Regional Environmental Technical Assistance 5771
Poverty Reduction & Environmental Management in Remote Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Watersheds Project (Phase I)

Annexes to

NGOs in the GMS – Involvement Related to Poverty Alleviation
and Watershed Management in Viet Nam

By Gunilla Riska

CONTENTS

Mr. N H Thang, Vietnam, has on behalf of RETA 5771 studied organisations working with watershed management in order to make contributions to the research and assessment of capacity of NGOs, community-based organisations private sector companies related to watershed management in the fields of hunger eradication and poverty reduction, and environmental protection in the Mekong river watershed areas,

This work has included the following:

• Identification of NGOs, community-based organisations private sector companies engaged in activities related to watershed management.
• Assessment of present capacity of these organisations, mechanisms for engaging them In development activities, particularly in watershed management, and their relation with other organisations.
• Survey on NGOs, community-based organisations private sector companies engaged in activities related to watershed management in the Central Highland Region according to the prepared questionnaire.

The first part of the study is included as ANNEX I and gives an introduction and a review of mass organisation. The second half concerns organisations in Gia Lai and Dac Lac provinces in Central Highlands and is found under ANNEX II.

MASSORGANISATIONS

By Mr N H Thang

1 INTRODUCTION

Environmental pollution and environmental ecological destruction, especially in watershed regions are serious problems in developing countries at present Some main activities making negative effects on the environment of watershed regions are: uncontrolled exploitation of forestry products and deforestation; cutting and firing forests for cultivation: unplanned utilisation of water resources; traditional and backward methods of cultivation making forest soil erosion, etc. The deep-rooted causes of destruction of the environment of watershed regions are mainly poverty and hunger, low level of socio-economic development. As a result, the environment is increasingly destroyed and hence the poverty increases. In order to break down the vicious circle: "poverty and hunger environmental destruction poverty and hunger", in addition to great efforts of various related government agencies, the active participation of all people, of which non-governmental organisations such as mass organisations, professional associations, charitable organisations, etc. is very necessary. At the same time, to protect the environment of the watershed areas, the solutions are not only preventing deforestation and increasing planted land areas but also are such measures which deal with the deep-rooted causes of deforestation as: hunger eradication and poverty reduction, increasing peoples' educational level, health care for community. Therefore, the study of capacity of the above organisations in order to exploit their potential in promoting the socio-economic development in Highland regions, especially in the watershed regions of big rivers plays a very important role in protecting the environment in Vietnam.

2 GENERAL ISSUES ABOUT NGOs RELATED TO WATERSHED MANAGEMENT

In Vietnam the watershed management in the past was mainly carried out by government agencies Because this was a very complicated and extensive problem the government agencies with few staff could not master out it. Up to now, there are many NGOs and quasi-NGOs such as social organisations, professional organisations, etc. having activities which related both directly and indirectly to the protection and management of watershed areas.

This report pays attention to objects which are organisations implementing activities in order to prevent behaviours which destroy the environment of the watershed regions (such as fighting against exploitation of forestry products and hunting wild animals, preventing unplanned deforestation as well as cutting down and firing forests for cultivation, etc.), activities for restoring forests and animals (e.g. reforestation, greening the open land and denuded hills, protecting wild animals and water resources, etc.), activities for increasing the awareness of people in forest protection, or activities for improving the living standards of people In the watershed areas.

These organisations also include other organisations having activities directly related the watershed management (forestry professional associations, etc.) and organisations which aim at increasing awareness and the living standards of people in the watershed regions (mass organisations, professional associations, etc,).

3. WOMEN’S UNION

3.1 Organisation and funding

The organisational system of the Women’s Union is divided into five levels; central, provincial (central city), district, communal (quarter), village and hamlet. At village and hamlet level, there is a head of women's group. At communal (quarter) level, there is a chairperson. At district level, there is an executive board of 4 or 5 persons. And at the provincial or city level, there is an executive board of from 9 to 12 persons. Members of the Executive Board from the communal or neighbourhood level up receive salary from state budget. The head of women's group at villages and hamlets and vice-chairperson of the executive board at communes work as volunteers and do not receive salary. Therefore, the Women's Union at these level operate as a NGO. The Women's Union has a large number of member women. There were over 12 million member women in the whole country in 1997.

3.2 Mission and activities

The Women's Union is the political and social organisations of the women. Therefore, apart from its missions are education, propagation and mobilisation for member women to carry out political and social tasks, the Union also has the following task:

• Make mutual assistance among members in improving living conditions, increasing income, developing household economy, organising saving activities to get capital for members.
• Take part into solving social problems such as promoting family planing, increasing people's educational level, fighting against social evils, etc.
• Protect the legal interests of member women.

3.3 Activities related to watershed management

• Taking part into the movements of eradicating illiteracy, increasing knowledge and educational levels for member women.
• Organising the movements of protecting environment, "green - dean - beautiful" movements.
• Fighting against social evils and behaviors damaging the environment.
• Making mutual help and assistance for improving living standards.

3.4 Strength in watershed management

• The number of member women is large and members are throughout the country and the Union has very wide influence.
• The member women are always a bread winner of the family both in economic term and raising children and hence they have great impact on the family and society.
• The member women have permanent settlement and stable job so they can pay much more attention to the work of the Union.
• The Union has advantages in making relationship with government agencies and authorities and other organisations. The Union is paid much attention from government authorities at different levels.

3.5 Weakness in watershed management

• The activities of the Union has surface-movement characteristic. So, it is difficult for the Union to go to more specific activities of protecting forests of the watershed regions due to lack of special skills in this field.
• The budget is small and funding sources are few. So they are mainly used for the Union's work, not for other activities, especially for activities of environmental protection which requires much time and money.

3.6 The capacity of the organisation

• The cadres of the Union at different levels have enthusiasm in participating in the women's movements and prestige. Many cadres of the Union have high educational level and have been trained in the skills of the Union's work.
• The activities of the Union are realistic and suitable with the local conditions and hence they promote the participation of member women. Many international NGOs have selected the Women's Union at various levels as their partner in implementing programs and projects particularly the projects of hunger eradication and poverty alleviation, employment generation, small-scale credit.
• The Union has high capacity in co-ordinating with other organisations to implement programs, projects, especially the community-based projects.

4. YOUTH UNION

4.1 Organisation and funding

The organisational system of the Youth Union is structured by different levels, from central level to communal or neighbourhood level. The number of members of the Executive Board at different levels is based on the Youth Union Rules and varies from 2 to 10 persons or more. Like other mass organisations, the members of the Executive Board of the Youth Union from the communal or neighbourhood level up receive the salary from the state budget. The members of the Youth Union are outstanding young people at the age of from 14 to 33 years with the great number.

4.2 Mission and activities

The Youth Union is the political and social organisation of the youth The Union has the mission of educating. propagating and mobilising the youth to carry out the political and social tasks at each period, protecting the legal rights and interests of the youth.

4.3 Activities related to watershed management

The Youth Union have activities to:

• Participate directly in producing goods, increasing income, making contributions to hunger eradication and poverty alleviation, especially in the watershed regions.
• Organise various movements of environmental protection, "green-clean-beautiful" movement.
• Take part into the movement of eradicating the illiteracy, increasing knowledge and educational levels of youth members.
• Organise cultural, sporting. and entertainment activities which have positive effects on education for and improving the health and spiritual life of the youth.
• Fight against the social evils and the behaviors damaging the environment.

4.4 Strength in watershed management

• The Youth Union is the young, healthy and educated force. Therefore, they can easily learn new things, play the leading role in the socio-economic activities.
• The number of the youth member is big and hence the Union has wide influence.
• The Union is the organisation being paid much attention from the government agencies and other organisations as well as the whole society.

4.5 Weakness in watershed management

• Because the Union's members are young there are always many changes and movements among the Union's members (in terms of changing jobs, living places, etc.).
• At present. In many localities, the activities of the Youth Union are unrealistic with procedural characteristic. Therefore, it is difficult to attract members participate in the activities as well as movements of the Union.

4.6 The capacity of the organisation

• The cadres of the Youth Union are active and creative persons and also have enthusiasm. So that they can mobilise the youth.

5. FARMERS’ ASSOCIATION

5.1 Organisation and funding

Vietnamese Farmers' Association is an organisation of the farmers. The organisational network of the Association is divvied into different levels from the central to communal, neighbourhood and village levels. At village level, there is a farmers group of the Association. At communal or neighbourhood level, there is the branch Association at the commune or quarter. And there is a district farmers Association at district level. The number of members of the Executive Board from the communal level upward varies from 2 person to 25 persons according to the Association's Rules. This number is I to 2 at communal level, 25 at district level. The members of the Executive Board from the communal level upward receive the salary from the state budget. Other members of the Executive Board are paid by each locality. Budget of the Association is mainly financed by the state budget and organisation dues (small amount).

5.2 Mission and activities

The Farmers' Association is a professional association of the farmers. The Association has missions of educating, propagating and promoting farmers to implement political and social tasks at each period, protecting the legal rights and interests of the farmers, making mutual help and assistance in production and the everyday life. The Association organises some emulation movements such as.

• The emulation movement in production, and to stabilise the life.
• The movement to build up the new rural areas.
• The movement to maintain the public security and social safety.

5.3 Activities related to watershed management

• Promoting farmers to carry out various movements to foster production, plant and protect forests.
• Building and introducing the "excellent farmer in production" model, ecological and economic model of VAC - Vuon Ao Chuong (integrated garden, fish pond, and small livestock system).
• Establishing funds in order to give loans to member farmer to develop their household economy, and for hunger eradication and poverty alleviation, for increasing income for farmers, especially in the mountainous areas.
• Co-ordinating with other agencies and organisations to implement agricultural extension, to diffuse knowledge and agricultural technology to farmers, carry out IPM program, to transform the agricultural economic structure.
• Helping poor farmer households get loans by the Association's collateral.
• Implementing the movement of building up the new rural areas, promoting the farmers to carry out permanent agriculture and settlement, particularly with regard to the farmers of ethnic minorities in the remote areas.
• Making contributions to build the cultured villages and to prevent social evils.

5.4 Strength in watershed management

• The Farmers' Association is a mass professional organisation. Thus, the activities of the Association are related closely to the agricultural and rural development and hence they are very helpful to the farmers.
• The cadres of the Association have knowledge and experience in agricultural production (most of them are agricultural engineers and have the long working time and put their heart into the job in the field of agriculture and rural development).
• The Association is paid much attention by many government agencies, other organisations as well as the whole society, especially the administrative agencies of agriculture and rural development at different levels.

5.5 Weakness in watershed management

• The Association is an organisation with short-time performance. So the Association can not have enough specific skills and experience in performance. The scope and level of performance is still limited in some areas and some fields.
• Many branch associations do not maintain the continuous performance.
• The Association lacks of the funding sources for operation.

5.6 The capacity of the organisation

• The cadres of the Association have experience and knowledge in the field of agriculture and rural development. Hence, they have advantages in mobilising farmers, diffusing agricultural knowledge and technologies.
• The Association has high capacity in co-ordinating with other specialisation agencies and organisations, particularly in the field of agriculture and rural development.

6. VETERAN SOLDIERS’ CONFEDERATION

6.1 Organisation and funding

The Veteran Soldiers' Confederation is a mass organisation of the soldiers having participated in the revolutionary war. The organisational network of the Confederation spreads out from the central level to district level. The Executive Board of the Confederation receives salary from the state budget. The salary fund depends on the number of the members of the Executive Board. The funding sources of the Confederation come from the state budget, organisation dues and income from economic activities.

6.2 Mission and activities

The Veteran Soldiers' Confederation is a mass social organisation of veteran soldiers. The Organisation has missions of propagating and promoting veteran soldiers to carry out the social and political tasks in each period, protecting the legal rights and. interests of the veteran soldiers, making mutual help and assistance for veteran soldiers in production and the everyday life.

6.3 Activities related to watershed management

• Promoting the veteran soldiers to participate in the movements to foster production, to plant and protect forests.
• Building and introducing the efficient model of production of veteran soldiers.
• Promoting masses to participate in the movements of building the new rural areas, of socio-economic and cultural development, of preventing social evils.

6.4 Strength in watershed management

• The members of the Organisation are veteran soldiers - who have a great contribution to defend and build up the country. Thus, the Organisation has a very good prestige in the society and great impact on the authorities.
• Most of the members of the Organisation are at the old age. Therefore, they can persuade people and act as a mirror for their off-springs.

6.5 Weakness in watershed management

• Because the Organisation is the organisation of veteran soldiers with social and political character, the Organisation faces difficulties in performance in the specific fields with specific skills.
• The Executive Board lacks cadres and the funding sources are small. Thus, the scope of performance in various regions and specific fields is limited.

6.6 The capacity of the organisation

• The Organisation has very closed relationships with authorities at various levels.
• The Organisation has high capacity in promoting masses and acts as the mirror for people.

7 PROFESSIONAL ORGANISATIONS AND BUSINESS CENTRES

7.1 Gardeners' Association

The main activities are introducing knowledge and experiences in the development of farmers household economy in some fields such as: planting trees, animal husbandry, diffusion of some ecological and economic models with objective of economic development and environmental protection. The limitations of the Association is limited scope and fields of performance. The activities of the Association mainly concentrate on the suburban rural areas or on big cities, towns. Therefore it has less positive effects on the difficult rural areas, especially the remote rural areas.

7.2 Bee-keepers Association

Bee-keepers Association is a professional association. The main activities of the Association introducing knowledge and experiences in rearing bees, co-operating to market the products. This Association contributes both to economic development and ecological protection and increasing income for farmers. However, the impact of performance of the Association is limited both in terms of location and fields.

7.3 Service Centres

These centres are ones of introducing jobs, vocational training. They make contributions in increasing knowledge, creating employment, increasing income for people, especially for the youth.

8 OTHER NGOs RELATED TO WATERSHED MANAGEMENT

8.1 The projects for protecting environment

These are the projects of planting protecting forests, protecting water resources, preventing the landslide of dikes, etc.

These projects are implemented by domestic organisations in co-ordination with the Government of foreign organisations. These projects relate to building infrastructural facilities, planting trees which require a large amount of capital.

8.2 The projects of socio-economic development

These projects focus on:

• Increasing the knowledge for people.
• Providing cultivating methods by the way of giving "the fishing rod".
• Increasing the capacity of various organisations.
• Providing capital, equipment and facilities, etc.

B. ANNEX II: LOCAL ORGANISATIONS IN CENTRAL HIGHLANDS

by Mr. N H Thang

The research team has conducted a survey on 23 organisations and institutions in Daklak and Gialai provinces. These are:

1. Farmer's Association at Pleiku town.
2. Farmer's Association at Banmethuot city.
3. Youth Union at Pleiku town.
4. Women's Union at Pleiku town.
5. Farmer's Association at Gialai province.
6. Gardeners' Association at Gialai Province.
7. Bee-keepers' Association at Gialai Province.
8. Managing board of building for protecting forest for hydroelectric station Yaly
9. Father Union at Pleiku town.
10. Labour Union at Banmethuot city
11. Doan Ket Company LTD, Daklak province
12. Company managing urban buildings at Daklak province
13. Union of co-operatives Daklak province
14. Women' Union at Buonmethuot city.
15. Father Front at Banmethuot city.
16. Youth Union at Banmethuot city.
17. Veteran Soldiers Confederation at Daklak province
18. Local Parliament at Daklak province.
19. Construction Department of Daklak province.
20. Department of Agricultural and Rural Development Gialai Province.
21. Department of Science, Technology and Environment at Gialai province.
22. Industrial Department at Ankhe District, Gialai
23. Department of Science, Technology and Environment at Daklak province.

1. Farmers' Association of Gia Lai province

Address: 19 Nguyen Du Str., Pleiku town.

Tel: 059824464

Contact person; Mr. Le Trac Ky

Organisation

The former name was the Association of Collective Peasants established after 1975. In 1988, it changed to Farmers Association of Gialai province. The Executive Board of the Association has 29 persons, of which 13 persons belong to ethnic minorities.

The main function of the Farmer's Association. is propagating, educating, and mobilising farmers, protecting the farmers' legal rights and interests.

The organisational network of the Association: below the provincial level, the Association has Its i4 branches at district level, 161 branch associations at communal and neighbourhood levels, and over 5,000 member groups at village level.

There are over 10,000 members participating in the organisational network of the Association from the provincial to village level.

The cadres of the Association at different levels are sent to training courses in the skills of association work, and in agricultural extension.

The Association has over 130,000 member farmers.

Activities

1. Activities promoting economic development: The Association co-ordinates with other organisations and agencies in implementing agricultural extension, adopting new technologies in production, promoting farmer households to apply new dry-resistant rice varieties, hybrid maize varieties, imported sugar varieties, and to plant industrial crops such as rubber, coffee.
   Promoting the movement of "excellent farmer in production", summing up efficient productive models in order to introduce to local branches of the Association. Introducing the fanning models to the farmer households.
2. Cultural and social activities: Promoting farmers to carry out family - planning, organising clubs of population and family -planning. Promoting ethnic member farmers to build up the model of villages with permanent settlement and agriculture
   Co-ordinating with Provincial Department of Education in reducing the rates of school unenrollment and illiteracy of the farmers.
   Promoting the farmers to make a healthy and cultured lifestyles to prevent corrupted customs, superstition.

Relationship

2. Farmers' Association in Buon Me Thuot City

Address: 01 Ly Nam De str., Buon Me Thuot City

Tel: 050-851000/247

Contact person: Nguyen Van Tu

Organisation

The Farmers' Association of Buon Me Thuot City was established in 1979 by the decision of the Farmers' Association at provincial level (the former name was the Association of Collective Peasants and it changed to Farmers' Association in 1988).

The Executive Board of the Association has 25 persons of which 3 persons belong to ethnic minorities and two are women.

The Association has its 14 branches at communal and neighbourhood levels, 167 member groups at village and hamlet level. The Association has over 130,000 member farmers. The number of member farmer accounts for over 50 percent of the total number of farmers at the whole city, of 'which over 29 percent of the total member farmers belongs to ethnic minorities. The cadres of the Association have been trained in the skills of the Association's work

Activities

1. Activities developing production: The Association co-ordinates with other organisations and agencies in organising training courses in agricultural technical skills, seminars, in implementing agricultural extension, adopting new technologies in production.
2. Helping member farmers in marketing products and purchasing agricultural inputs.
3. Building up assistance fund for farmers, people’s credit fund, the Association's fund. Helping member farmers get loans from banks by the Association's collateral and land for production.
4. Implementing some programs of planting fruit trees.
5. Cultural and social activities: Promoting the member farmers to make a healthy and cultured lifestyles through the clubs of cultured farmer households, to prevent corrupted customs, superstition
6. Activities of environmental protection: The Association carries out propagation of the State's policies to member farmers, promote some emulation movements in production and environmental protection.

Relationship

The Association has the very closed relationship with the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, as a member of The Farther Front at various levels and has other very closed relationships with Youth Union, Women's Union and other mass and social organisations.

3. Farmers' Association in Buon Me Thuot City

Address: 114 Tran Phu str., Pleiku town.

Tel: 059-822682.

Contact person: Mr. Duong Van Quoc

Organisation and funding

The Farmers' Association of Pleiku town is a member organisation of The Farmers' Association of Gialai province. Its main functions and missions are similar to those of the Farmers' Association at provincial level. But its scope of activity is limited within the town.

The Executive Board of the Association has 3 persons and manages a network of the Association's 14 branches at communal and neighbourhood levels, 167 member groups at village and hamlet level. The number of member farmers of the Association was about 8.000 in 1997.

The budget for activities of the Association includes: salaries for the Executive Board of the Association from the state budget, organisation dues (very small), assistance of some departments at the town level such as Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, People's Committee.

Activities

1. The Association co-ordinates with other organisations and agencies to implement agricultural extension and to put new technologies into production. In 1987, the Association organised training courses in transferring agricultural science and technical skills for 500 participants. Summing up and introducing models of "excellent" farmers in production.
2. Promoting farmers to change cropping patterns, to grow more industrial crops with high economic value such as coffee, rubber, fruit trees. Promoting farmers of ethnic minorities to carry out intensive cultivation, permanent agriculture and settlement to increase productivity and develop production.
3. Co-ordinating with other organisations and agencies to implement programs of hunger eradication and poverty alleviation. Building up credit funds for poor farmer households.
4. Cultural and social activities: Promoting the member farmers to carry out family planning. Encouraging ethnic minorities to keep clean environment, to make a healthy and cultured lifestyles, to prevent corrupted customs.
5. Capacity and potential: The cadres of the Association have working experience in agricultural field ability to co-ordinate well with other organisations and agencies.

Relationship

The Association has the very closed relationship with other organisations such as the Town Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Bank for the Poor, The Father-Front. The Association has other very closed relationships with communes, villages, hamlets, and admits important cadres of local authorities to the Executive Board of the Association at various levels.

4. Women's Union in Pleiku town

Address: 02 Tang Bat Ho str., Pleiku town.

Tel: 059-824331

Contact person: Phan Thi Oanh

Organisation and funding

The Executive Board of the Union has 5 persons receiving salary from state budget. Below the Women's Union of the Town are 15 its branches at communal and neighbourhood levels, 250 member groups at village and hamlet level. The number of member women of the Union was about 11,460 in 1998. The funding source from the state budget is mainly used to pay for staff with the amount of VND 4.5 million per year for each Executive Board at communal level (two persons). Additions to the budget of the Union are organisation dues (very small); assistance of other organisations and agencies, and some programs, projects; income from some economic activities, e.g. profit from credit fund.

Mission and activities

Besides the above political and social task of the Union also has the following tasks:

• Educate women, upgrade, and increase the knowledge and ability of the women.
• Make mutual assistance among members in improving living conditions, increasing income, developing household economy, organising saving activities to get capital for members.
• Take part into solving social problems such as promoting family planing, increasing people's educational level, fighting against social evils, etc.
• Protect the legal interests of member women.

Activities related to watershed management

• Taking part into the movements of eradicating Illiteracy, increasing knowledge and educational levels for member women.
• Organising the movements of protecting environment, "green - clean - beautiful" movements
• Fighting against social evils and behaviors damaging the environment
• Making mutual help and assistance for improving living standards.

Strength in watershed management

• The number of member women is large and members are throughout the country and the Union has very wide influence.
• The member women are always a breadwinner of the family both in economic term and raising children and hence they have great impact on the family and society.
• The member women have permanent settlement and stable job so they can pay much more attention to the work of the Union.
• The Union has advantages in making relationship with government agencies and authorities and other organisations. The Union is paid much attention from government authorities at different levels.

Weakness in watershed management

• The activities of the Union has surface-movement characteristic. So, it is difficult for the Union to go to more specific activities of protecting watershed regions due to lack of special skills in this field.
• The budget is small and funding sources are few. So they are mainly used for the Union’s work, not for other expanded activities, especially for activities of environmental protection which requires much time and money.

The capacity of the organisation

The cadres of the Union- at different levels have enthusiasm in participating in the women's movements and prestige. Many cadres of the Union have high educational level and have been trained in the specific skills of the Union's work.

The activities of the Union are realistic and suitable with the local conditions and hence they promote the participation of member women. Many International NGOs have selected the Women's Union at various levels as their partner in implementing programs and projects, particularly the projects of hunger eradication and poverty alleviation employment generation small-scale credit.

The Union has high capacity in co-ordinating with other organisations to implement programs, projects, especially the community-based projects.

5. Women's Union In Buon Me Thuot city

Address: 17 Nguyen Tat Thanh str., Buon Me Thuot city.

Tel: 050-851000.

Contact person: Nguyen Thi Danh

Organisation and funding

The Executive Board of the Union has 5 persons receiving salary from state budget Below the Women's Union of the City are 20 its branches at communal and neighbourhood levels, 181 member groups at village and hamlet levels, and 866 women's groups. The number of member women of the Union was about 11,582 in 1998, of which 4,232 member women belong to ethnic minorities, the member women at the age of over 60 account for 44 percent of the total number.

With regard to budget, besides the funding sources from the state budget and organisation dues, the Union also creates other sources of income such as credit funds, budgets of programs, projects (such as Danish project of taking primary health care for women and children); capital from Bank for the Poor, saving fund for poor Women of the Union at provincial level.

Mission and activities related to watershed management

Besides the above political and social tasks, the Union also has the following tasks:

• Organise various saving groups in order to make loans for poor member women; build up groups for making funds.
• Build up funds such as fund for children, fund for children to go to schools, etc.
• Build up women's clubs at various levels to exchange knowledge and experience among women on several issues such as building cultured family, family planning, increasing awareness of the gender.
• Promote ethnic member women to eradicate illiteracy and increase educational level, complete primary school.
• Co-ordinate with heath care agencies to test the health for member women and children.
• Take part into movements of protect public security and environment.

Strength in watershed management

• Besides the strengths of the Women's Union in general, the Union also has an other strength that many member women are wealthy and have stable life due to growing coffee and rubber.
• The Union is paid much attention from government authorities at different levels.

Weakness in watershed management

• The ways of organising activities and meetings of the Union do not attract the participation of all classes of women especially intellectual women, market-women, and Christian women.
• The work of upgrading specific skills for cadres of the Union is still limited.
• The budget is small and funding sources are few.

The capacity of the organisation

The Union has high capacity in co-ordinating with other organisations to implement programs, projects, especially the community-based projects.

6. Youth Union in Pleiku town

Address: 20 Tang Bat Ho

Tel: 059-824234

Contact person: Phan Ngoc Anh

Organisation and funding

The organisational structure of the Union consists of three sections: standing section with 2 persons, the executive section for the Youth's Association with 2 persons, and a managing section of activities of Young Pioneer with 3 persons and 2 contractual clerks. One of the cadres of the Town Executive Board of the Union belongs to ethnic minority. The number of young members of the Union is 61556, of which 231 members belong to ethnic minorities. The budget for activities of the Union is as usually financed by the state budget. Besides, it is funded by some other agencies and organisations, projects.

Mission and activities related to watershed management

• Often organise propagation teams for protection of environmental hygiene in schools, promote "green-clean-beautiful" movements.
• Introduce jobs to and generate employment for the young through projects such as animal husbandry, garment projects, and employment generating project.
• Establish broadcasting clubs of young pioneers for propagation of environmental protection among pupils and people.
• Co-ordinate with other related agencies in order to build up cultured villages of the young and the healthy and cultured lifestyle, to prevent corrupted customs.
• Propagate and educate the young with regard to family-planning, fighting against social evils and behaviors damaging the environment
• Establish a canter for raising orphan children (since 1993).

Strength in watershed management

Besides the strengths of the Youth Union in general as said in section 1, the Youth Union in Pleiku town also has other strengths as follows:

• Combining the activities of the Youth Union with economic activities.
• Good experience in co-ordinating with other organisations and agencies.

Weakness in watershed management

• Appropriate and useful activities for the members of the Union in some localities are not continuously carried out, especially in localities of ethnic minorities.
• In many localities, the young and members of the Union pay much attention to economic activities for income while paying less due attention to social activities.
• Them is a considerable share of the young and members of the Union belonging to local ethnic minorities. But many of them have low educational level; limited social knowledge. Hence, this makes difficulty for promotion and education of the young.

The capacity of the organisation

• The cadres of the Executive Board of the Youth union always work in practice and have been trained in professional skills. Therefore, they are able to mobilise and organise the young.
• The Union has high capacity in co-ordinating with other organisations and agencies to implement socio-political tasks.

7. Youth Union in Buon Me Thuot city

Address: 78 Ly Thuong Kiet Buonbethuot city

Tel: 050-852680

Contact person: Nguyen Van Dzi

Organisation and funding

The organisational structure of the Union in the city is similar to that of the Youth Union in Pleiku town. The number of members of the Union is 8,000. This number accounts for 25 percent of all young people in the city. The budget for activities of the Union is as usually financed by the state budget. Besides, the Union also promotes its local branches (at communal or neighbourhood levels) to build up funds for activities and mobilises funding sources from other agencies and organisations, projects.

Mission and activities related to watershed management

• Promote various movements of planting trees, reforestation, greening the open land and denuded hills.
• Promote and assist the young to develop economic activities, build up a fund for helping the poor young to do business.
• Establish youth clubs of doing business.
• Co-ordinate with other related agencies and organisations in order to implement the "green-clean-beautiful" movement in the city and to set up various teams and groups for managing hygiene of city streets

Strength in watershed management

Besides the strengths of the Youth Union in general as said in section 1, the Youth Union in Buon Me Thuot city also has other strengths as follows:

• Location of activities in the city makes more advantages for the Union.
• Many young members of the Union have good living conditions.

Weakness in watershed management

Besides the weaknesses of the Youth Union in general as mentioned above, the Youth Union in Buon Me Thuot city also has other weaknesses as follows:

• In general, many activities of the Union are incoherent and lack of the co-ordination with other agencies and organisations.
• Many members of the Union belonging to local ethnic minorities have low educational level, limited social knowledge. Hence, this makes difficulty for promotion and education of the young.
• The budget for activities of the Union is small.

The capacity of the organisation

• The cadres of the Youth Union have knowledge and experience in doing economic activities. They are able to mobilise and organise the young to generate employment for themselves and develop household economy.
• The Union has high capacity in coordinating with other organisations and agencies such as Gardeners’ Association, Bee-keepers’ Association, provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Department of Education, Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs.

8. Gardeners' Association in Gia Lai province

Address: 24 Quang Trung St.

Tel: 059-824273

Contact person: Eng. Nguyen Cuong

Organisation and funding

The organisational structure of the Association is divided into two levels: provincial and district The Association has 21 cadres working part-time (playing two roles). Many of the cadres are working in some government agencies such as Department of Agriculture and Rural Development The budget of the Association is mainly funded by organisation dues and income from Associations activities.

Activities related to watershed management

• Helping farmers in selecting varieties of crops, hybridising new varieties in order to increase the yield of crops.
• Consultancy in the field of gardening.

Strength in watershed management

• Many members of the Association are experts in agricultural techniques and hence they have experience as well as knowledge to help farmers in gardening, In developing household economy, and increasing living standards.
• The Association has very closed relationships with Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and other agencies.

Weakness in watershed management

• The scope of activities of the Association is limited in term of location. The activities of the Association are only concentrated in the neighbourhood of the town.
• Main field of activities is gardening technique with major objective is to Increase living standards for members of the Association. The impact of these activities on the protection of watershed regions is weak.
• Lacking funding source for activities.

The capacity of the organisation

• The activities of the Association are suitable with and. helpful to farmers and hence they can be expanded in terms of location and other fields.
• The members of the Association have experience and knowledge in agroforestry fields. Thus, they can implement productive consultative, and research activities.

9. Labour Union in Buon Me Thuot city

Address: 01 Ly Nam De

Tel: 050-85100/256

Contact person: Le Van Sum

Organisation and funding

There are 2 cadres working in the Executive Board of the Labour Union which, manages 25 local branches (at communal or neighbourhood levels), 125 labour union groups. The number of labour union members accounts for 85 percent of the total number of workers. In the State sector, 91 percent of all workers participate in the Labour Union. In private sector, 51 percent of all workers participate in the Labour Union. The budget for activities of the Union is mainly financed by the state budget

Mission and activities

Having role of protecting the interests of workers, the Labour Union in the city implement various following activities:

• Carry out political propagation and education for members introduction of State's policies, education of traditions, promotion of emulation movements in production.
• Organise cultural artistic, sporting activities: artistic performance, good singing-voice contest, sport games.
• Organise the movements of excellent workers suitable with specific characteristics of profession in businesses such as: the movement of "promoting creation, technical improvement, rational organisation of production", the movements of "green-clean-beautiful, keeping safe and dean working conditions", of "implementing saving regulations".
• Protect workers' interests: monitoring the implementation of labour contracts according to the Labour Law, guiding local labour union groups to sign working agreements. Co-ordinate with other related agencies to solve disputes and claims to policies and regulations for the workers.
• Promote local labour union branches (or groups) to build up various funds such as mutual fund f6r helping fellows, fund for hunger eradication and poverty alleviation, special funds for development of production.
• Irregular assistance for member workers as well as others in the remote and difficult areas.

Strength in watershed management

• Members of the Labour Union are an important force working in different sectors, different fields, various agencies as well as various enterprises. Therefore, the Labour Union has wide and strong impact
• Activities of the Labour Union are related closely with interests of workers, protect them and hence it is able to mobilise the mass effectively

Weakness in watershed management

• Some local labour union groups have superficial activities and lack of mutual co-ordination. This leads to the limited efficiency of their activities.
• Budget for activities of the Labour Union is very limited and mainly funded by the contributions of member workers (in term of organisation dues) with the same amount. This makes difficulty for those who have low income and face many constraints, especially in the remote areas.
• The activities of the Labour Union are mainly concentrated in the state-owned enterprises, urban-based enterprises and do not reach to the remote areas. They also have weak impact on other classes such as farmers who account for the largest share in the population of the Central Highlands.

The capacity of the organisation

• The Labour Union has good prestige so that their voice is convincing.
• The cadres of the Labour Union are elected by workers. They have professional skills and experience as well as prestige. Therefore, they are able to mobilise the masses.

10. Union of Co-operatives in Dak Lak province

Address: 46 Y Yat Buonmethuot City

Tel: 050-854230

Contact person: Vo Ban

Organisation and funding

Central Committee of Vietnam Co-operatives' Union is only divided into two levels: central and provincial levels according to its regulations. The Provincial Committee of Co-operatives' Union in Dak Lak consists of 13 persons employed according the State's regulations. The structure of the Provincial Committee consists of the Executive Board of the Committee with 21 members including Standing Section, Office, and other two-office members. The Standing Section consists of 1 Chairperson, 2 Vice-chairpersons, and 1 person working as a member and chief-inspector. The Office of the Committee consists of 4 experts and 5 clerks such as clerical staff secretary guard, driver. Besides, there is a service centre for business activities. Those who are the main focus of activities of the Committee are co-operatives, co-operative groups, and non-state enterprises. The Committee also has two other representative offices in two districts. The official members of the Committee Include 46 co-operatives (of which 8 agricultural co-operatives) over 41 non-agricultural co-operatives, 18 credit funds, and 55 agricultural co-operatives in the whole province.

Mission and activities

• Carry out propagation and introduction of State's policies, legislation to productive units (co-operatives, productive groups, households); Implement the Law on Co-operatives, various decrees of the Government, and decisions of the provincial authorities.
• Be representative for co-operatives to protect their interests.

