Australia aids gender equality project via agriculture, tourism in Lao Cai

The Australian Embassy in Vietnam and the Lao Cai People’s Committee officially kicked off the Gender Responsive Equitable Agriculture and Tourism (GREAT) Program on August 21 in a bid to empower, create jobs and improve incomes for local women.

Australian Economic and Development Cooperation Counsellor Justin Baguley gives opening remarks at GREAT program kick-off in Lao Cai province. (Source: Australian Embassy in Vietnam)

The program, worth nearly VND 300 billion (USD 12.9 million), includes the Australian government’s non-refundable official development assistance (ODA) capital and the corresponding capital from the local budget.

It aims to empower local women to engage in agriculture and tourism markets, enhance women’s voices in economic decision-making. The program will partner with a perse range of actors, including the private and non-government sectors in agriculture and tourism to improve the policy environment and stimulate inclusive and equitable growth the mountainous northwest region of Vietnam.

The program will be carried out from 2018 to 2021 in Bat Xat, Muong Khuong, Bac Ha, Sa Pa, and Van Ban districts.

Justin Baguley, Counsellor of Economic and Development Cooperation at the Australian Embassy in Vietnam, said: “Gender equality is a priority for both Australia and Vietnam and a critical part of the Australian Government’s development cooperation in Vietnam. The GREAT program aims to stimulate innovative solutions to enhance the lives of women, their families and local communities in north-west Vietnam and will also contribute to higher productivity and economic growth in the region. We look forward to working closely with the province of Lao Cai to make the program a success”.

The Australian government has implemented a number of activities to support the development of Lao Cai, he added.

Through this program, Australia hopes to further enhance cooperative relations with Vietnam, and particularly Lao Cai, as well as empower women in disadvantaged areas, he added.

It is expected the program will assist some 20,000 self-employed women to boost their incomes and create approximately 2,000 new, paid jobs for women by 2021 to drive economic growth in the provinces.

At least 15 per cent of enterprises or cooperatives will be led and co-managed by women.

The program will also support the development of policy dialogues and attract USD 6 million from the private sector to conduct business activities.

A Dao ethic woman asks questions about how to engage with GREAT program.

A forthcoming call for proposals was also be announced at the event. The call is available to partners from both private and public sectors and aims to develop and implement innovative market-oriented solutions to persistent poverty and economic marginalisation among women in ethnic minority communities.

Successful applicants will receive financial and technical support, and in exchange, will help to enhance linkages with new markets and suppliers; improve the policy environment; and contribute to sustainable social development in northwest Vietnam.

Applications close on September 26, 2018./.

VNF