• Integrated activities
• To be involved rather as a partner than a consultant

10. Are there any special restrictions/official concerns relating to your involvement in the RETA project?

11. Please give your contact information:

The form has been filled in by Nicolas RENARD, March 26, 1999

11. Vietnam Gardening Association – VACVINA

Established in January 1986

Registered with the Personnel and Organisation Department of Vietnamese Government.

1. VACVINA philosophy

Working to build up a sustainable agriculture and a better life for poorer farmers and rural communities

2. Main areas of specialisation

• Help farmers and rural communities to develop household economy, raise living standard and achieve self-reliance, manage natural resources by providing them with training, sustainable agriculture based techniques (VAC techniques), revolving loan, technical advice and other services.
• Strengthen local staffs on farmer led extension, participatory working approaches and tools such as PRA, RRA, PME, subject information and knowledge etc.
• Develop and implement program/projects on household food security, malnutrition protection, income generation, upland farming, agroforestry, re-settlement – of – shifting cultivation people, hunger alleviation and poverty reduction, post harvest handling improvement, environment protection etc.
• Provide improved seeds, seedlings, fingerlings etc and services such as consultancy, technical services to farmers and other organisations
• Collaborate with domestic and international organisations in doing humanity and development projects, information publication, technological transfer, workshop, training, cross-visit, study tour etc

3. Capacity of VACVINA

3.1 Personnel

• At central level: There are 32 staffs (26 full time staffs) working in VACVINA central office, they are all skilled agronomists, aquaculturists and economists.
• At provincial level: VACVINA has branches in all provinces of Vietnam. Each branch has 3-4 full time staffs.
• At grassroots level: VACVINA has cells at hundreds communes in Vietnam, each commune has 1-2 experienced farmers working as volunteers for VACVINA.

3.2 VACVINA staffs have regularly been trained by international experts or sent to Thailand and Philippines to learn on their subject knowledge.

3.2.1 Training

• sustainable agriculture (7 days/course)
• farmer-led farmer extension and PME (3 days/course)
• teaching method for adults (5 days/course)
• sustainable rural aquaculture for small scale farmers (1 month/course)
• training of trainers on sustainable agriculture (1 month/course)
• food, nutrition and agriculture (2 weeks)
• rural development project design and implementation (3 days) etc
• international accounting (2 weeks)
• gender issues in agriculture extension (1 week)

3.2.2 Seminars, workshops

• International conference on permaculture
• Farmer led extension workshop (6 days)
• International gathering of Asian farmers (6 days)
• Food security to Southeast Asian farmers (2 days)
• Lowland farming practises (3 days) etc

3.2.3 Study tours

• Alternative agriculture and integrated farming (Thailand 1997 – 10 days) etc

3.2.4 Budget

• 1998: VND 3000 000 000
• 1999: VND 3500 000 000

Funding sources: International donors (humanity and development projects), VACVINA’s capital, donations etc.

4. Cooperation with other organisations

4.1 Local NGOs:

• Vietnam Women Union, Farmers Association,
• Institute of Economy and Ecology.

4.2 National authorities:

• Government of Vietnam
• Ministries (Agriculture and Rural Development, Fisheries, Science, Technologies and Environment, Planning and Investment etc)
• People’s Committees and Agriculture and Rural Development departments of provincial, district and commune levels

4.3 International NGOs and organisations

• UNICEF, FAO, UNDP
• CARE International, CIDSE, OXFAM, Action Aid
• International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) – Philippines
• Terra Orient – Denmark etc

5. Project currently being implemented

1. Improved household income by reducing postharvest losses of fruits, vegetables and flowers
   - jointly implemented by VACVINA and IIRR
   - in 6 provinces (Thai Nguyen, Hai Duong, Ha Nam, Lam Dong, Binh Duong, Tien Giang)
2. Producing organic produces
   - funded by Terra Orient
   - in Thai Nguyen and Thai Binh provinces
3. VAC extension project
   - annually funded by the Government through Ministry of Agriculture and Rural development
   - in all provinces of Vietnam