• Provide various services such as helping co-operatives to make project for getting loans; Implementing procedures of transformation of and registration of old co-operatives into new forms, building up productive and business plans; implementing bidding procedures.
  - Train and upgrade cadres in accounting business administration.
• Consult local authorities to implement administration with regard to co-operatives: strategic orientations, planning, development plans.
• Co-ordinate with other related organisations such as Labor Union, Father Front, Farmers' Association.
• Establish co-operatives of environmental cleaning, garbage collection.
• Carry out research on building new forms of co-operatives.

Strength in watershed management

• Helping various economic organisations to develop production, increasing living standards and being a representative for co-operatives. So that the Provincial Committee of Co-operatives' Union has strong Impact on co-operatives.
• Having high capacity in co-ordination with other agencies and organisations such as The Provincial People's Committee, The District People's Committees and Committees of Communist Party, Department of Investment and Planning, Provincial Labour Union.

Weakness in watershed management

• Activities of the Committee are cumbersome. The Committee operates as both a representative organisation and an administrative agency. The forms of activities are poor and do not meet the demands of the co-operative and private enterprises. Therefore, it still do not attract the participation of many other enterprises..
• Budget for activities of the Labour Union is very limited.

The capacity of the organisation

• The Labour Union has high capacity in organising, assisting and helping co-operatives and households to develop production.
• The cadres of the Committee good experience and knowledge in agriculture and rural development.

Mission and activities

• Carry out propagation and introduction of State's policies, legislation to productive units (co-operatives, productive groups, households); implement the Law on Co-operatives, various decrees of the Government, and decisions of the provincial authorities.
• Be representative for co-operatives to protect their interests.
• Be representative for co-operatives to make external relations.
• Provide various services such as helping co-operatives to make project for getting loans; implementing procedures of transformation of and registration of old co-operatives Into new forms, building up productive and business plans; implementing bidding procedures.
• Train and upgrade cadres in accounting business administration.
• Consult local authorities to implement administration with regard to co-operatives; strategic orientations, planning, development plans.
• Co-ordinate with other related organisations such as Labour Union, Father Front, Farmers' Association.
• Establish co-operatives of environmental cleaning garbage collection. Carry out research on building new forms of co-operatives.

Strength in watershed management

• Helping various economic organisations to develop production, increasing living standards and being a representative for co-operatives. So that the Provincial Committee of Co-operatives' Union has strong impact on co-operatives.
• Having high capacity in co-ordination with other agencies and organisations such as the Provincial People's Committee, The District People's Committees and Committees of Communist Party, Department of Investment and Planning, Provincial Labour Union.

Weakness in watershed management

• Activities of the Committee are cumbersome. The Committee operates as both a representative organisation and an administrative agency. The forms of activities are poor and do not meet the demands of the co-operative and private enterprises. Therefore, it still do not attract the participation of many other enterprises.
• Budget for activities of the Labour Union is very limited.

The capacity of the organisation

• The Labour Union has high capacity in organising, assisting and helping co-operatives and households to develop production.
• The cadres of the Committee good experience and knowledge in agriculture and rural development

11. Doan Ket Company Ltd., Dak Lak province

Address: 104 Nguyen Tat Thanh Str.

Tel: 050-852623

Contact person: Nguyen Van Be

Organisation and funding

The former organisation of the company was a co-operative established in 1978 and changed to the company in 1992 according to the Law on Company. The Representative Board of Owners consists of 7 persons 1 of which 2 persons have graduated from economics university. The Managing Board has 3 members. The number of permanent workers is 140, of which 15 workers belong to Ede minority. The number of seasonal workers is about 400. The capital of the company is about VND 53 billion per year, of which the value of tree gardens is VND 18 billion.

Mission and activities

• Produce paper, coffee, and soya sauce. At present, the company owns over 200 hectares of coffee, 100 hectares of cinnamon. The company co-operates with ethnic minorities in 3 hamlets to generate employment and increase income for them. The forms of co-operation depends on their choices: using contracted land based on land area, delivering final products according to the contract, technical instructions, providing loans, marketing products.
• Participate in the social works such as building schools, health care stations for local people. The company also takes part actively into hunger eradication, poverty alleviation, employment generation, increasing people's educational level in some hamlets of ethnic minorities, greening denuded hills.

Strength in watershed management

• The director of the company has long time living with ethnic minorities and has good prestige, and gets their trust.
• The company has relations with some countries: Singapore, The Netherlands, Swiss, and Japan.

Weakness in watershed management

• The company operates in a large and complex area: tow educational level of people. This also is a former location of activities of Funro troop and Christians.

The capacity of the organisation

• The company has a big capital source for business and loaning.
• The company can make good co-operation with ethnic minorities to develop production, to solve some social problems and protect environment

12. Centre for Job Services

Address: 14 Su Van Hanh, Pleiku town

Tel: 059-823824

Contact person: Le Thanh Tuyen

Organisation and funding

The former was the Centre for Job Training and Introduction established in 1992, it was transformed into Centre for Job Service in Gia Lai province registered with Provincial Peoples Committee and Provincial Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs. With regard to personnel, the Centre has 7 staff: 2 of them have graduated from university, 3 of them are participating in in-service courses of universities, 1 driver and 1 guard. The budget of activities of the Centre is funded by state budget (30 percent), income from services of the Centre (70 percent).

Mission and activities

• Introduce jobs to workers and introduce workers to employers.
• Organise vocational training courses and provide labour for enterprises.
• Produce goods such as garment products through sub-contracting.

Strength in watershed management

• The field of activities of the Centre can meet urgent needs of people, particularly of the young which are finding jobs, vocational training, employment generation.
• In Pleiku town, there are very few job service centres. Thus there is no competitor the Centre.
• Service activities do not require a large amount of initial capital.

Weakness in watershed management

• The services of the Centre face the young's seasonal demands for jobs. The difference between supply and demand is large.
• The legal environment for service activities is still unstable.
• The Centre does not have enough legal conditions to sign contracts. The contracts must be approved by administrative department.

The capacity of the organisation

The Centre has relationships with many organisations, agencies and enterprises such as: district department of personnel and labour, Youth Union, Women's Union, vocational training schools, colleges, etc..

The Centre has experience in co-ordinating with some international organisations such as United Nations High Commissioners for Refugees (providing equipment, capital to organise vocational training courses for refugees), Hot Lua (Paddy Seed) French Charitable Organisation.

13. Support to Water Resources Management Project in Dak Lak Province

Address: 471, Nguyen Tat Thanh St, Buon Me Thuot city

Tel: 050-856764

Contact person: Nguyen Quan Phuong

Organisation and funding

This project was set up in 1997 and funded by Danish Embassy in Hanoi and Danish Development Organisation (DANlDA) and implemented by Dak Lak Provincial People's Committee. Personnel structure of the project includes Secretariat (manager accountant cashier computer operator, translator) and 4 groups of the project (agricultural extension, irrigation, credit and integrated rural development). Each group consists of 5 persons; head of group, 1 translator, 1 staff, 2 Vietnamese partners. The amount of capital contributed by Vietnamese government is USD 270,000 and the capital funded by DANIDA is USD 7.7 million. The time period of Implementation of the Project is 3.5 years.

Purpose, content and methods

The overall objective of the Project is to improve use and management of water resources, land and forests within the province and then to improve living conditions of local people in a suitable manner. The short-term objectives of the Project are:

1. improving irrigation infrastructure and increasing local people's capacity for self-control and management of water resources.
2. improving agricultural extension system to promote the application of new and appropriate techniques for sustained agricultural development and environmental protection; The third is improving rural credit services.

The content of the Project consists of 4 parts: improving irrigation systems in the selected areas, supporting to agricultural extension system, supporting rural credit funds and supporting to the integrated rural development programs in some trial locations in the remote areas of Dak Lak province.

The methods of assistance are making trials through some introductory models and focusing on capacity building financial capacity, survey capacity, capacity of designing and building projects, managerial capacity, increasing capacity of agricultural extension system, and credit systems etc. ), training in order to increase capacity. Making conditions for farmers to participate directly in all stages of the project.

Detail content

Agricultural extension group: training agricultural extension cadres strengthening organisational structure, supporting with equipment, carrying out introductory models.

Irrigation group (watering and drainage for Ea Tul region): introductory models on building lakes efficient methods of using water, and models of small irrigation system's of households.

Credit group: concentrating on 64 poorest communes, co-ordinating with Bank for the Poor, Agricultural Bank to carry out lending programs, setting up saving groups, saving funds.

Group of integrated rural development building up capacity for local authorities at village and hamlet levels in three communes (Yang Mao, Cu Dram and Cu Pui), developing infrastructure, building small irrigation system, providing dean water and hygiene equipment, activities of protecting and exploiting forests, lending equipment for production.

This is a feasible and appropriate project for the agricultural development in combination with environmental protection of watershed regions. The Objectives of, the Project are clear, concrete and appropriate. The implementation methods of the Project are suitable with local farmers. Importantly are building capacity, providing methods and ways for farmers to solve their problems.

14. Government Organisations and Offices Related to Watershed Management

14.1 Father Front in Pleiku town

Address: 119, Tran Phu Str., Pleiku town

Tel: 059-824292.

Contact person: Nguyen Sy Nhan.

The Executive Board of Father Front in the Town has 7 persons (4 cadres and 3 staff). The organisational structure of the Father Front consists of the Father Front at provincial managing level the Father Front at communal or neighbourhood levels (which has 17 persons) and teams of the Father Front at village of hamlet levels. The members of the Father Front are social, political and other mass organisations. The Father Front is a centre links these organisations. Activities of the Father Front have characteristics of state organisation.

14.2 Father Front in Buon Me Thuot

Address: Buon Me Thuot city.

Tel: 050-851000.

Contact person: Mr. Thong.

The main functions of the Father Front are co-ordinating with and promoting other organisations to implement political, social and economic tasks. The main methods of implementing activities are negotiation, unification, and democracy. The budget for activities is about VND 120 million per year.

14.3 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Gia Lai Province

Address: 24, QuangTrung Str., Pleiku town.

Tel: 059-824273.

Contact person: Eng. Nguyen Cuong.

The Department has personnel of 42 persons, of which 28 engineers. The organisational structure of the Department consists of 11 sections or units (Personnel and Administrative section, General Planning Section, Section of Agricultural Techniques, Section of Forestry Techniques, Irrigation Section, Section of Labour Union,. Inspection Section, Policy Section, Managing Board of Irrigation Projects, Managing Board of Protecting Forests of Yaly, Managing Board of Aqua-culture). The main function of the Department is implementing state administration of economic activities in agricultural production and rural areas in the province. Besides the Department participates in scientific research and is a partner in some national and international projects.

14.4 Department of Science Technology and Environment in Gia Lai Province

Address: 24, Le Lol Str., Pleiku town.

Tel: 059.824464.

Contact person: Tran Quoc Khanh.

The former name was Department of Science and Techniques before 1993. The Department has personnel of 43, persons. The organisational structure of the Department consists of 5 sections or units (General Section, Section of Scientific Management, Section of Environmental Management, Information Section, and inspection Section), 1 Quality Controlling Section, 1 Centre of Applied Research). The main function of the Department is implementing state administration in the fields of science, technology and environment.

Besides, the Department participates in scientific research and co-ordinates with other agencies and organisations to implement its functions.

14.5 Department of Science and Technology and Environment in Dak Lak Province

Address: 15, Ly Thuong Kiet Str., Buon Me Thuot city

Tel: 050-854113.

Contact person Nguyen Xuan Do.

The main functions and organisational structure are the same as those of the Department of Science, Technology and, Environment in Gia Lai Province. Besides, the Department is. co-ordinating with other provincial agencies and .organisations to implement 'some projects' related to watershed management such as the Project of agricultural diversification focusing on small-scale rubber plantation; the .Project of Action Plan for watershed regions of Srapok River, the Project of Assistance to Water Resource Management funded by Danish partner.

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