6. Manner of working of VACVINA

• VACVINA pays heed to using participatory approaches when dealing with rural poor farmers
• The very first thing we always do is to motivate poor farmers to establish their own village based VAC organisation and strengthen its capacity so that it become the core for community sustainable development. After that we focus on training, creating confidence for farmers and demonstrations
• Project activities are designed based on indigenous knowledge and locally available resources and environment sound

7. Interest in cooperation with RETA 5771—Yes

8. Inputs, VACVINA can provide

9. Expectations from cooperation

10. No restriction available for cooperation

11. Contact person

12. Women Studies Department

Established in 1992

Registered with the Open University of HCMC – Ministry of Education and Training

1. The philosophy of the organisation:

2. Main areas of specialisation:

3. Capacity of the organisation:

3.1 Personnel: 10 full time, 30 part time (invited lecturers)

3.2 Has your staff received training in special skills by participating in e.g. training courses, seminars, study tours etc. Give details and length of training: several trainings:

• RPA on poverty: 2 weeks by SCF UK
• Reproductive Health: two weeks by American and Canadian experts
• Social work practice: 1 month by lecturers from Fordham University (New York)
• Seminars: in country and abroad on: domestic violence, rural women and technology transfer, gender studies, environment management.

3.3 Estimated annual budget 1998 and 1999: USD 90 000

4 Cooperation with other organisations

4.1 National: Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs

International non-government organisations, and other organisations:

5. In which provinces is your organisation working and in which area of specialisation. If you have participated in special projects please give the name of the projects and which the implementing agency was.

6. Please describe the manner in which your organisations is working with village-based development and capacity building

Training on community development, on management of social project, working with authorities and people in community for identifying their needs, and for implementing activities. People are involved in the project at all steps. Capacity building is based on training people in carrying out themselves different tasks, in a perspective that they will manage themselves the project after two or three years when Women Studies Department will remove their staff.

7. Would you like to cooperate with the RETA project? Yes

8. What type of input could you provide?

• consultancy: Yes
• training—Yes
• specific tasks: carrying out surveys, information collection, writing reports

9. What would be your expectations with regards to the above-mentioned involvement?

• To contribute knowledge and skills in sustainable development in a specific area
• To have an opportunity to learn more about the Mekong region
• To broden cooperation with RETA

10. Are there any special restrictions/official concerns relating to your involvement in the RETA project? No

11. Please give your contact information:

The form has been filled in By Dr thai Thi Ngoc Du, March 25, 1999

13. Rural Development Services Centre

Established in January 1995

Registered with Hanoi Department of Science, technology and Environment

1. What is the philosophy of the organisation?

In Vietnam poverty is caused mostly by economic, health and education factors. Poverty can be reduced a) when the poor are empowered in their organisations, b) when they are given opportunities and if they are insured from risks.

RDSC should facilitate quality development process in Vietnam by generating Vietnamese learning and experience in researching and piloting development models in its projects and programmes; then share these knowledge and experience with other development agencies through training and consultancies.

2. Which are the main areas of specialisation?

3. The capacity of the organisation

3.1 13 full time staff

3.2 Has your staff received training in special skills?

The staff attend various training programmes offered by RDSC and other training institutions. Some of the training programmes are listed below:

3.3 Estimated annual budget 1998 and 1999. Funding sources:

4. Co-operation with other organisations

4.1 Local non-government organisations

11 Organisations:

National authorities:

• Central government agencies

• Provincial authorities

• District authorities

• Communes

4.3 International non-government organisations and other international organisations

5. In which provinces is your organisation working and in which area os specialisation?

6. In which manner is your organisation woriking with village-based development and capacity building?

The key words are:

• Participative
• Empowering
• Process-oriented
• Women-focused
• Economic development

7. Would you like to cooperate with the RETA project?

8. What type of input could you provide?

• Consultancy: Yes
• Training: Yes

9. What would be your expectations with regards to the involvement?

10. Are there any special restrictions/official concerns relating to your involvement in the RETA project?—No

11. Contact information: