Annual Report 2008 - English

Annual Report 2007 - 2008

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DIRECTOR’S NOTE

TABLE OF CONTENTS DIRECTOR’S NOTE A LETTER FROM VUSTA SRD OVERVIEW MANAGEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY

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PROGRAMME ACHIEVEMENTS Sustainable Livelihoods, Pac Nam District Medicinal Plant Cultivation and Marketing, Bac Kan Province Community Livelihood Clubs in Phu Tho Participatory Land Use Management (PLUM) in Thua Thien Hue System of Rice Intensification (SRI), Phu Tho and Thai Nguyen Strengthening Rice Seed Systems in Bac Kan Livelihoods and Sanitation Improvement for Poor Communities in Bac Kan

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TOPICAL HIGHLIGHTS SRD’s Climate Change Initiative Farmers’ Rice Seed Systems and Climate Change System of Rice Intensification (SRI) A New Initiative: Working with the Disabled in Thua Thien Hue

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NETWORKS AND ADVOCACY A Vietnamese NGO Working in Partnership with Local Communities

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ANNEXES PROGRAM PORTFOLIO SRD'S LOCAL PARTNERS STAFF LIST FINANCIAL REPORT DETAILED EXPENDITURES PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES, STRATEGIES AND OUTCOMES MAP

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I am honoured to present the Centre for Sustainable Rural Development’s 2007-2008 Annual Report*. The past year has been eventful and productive for SRD, and this report provides an opportunity to both look back over those achievements and to look forward to the challenges of the future.

Over the past year, SRD has continued to focus its efforts on three key areas: sustainable agriculture, rural livelihoods, and local governance. SRD has also worked with project partners and civil society stakeholders to develop a new strategic plan for 2008 - 2012, which re-affirms SRD’s commitment to these key objectives and provides a framework for SRD’s continuing work in these areas. To meet the objectives of this plan, SRD has been developing innovative new programmes, including both a

In addition, SRD has been increasingly active in regional and national networks of civil society organisations (CSOs). Joining such networks allows SRD to contribute its experiences on sustainable agriculture, food security, and climate change as well as to support the growth of a strong civil society sector and to advocate effectively for the interests of stakeholders at the grassroots level.

With such efforts and successes,

however, SRD has assumed certain responsibilities. The great challenges facing SRD will be to build on its record of success, to continue to lead and innovate, and to elucidate a clear and inclusive vision for sustainable rural development.

As SRD works to accomplish these goals, it is grateful for the continued support of its donors, including Caritas Australia, Cordaid, Manos Unidas, Oxfam America, Misereor and other CIDSE CLV organisations. Without their generous funding and support, SRD would not be able to provide the innovative and effective rural development solutions that it does today. I would also like to thank VUSTA, the members of our advisory board, our programme partners, relevant authorities at the local and national level, and, last but not least, members of the communities in which we work.

Without their strong support and enthusiastic cooperation, SRD would not be able to achieve its vision of s u s t a i n a b l e, i n c l u s i v e , a n d participatory rural development.

Yours sincerely,

Vu Thi Bich Hop Executive Director * This Report covers the period from 10/2007 - 10/2008.

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Dear Friends,

climate change programme and one on disabilities, which will provide inclusive and specialised livelihoods support for the disabled.

SRD has also developed significantly as an organisation over the past year, strengthening its human resources by recruiting a diverse team of new staff members, each of whom bring a wealth of professional and educational experience in rural development. By drawing on the talents of staff members, SRD is able to approach its work in a holistic manner, achieving a greater impact in target communities.

A LETTER FROM VUSTA

The Vietnam Union of Scientific and Technology Association (VUSTA) is one of the leading organisations in the promotion and development of civil society in

Vietnam. VUSTA leads a network of 54 provincial and city associations (in 63 provinces) and nearly 150 central associations (among a total of 380 associations nationwide).

VUSTA also includes about 500 agencies and organisations established by the Decree 35/ND-CP and Decree 81/2003/ND-CP, of which 220 agencies are directly under the Presidential Committee of VUSTA. The mandate of these organisations includes scientific research, technological development, community development, environmental protection, training and education. With its large number of committed intellectuals, scientists, and civil society organisations, VUSTA has been an effective actor in the promotion of social development, conducting consultancy, social monitoring and evaluation. VUSTA has also become an active partner of the Vietnamese government in policy formulation, research, capacity building, and dissemination of knowledge and

technologies, as well as in community development, poverty reduction and health care.

The Centre for Sustainable Rural Development (SRD) was established in March 2006 and is based on CIDSE’s 28 years of experience in Vietnam. SRD is one of 208 organisations that are under the Presidential Committee of VUSTA, and works on poverty reduction with a focus on sustainable agriculture and rural development.

Having a professional organisational structure, effective and efficient operation based on a strong, experienced, dynamic and committed leadership and staff, SRD has already had nine projects with a total budget of around $1,500,000 approved by VUSTA. These projects have achieved positive results, having a strong impact on livelihoods, sustainable agriculture, and the promotion of peoples’ participation at the grassroots level.

As a community development organisation, SRD actively participates in large forums such as Civil Society in Socio-Economic Development, CSOs and Aid Effectiveness, Vietnam Consultative Group Meeting, Climate Change, and Decree 151 on Collaborative Groups. The work of SRD, and its contribution to such forums, contributes to raising the profile of civil society in Vietnam, allowing the voices of ordinary people to be heard by policy makers. SRD also contributes to the building of a strong civil society through its commitment to networking. As an active member of networks such as the People’s Participation Working Group (PPWG), Gender Community Network (GenComNet), Civil Society and Climate Change Network, Civil Society Inclusion in Food Security and Poverty Elimination Network (CIPFEN), and some international networks such as Pesticide Action Network Asia Pacific (PAN AP) and

East Asia Rice Working Group (EARWG), SRD facilitates the exchange of information and the development of linkages between Vietnamese NGOs and among regional NGOs. As a VUSTA member, SRD also contributes its financial and human resources to the support of VUSTA activities. For example, SRD is a member of the advisory board for the UNDP’s “Capacity Building for VUSTA” project and has cooperated with VUSTA and other organisations to organise a workshop on Civil Society and Climate Change.

SRD is one of the most effective and professional Vietnamese NGOs. I firmly expect that SRD will continue to move forwards in pursuit of its goals, and will become one of the leading NGOs, both within VUSTA and in the nation as a whole.

Ho Uy Liem Acting President, VUSTA

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Current theories on development and governance place equal emphasis on civil society among the three main components of a society: government, the market (private business sector), and civil society.

Working with the other two sectors, civil society can have a tremendous impact by mobilizing peoples’ participation in the democratic, harmonious, and sustainable development of our nation. Though the term “civil society” is new to the Vietnamese language, civil society has existed, in one form or another, throughout the history of Vietnam.

Since 1986, however, when Vietnam launched its policy of reform, or ”doi moi,” the role of civil society has become increasingly important, contributing to the social development of the nation.

Our Vision People in rural communities are empowered to sustainably manage their own livelihood systems in an equal and compassionate society.

Our Mission SRD is a Vietnamese development agency supporting poor rural communities to sustainably manage their own livelihoods through capacity building and supporting pro-poor policy advocacy.

Our Core Values Ownership: People should have the ownership of their own development Sustainability: A development effort is sustainable if the community can maintain and extend the results of development interventions

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SRD

Equity: All members of a community should be assured of equal opportunities, access to resources and benefits, responsibilities, and protections Accountability/Transparency: The organisation, its partners and beneficiaries professionally and openly operates in transparent ways Efficiency: Achieving the best results with the least resources

OVERVIEW

Helping those in greater need is part of human nature anywhere and anytime, in the East and in the West, in times of peace and prosperity and in times of war and crisis. Building a world of compassion and equality is a goal that people from all walks of life, all nations, and all faiths can join together to accomplish. The need for solidarity is becoming more and more critical in a world that is facing serious global issues, such as poverty and climate change, that cannot be solved without collective effort. Following the principle of “act locally, think globally,” SRD is not only a Vietnamese development organisation, it is a combination of global linkages, bringing together people, their work, their hopes, their vision and their compassion. From a young schoolchild who donates her small savings to a church charity, to the poor farmer who applies new cultivation techniques to improve his family’s livelihood and the environment, they all belong to the larger family of SRD. Together, they make our work possible and meaningful.

In the modern world, achieving the vision of an equal and compassionate society demands not just charity work, but participatory governance. As governments and the market sector have proven to be inadequate in addressing environmental, social, and economic problems on their own, civil society has arisen as a third sector, capable of engaging popular participation and providing innovative solutions to pressing problems. In Vietnam, the

revival of civil society can be seen recently in the mushrooming of Vietnamese NGOs. Because they are based in Vietnam, these NGOs can play a much more active role in local governance than the long-established international NGOs, many of whom have begun phasing out their operations in Vietnam. The sudden surge of local NGOs is truly phenomenal, and these young, enthusiastic organisations are contributing greatly to the development of a vibrant civil society. As new organisations, however, many of these NGOs suffer from limited experience and capacity in development. SRD, on the other hand, is the first organisation to make the successful transition from an international to a Vietnamese NGO, and inherits the knowledge and expertise gained over CIDSE Vietnam’s 28 years. Drawing on this wealth of experience, SRD can serve as the nucleus for the overall development of Vietnam’s civil society, sharing the lessons it has learnt and leading by example through the implementation of innovative programmes. SRD also grasps every opportunity to help raise the voice and stature of Vietnamese NGOs in national and international arenas, such as the workshop on CSOs and Aid Effectiveness (Hanoi, 2007) and the Pre-Accra HLF Consultation on Agriculture and Rural Development (Brussels, 2008). While on one hand firmly rooted in traditional values, on the other SRD is looking eagerly toward future opportunities and challenges.

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New Opportunities

Over the past year, marked progress has been made in the legal context of Vietnam’s social and economic development. In late 2007, the government of Vietnam issued a landmark Law on Gender Equity, as well as a revised and improved Grassroots Democracy Ordinance and a new Decree on the Establishment of Collaborative Groups. These new laws, together with the newly-issued National Programme on Agriculture, Farmers and Rural Development, have re-affirmed the government of Vietnam’s commitment to equity, participation, and local governance.

Emerging Challenges

Despite these positive developments, however, challenges still loom on the path to equitable and sustainable rural development. For one, these new regulations only provide a framework to build local governance and civil society in rural communities. The difficult work of familiarising local

communities with these new developments, and of building the necessary institutions, remains to be done. Second, rural communities face internal and external threats to their livelihoods. The increasing integration of Vietnam’s economy into the global market will bring competition and price volatility, and the rapid loss of agricultural land to industrialisation and urbanisation continues apace. In addition, the global threat of climate change, and the increasingly severe weather that accompanies higher temperatures, will bring flooding and crop failure to rural communities.

SRD: An Agent of Positive Change

The objective of SRD is to make use of this conducive legal and political climate to build the foundation for equitable and sustainable development at the grassroots level through the creation of inclusive, community-led institutions and initiatives. SRD believes that empowering local communities in this way helps both meet the challenges of the future and contributes to the growth of local civil society and grassroots democracy. Moreover, as a professional and innovative Vietnamese NGO, staffed and managed by Vietnamese experts, and committed to the principles of equal and participatory development, SRD can make a positive impact at the national level, both in the development of Vietnam’s civil society and in the policy dialogue.

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Over the past year, SRD’s work has focused on the following key areas:

Capacity Building

SRD’s capacity building work is designed to improve the technical and management skills of local staff and community members. Through capacity building activities such as training courses, field and study visits, workshops, and on-farm trials, SRD has strengthened the ability of local communities to manage their own livelihoods. SRD has also assisted in setting up a wide variety of community-based organisations, whose members and managers are local farmers. Through this work, SRD can help build solidarity, self-reliance, and ownership at the local level, enhancing the position and importance of grassroots groups and their role in local communities.

Rural Livelihoods

As Vietnam undergoes rapid social and economic change, SRD works to protect and develop the livelihoods of rural households, helping communities to adjust to change and participate in Vietnam’s economic development. SRD’s approach to livelihoods improvement is practical and experimental. Based on the needs and interests of local communities, suitable and effective techniques are introduced for practice and replication. As these new methods show results over time, they are adopted by still more farmers, allowing for greater impact and lower risk.

The issue of climate change, and of environmental protection as a whole, is an increasingly pressing one for the Vietnamese government and for the development community. SRD is committed to integrating environmental and climate concerns into its programmes, supporting farmers to apply environmentally friendly techniques in agricultural production. Through its work on the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), Participatory Land Use Management (PLUM), Farmers’ Rice Seed Production, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and other programmes, SRD has helped farmers: z Replace chemical fertilisers with compost and bio-fertilisers z Build adequate skills and technology to conserve local rice varieties z Use land and water resources efficiently and sustainably z Support the development of a diverse ecosystem of plants and animals

Pro-Poor Advocacy and Networking

At present, the effective poverty reduction, community development and resource management models pioneered by NGOs have not yet been sufficiently recognised and applied at the policy-making level. For this reason, advocating for pro-poor policies is one of the key strategic objectives of SRD. In its work in local communities over the years, SRD and its staff have accumulated a great deal of valuable knowledge about grassroots rural development. To share this knowledge with policymakers, SRD has created booklets, posters, leaflets, and other promotional material documenting the successful outcomes and lessons learnt from its programmes. SRD has also organised workshops and field visits for local authorities and policymakers to see project sites and to witness firsthand the results of its work.

For maximum impact on the policy debate, these effective advocacy techniques have been combined with coordination and networking between SRD and other NGOs, both in Vietnam and in the region. Over the past year, SRD has extended its linkages with other NGOs, joining new networks such as the Climate Change Working Group, EARWG (East Asia Rice Working Group) and PANAP (Pest Action Network Asia Pacific).

SRD’s active contribution in such networks helps it increase its prominence as a civil society organisation, learn from the experiences of others, and to reach policymakers through the enhanced visibility and influence which such networks allow.

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Climate Change and Environmental Protection

donors, and oversees SRD’s two main departments: programme operations and finance and administration. For each position within these departments, clear job descriptions exist, outlining the roles and responsibilities of each staff member. SRD also follows an open management structure, which fosters innovation and collaboration between staff members, creating an organisational culture based on teamwork and individual initiative.

Capable and Professional Human Resources

MANAGEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY To deliver positive change in the communities with which it works, SRD must follow a clear and realistic strategy, organise its structure and resources efficiently, recruit and maintain skilled personnel, and manage its finances in a sustainable and transparent fashion.

A Clear Vision for the Future

In December 2007, SRD gathered staff, representatives from project partners, local government, and other NGOs to craft a strategic plan for the years 2008 to 2012. After reviewing the progress made toward the 20042007 Strategic Plan, participants conducted a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis and an environmental scan in order to accurately assess the position of SRD and set out goals and objectives for the organisation. Consequently the new Strategic Plan centred on three priority areas: Sustainable Agriculture, Rural Livelihoods, and Local Governance. This Strategic Plan included a detailed assessment of the administrative, organisational, human resources, and financial issues that would need to be addressed to meet these objectives.

Effective and Efficient Organisational Structure

SRD has a streamlined management and organisational structure, which allows it to efficiently and effectively concentrate its resources on its programmes in the field. SRD’s Executive Director ensures compliance with Vietnamese regulations, reports to VUSTA, Vietnamese authorities and

Transparent and Sustainable Financial Management

SRD believes strongly in accountability, efficiency, and transparency, and follows these principles closely in its financial management. Based on its Strategic Plan, SRD develops short and long term financial projections and, through the implementation of a transparent financial management system, allows donors and Vietnamese authorities to clearly monitor its expenditures. Bi-annual financial statements and annual external audit reports are also provided to donors and VUSTA, with clarification and further details on financial data added upon request. SRD also invests in the training and skill improvement of its staff and programme partners, especially those at the local level, so that it can build knowledge and capacity in sound accounting and financial reporting practices.

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SRD has a diverse and talented team of management staff, programme officers, and support personnel. Each of these team members brings a wealth of professional and academic experience to the organisation, and each is specialised on a different aspect of rural development, allowing SRD to approach its work in a holistic way, integrating technical, environmental, social, and economic concerns into its programmes. SRD’s staff is its greatest resource, and the organisation invests in improving the capacity of its employees through training courses, field visits, and networking. To ensure that SRD can attract and retain highly qualified resources, it places a high emphasis on recruitment and offers suitable compensation to its staff members. In addition, everyone must follow clear and accurate procedures, making use of financial, administrative and programme manuals, allowing them to work efficiently and maintaining high staff productivity and morale.

Annual staff appraisals are carried out, ensuring that staff are working effectively and are compensated accordingly. In addition, members of the Advisory Board and, especially, SRD staff are invited to provide anonymous feedback on the Executive Director’s performance.

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SRD has been supporting the Sustainable Livelihoods project in Pac Nam district, Bac Kan province since 2005. In 2008, the focus of the project has been on consolidating the capacity of the Village Development Committees (VDCs) in the four poorest villages of Boc Bo commune, and on expanding to two new villages in Nghien Loan and Xuan La communes.

Strengthening Capacity to Improve Livelihoods

PROGRAMME ACHIEVEMENTS

Over the past year, the Sustainable Livelihoods project has made great strides in building the capacity of local communities to implement livelihoods development projects. VDC members and villagers have received training on project planning and monitoring, gender equality, and agricultural techniques. This training has been supplemented by practical experience in village planning and the development of indicators for project monitoring.

Villagers have applied these new indicators to such activities as infrastructure construction, animal husbandry, plant cultivation, training, and the management of a revolving fund.

Fostering the Active Participation of Community Members

Local community members have, in turn, used their increased knowledge and skills to organise and facilitate village and commune level meetings on

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Sustainable Livelihoods, Pac Nam District

sustainable livelihoods. These meetings have clear agendas and objectives, and involve the active participation of villagers, encouraging free discussion and an open exchange of ideas, especially from those, such as women, who are not used to speaking publicly.

Providing Practical and Appropriate Training

Learning from Successful Examples

To promote the exchange of ideas and the adoption of proven techniques, the project has arranged for villagers to visit successful households.

Through these visits, participants have gained valuable insights into business management and effective loan use. Moreover, these types of visits are crucially important in a remote, ethnic minority area such as Pac Nam, where people have few opportunities to access formal training.

Over the coming months, the key objectives of the project are to: Continue to improve the capacity of project members (especially VDC members) at the district, commune and village levels.

Continue to implement grassroots democracy and gender equality through project activities and the formation of community-based organisations, helping farmers to understand their roles, rights and responsibilities in community development Strengthen the monitoring system at all levels. SRD and project partners will work together to develop monitoring plans and reporting guidelines, periodically reviewing the progress of the project and developing appropriate and necessary adjustments.

Work with government offices and agencies to integrate project activities with agricultural extension and poverty reduction programs in order to make efficient use of local resources.

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Poor farmers have participated enthusiastically in the livelihoods and agricultural diversification activities organised by the project. Over the past year, the project has conducted two trainings on VA06 grass, an extremely productive and cold-tolerant grass variety that helps ensure an adequate supply of livestock feed throughout the year. Villagers have also attended trainings on such topics as pig raising and rice cultivation. These trainings, which are conducted by technical staff, are based on the principles of two-way communication, simplicity, and hands-on learning, and are designed to help farmers easily apply new techniques in their homes and fields.

Participatory Irrigation Management, Phu Tho and Yen Bai Provinces The objective of the Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) project is to work with local communities to construct or improve irrigation works, while at the same time strengthening the capacity of community members, especially poor farmers and women, to participate in water resource management. By working to both improve the physical infrastructure of irrigation delivery and to strengthen participation in the construction and management of irrigation works, SRD can help communities ensure strong, sustainable, and equitable development.

After two years of implementation in two communes (Van Hoi and Viet Cuong), the PIM project in Yen Bai reached its successful completion in April of 2008.

Building off SRD’s experiences in Yen Bai, the ongoing project in Phu Tho is focused on one commune (Hung Long), and integrates PIM with additional capacity building training on Integrated Pest Management (IPM).

Strengthening Community Capacity

What sets the PIM project apart from the other work of SRD is that the primary project partners are at the commune level, rather than the provincial or district level. By working closely with local People’s Committees, and by actively engaging community participation at every step of the process, the PIM project demonstrates SRD’s strong commitment to capacity building at the grassroots level. To implement and oversee the construction and management of irrigation works, members of the Project Management Boards and Monitoring Groups received training in irrigation techniques and project supervision. Through participation in project management and training, community members, especially women, have been able to enhance their social standing and become more involved in village affairs. In addition, many local women have taken decision-making roles in the construction of irrigation works, allowing them to gain management experience and confidence in responding to and resolving issues.

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Building Inclusive Institutions to Manage Water Use

To ensure that the irrigation works are well managed, operated and maintained, Water Users’ Associations and Monitoring Groups have been established and managed by people in the project areas. Members of these groups have developed regulations for water use and water delivery plans for each field, as well as arranging the collection of management fees for annual maintenance. The creation of such institutions, which have both transparent management structures and clear, appropriate regulations and procedures, has provided an opportunity for farmers to work together as a team, strengthening community solidarity and participation.

Making a Positive Impact on Livelihoods

Empowering Women

The success of the PIM project can be measured not just by the impact on economic indicators, but to the degree that community members, especially women, have become more involved and more capable in irrigation management. From start to finish, women played key roles in the development and management of the irrigation works, helping select the site, monitor construction, and ensure the equitable distribution of water. Through this process, women in the community have moved one step forward towards the goal of gender equality, both in their households and in the community as whole.

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Under the supervision of these local organisations, the construction of irrigation works has been completed according to schedule in all project communes.

Plans for these irrigation works were designed by the Project Management Boards and representatives from the communities, and their construction was closely overseen by the Monitoring Groups. Over the past two years, five kilometers of canals were constructed in Yen Bai, enough to supply water to 57 hectares of paddy field and 1.2 hectares of fish ponds. In addition, the improved irrigation works made double-cropping possible on 24 additional hectares. In Phu Tho, the construction of irrigation works has increased the amount of irrigated land from 30 hectares to 50 hectares, and the amount of land suitable for double-cropping by 15 hectares. Increased access to irrigation translates directly to higher yields and higher incomes for poor farmers; in Yen Bai, rice production in the project communes increased by 125 tons. Not only has the economic situation improved for poor farmers, but the introduction of participatory irrigation management has also greatly reduced conflicts between neighbors over water.

Providing Integrated Livelihoods Support

To maximise the impact of irrigation, the PIM project in Phu Tho is being implemented in coordination with other livelihoods development projects. To strengthen the knowledge of local residents in sustainable agriculture, a Farmers’ Field School on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) was organised for 35 farmers. In turn, these farmers then disseminated this knowledge to others in their communities, helping improve incomes and protect the environment. Through the PIM project, other trainings on social capacity building, gender equality, and grassroots democracy have also been organised. Though building a more equitable, prosperous, and inclusive society at the local level takes time, the training and experience that community members have received will allow them to build solidarity between neighbors and collectively manage their resources.

CASE STUDY Ms. Dinh Thi Chuong, Phu Tho Province

Medicinal Plant Cultivation and Marketing, Bac Kan Province

Collectively Managing a Critical Resource

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“For farmers like me, water comes first, fertiliser second, and seeds third,” said Ms. Dinh Thi Chuong, a poor farmer who participates in the PIM project in Thien 1 village, Hung Long commune, Yen Lap district, Phu Tho province. According to Ms. Chuong, the construction of new irrigation works through the programme has had a great impact on her community. Whereas many farmers had only been able to harvest one crop per year in the past, they are now able to harvest two or three. According to Ms. Chuong, she and other farmers used to have to work through the nights to channel water into their fields, and villagers frequently fell into conflict with each other over water use. For some families, simply getting enough water to transplant rice could take weeks. “My family has 6 sao of 2 rice fields [one sao is equal to 360m ], and we used to grow one main crop per year,” says Ms. Chuong, “and for the second, we used to throw out the seedlings and pray to heaven for luck. Now, we have enough water to grow three crops.”

Applying Practical Knowledge

Ms. Chuong also appreciates the comprehensive training that the PIM programme has provided: “Of all the trainings, I particularly like the rice IPM training, since it’s so relevant to my work, and since it provides a good mix of classroom and practical instruction. From this training, I have learned about the life cycle of rice, as well as methods for identifying and dealing with different pests. After each training session, I go directly to my field to apply the knowledge I’ve learned and check for evidence of pests. As a result, this year’s crop is very good, with healthy, strong, and pest-free plants. For me, that means higher yields and a better life for my family.” Not only does she apply this knowledge in her own fields, but she educates others as well: “When I saw that a neighbour’s field had an infestation of rice leaf folders [a type of pest], I told her about it and showed her how to counter the problem.”

A Comprehensive Approach to Rural Development

Ms. Chuong is also enthusiastic about the other trainings that the programme provides on issues such as village planning, grassroots democracy and gender equality. For example, the gender equality training brought together both women and men, helping them to build up mutual understanding and support. “My neighbour and his wife used to quarrel constantly,” says Ms. Chuong, “but since they’ve begun attending the gender training, their relationship has grown more harmonious. They no longer argue, and he does much more of the household work than he used to.” When asked about her wishes for the future, Ms. Chuong said that she hoped the programme would continue to support the growth of a prosperous and unified community, through trainings on agricultural techniques, business development, and solidarity-building.

In Ba Be district, herb cultivation is a new practice, compared with the traditional method of passive collection. Changing traditional habits is a long process, and the project is working to lay a foundation for successful cultivation by building technical knowledge and first-hand experience in growing herbs. Using village-based, participatory experimentation, Farmers' Field Schools, and farmers' groups, the project is building the capacity of local residents to both grow and market these valuable and highly-sought plants.

far, further experimentation has been done on nine additional herbs, and during the first three quarters of 2008, the 18 farmer-trainers assisted 122 households in cultivating a total of 23 different herbs. Farmers were then invited to a field day workshop to share experiences and detail the results of their efforts. Word of these successes has spread from the initial project villages to neighboring communities, and many local residents have expressed interest in learning more about herb cultivation and seed procurement.

Building Social Solidarity and Gender Equality

Empowering Farmers to Improve Community Livelihoods

Over the past year, 72 Farmers’ Field School (FFS) sessions have been organised and 18 farmers have been trained to be the farmer-trainers (of which 30% are women) on medicinal herb cultivation. These farmertrainers then conduct experiments on the cultivation of medicinal plants, overseeing the entire process, from seeding and sowing to harvesting and processing. Working with these trainers, the project has developed six cultivation models. These models include the intermixing of thao quyet minh (Semen Cassiae Torae) with corn, forest shade cultivation of ba kich (Radix Morindae), and the growing of gac fruit (Momordica Cochinchinensis). Based on initial trials, the average yield for one sao of medicinal herb cultivation has been about 4,750,000 VND per year, enough to provide a sizable supplement to the income of a rural household.

Community-Based Innovation

With the first successful harvest of medicinal herbs, farmers in the community have begun to take the initiative in planning and developing herb cultivation, selecting plants that are easy to grow and care for, appropriate for the local environment, and have a high market value. So

LESSONS LEARNT AND KEY OUTCOMES Farmers' Field Schools (FFS) are an effective way of experimenting with new cultivation models and of supporting farmers to change their traditional mindsets and embrace active, rather than passive, cultivation techniques.

Experimentation with medicinal herbs at the household level is the best tool to convince farmers of the benefits of active cultivation, as well as demonstrating how they can benefit from control over growing conditions and seed supply. However, changing attitudes and practices is not something that can be done overnight, and requires that local communities have a strong commitment to improving their livelihoods and embracing new techniques. The strong support of project personnel and local government officials is crucial in creating these conditions.

Expanding the scale of medicinal herb cultivation requires that farmers’ groups develop a strong capacity to provide instruction to others. They also need the continued support of the project to upgrade their knowledge and access to local information, so that they can serve as a bridge between farmer-producers and consumers in the market.

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Since 2006, SRD has been promoting the cultivation and marketing of medicinal plants in six poor, mountainous villages in Khang Ninh commune, Ba Be district, Bac Kan province. By organizing trials on the cultivation and processing of medicinal plants, the project aims to improve incomes, reduce bare land, conserve traditional medical knowledge, and promote sustainable agriculture, as well as building the capacity of villagers to make business and marketing decisions.

Throughout the entire cultivation process, farmers have strengthened their capacity for mutual cooperation and experience sharing, as well as becoming more active in community activities. This is a crucial development in remote ethnic minority communities, especially since women have taken such an active role in these activities. The traditional role of women in minority areas has limited their involvement in community affairs, but through their involvement in the medicinal herb project, women have become more confident and experienced in planning, conducting experiments, reporting results, and making contacts with the buyers of herbs. As a result, they can be more adept in presenting their ideas and discussing their points of view, especially in public forums. This has been hailed as a great step forward, not just by the women themselves, but by their families and local government as well.

OVER THE COURSE OF THE CLC PROJECT, SRD HAS IDENTIFIED THE FOLLOWING LESSONS LEARNT: CLCs provide an effective civil society model for collective mobilisation and participation in livelihoods. This model needs to be replicated and supported, not only by local NGOs but also by local governments.

Livelihoods diversification should focus not only on cultivation and animal husbandry, but also on services, so that all people can pursue their own development strategies, according to the human and financial resources available to them.

Both mobilising diverse funding sources for club activities and building the capacity of farmers to become lead instructors are necessary for the effective management of the clubs' livelihoods programs and for the development of the clubs as a sustainable and inclusive model for cooperative livelihoods programs in the future.

Community Livelihood Clubs in Phu Tho Key Accomplishments, 2007-2008: 116 demonstrations on cultivation, animal husbandry and agriculture services were organized by the project.

90 lead staff members (60% of whom are women) have been trained in planning, financial management and market principles.

162 trainings were conducted for club members.

Several development organisations visited Phu Tho to examine the CLC model.

The experience of the CLCs served as an important case study for the preparation of the new Decree on Collaborative Groups, issued in November 2007.

Since August 2006, SRD has been working in six districts in Phu Tho province to support and develop Community Livelihoods Clubs (CLCs) for the purpose of sustainable development, poverty reduction and local governance.

An Innovative and Member-Driven Model

The community livelihoods club model builds on the earlier success of IPM clubs in Phu Tho. Cultivating rice, tea, pigs and chickens is not new to farmers, but the innovative feature of the livelihoods clubs is that they allow their members to learn from each other and to share experience, with the support of the project and local government. The members themselves manage the clubs, actively shaping the development of their livelihoods. Empowering community members to take control of their livelihoods is a complex process, and the project supports club members through training, field visits, and hands-on experience in creating CLCs and designing household development plants. In addition, the project works with banks and local authorities to secure loans for livelihoods development, as well as organizing advocacy workshops and working with officials to create a strong legal framework for community-based organisations, which would allow for more confidence and control by local residents over the development process.

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Cooperation and Empowerment

The programme has also forged strong linkages between the clubs, helping to foster greater social solidarity and a freer exchange of knowledge and experience. By organizing quarterly meetings, discussions, field visits, and other community activities, the project has helped members of the different clubs share experience on livelihoods development, environmental protection, and sustainable cultivation, as well as highlighting successful models and building support for families in need. These activities not only build capacity in agricultural techniques, but they also allow club members, especially women, to take charge in their communities and work cooperatively for sustainable development. Two-thirds of club leaders are women, and their active leadership and involvement in community affairs, previously the sole domain of men, comprise one of the major successes of the project.

Winning Support and Recognition from Local Authorities

The successes of the project so far could not have been attained without the strong support of the local government, specifically the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD). DARD has recognised the achievements of the CLCs, and the promise of the CLC model, and has integrated the development plans of the livelihoods clubs into the 5 and 10 year commune development plans.

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Participatory Land Use Management (PLUM) in Thua Thien Hue The Challenge of Sustainable Land Use

For rural communities, land is the most important natural resource. In Vietnam, the twin pressures of high population and limited space have meant that land has always been a critical issue. Historically, major changes in land use patterns have had significant impacts (both positive and negative) on household livelihoods and economic welfare, sometimes leading to political and cultural upheaval. Recent threats to Vietnam’s land resources, brought about by such diverse issues as rising sea levels, which threaten to flood up to one-fifth of Vietnam’s land over time, population growth, and the rapid expanse of urban and industrial zones into rural areas, have brought the issue of land management to public attention. To meet these concerns, SRD’s PLUM project in Thua Thien Hue aims to support local communities to practice effective and efficient management of Vietnam’s most valuable resource, while at the same time ensuring that local land management is democratic and open to community participation.

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PLUM in Thua Thien Hue

The objective of PLUM is to help poor farmers improve their knowledge of land rights, sustainable livelihoods practices, and community management. In March 2008, the first phase of the project’s administration, a one-year pilot of the PLUM methodology in Phong Xuan commune, Phong Dien district, began. Upon completion of this phase, the project will be expanded to other communes and districts in Thua Thien Hue province, with a two-year timeline for implementation.

Participatory Project Management

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With the inauguration of the pilot, the first step in the project’s implementation was to set up a commune-level Project Management Board to oversee project activities. The Board is supported by a fieldbased SRD Programme Officer, and receives technical assistance from the district and provincial governments. Within the commune, Village Development Committees have been established to mobilise the participation of community members in land use and management. Each Committee is led by a Community Facilitator, who is elected by local farmers and who is responsible for coordinating development activities in the village.

Building Capacity and Knowledge

Through training and practical experience in community development, participatory planning, and gender equity, villagers have gained both new skills and a wider understanding of economic and social issues. This enhanced capacity serves as a solid foundation for local communities to

Expected Project Results Participatory Land Use Management (PLUM) is practiced in a total of six villages in three districts in Thua Thien Hue Province Increased land use efficiency and livelihoods through better crops and processing facilities PLUM is documented and disseminated for replication in other communes of the three project districts Effective advocacy for the PLUM approach and lobbying for land policy reform

implement PLUM and to tackle other pressing development issues. In July 2008, farmers formed a number of interest groups, the objective of which is to improve household livelihoods through collaboration. Farmers engaged in raising a particular crop or livestock animal will join together to share experiences and knowledge, with support from the project. By promoting efficient and environmentally-friendly practices, these interest groups will result not only in improved community solidarity and household livelihoods, but also in increased land efficiency. To achieve this goal, the project has organised a workshop to assess the impact of chemicals and fertiliser on the land, and to introduce bio-fertiliser as a more eco-friendly technique. Feedback from villagers on this workshop was positive, and many realised that they had been overusing fertiliser, and resolved instead to employ more sustainable techniques.

Changing Mentalities and Improving Practices

SRI is a new concept for farmers in Vietnam, who have a long history of cultivating rice by traditional methods. To change entrenched habits takes time and effort, and so the project has invested heavily in trainings and demonstrations on the effectiveness of SRI. In the first year of the project, local residents attended Farmers’ Field Schools and participated in field trials on SRI, allowing them to gain both knowledge and firsthand experience with SRI methodology. Currently, these farmers work as technical trainers, disseminating their knowledge of SRI by setting up demonstration plots. These plots, in turn, allow other community members and local leaders to witness firsthand the effectiveness of SRI.

Promising Results and Widening Application

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By witnessing the benefits of SRI in their communities, local leaders and farmers have overcome their initial doubts about the method and become active proponents of SRI. At a field day workshop, the Vice Chairman of the Pho Yen district (Thai Nguyen) People’s Committee urged all communes to apply SRI for this year’s autumn crop. In some project communes, local authorities have, on their own initiative, invited farmers from outside to visit the demonstration plots and learn from their experience.

System of Rice Intensification (SRI), Phu Tho and Thai Nguyen Begun in September 2007, this project works with farmers to reduce inputs, increase crop yields, and strengthen incomes by applying the System of Rice Intensification (SRI). In addition, the project helps strengthen confidence and capacity at the local level, as farmers improve their planning and investment skills.

As word of the success of the SRI model spreads through communities, so too does the application of SRI, both in project communes and outside them. For this year’s spring crop, a total of 43 households applied SRI, cultivated an area of 1.7 ha according to SRI methods. For the autumn crop, however, 259 households applied SRI in a total of 25.6 ha.

Strengthening Capacity and Community Solidarity

This increase is due primarily to the work of farmer-trainers at the local level. A total of 128 farmers, 88 of whom are women, were trained on SRI techniques during the spring, and were then able to use those new skills in the autumn crop. In total, these trainers managed SRI models in 22

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In four SRI demonstration plots, initial results have been extremely positive.

In the last spring crop, paddy yields improved by about 20 to 60 kg per sao (one sao is equal to 360m2), seed inputs decreased by 75%, pests and diseases were nearly absent, and profits increased by VND 110,000 to 120,000 per sao.

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programme villages, as well as providing technical support to other households applying SRI in their own fields. In the project areas, joint activities, discussions, and experience-sharing sessions have contributed greatly to the strengthening of community solidarity. SRI farmer groups have also been formed, working cooperatively to share resources and pool labour in the application of SRI.

CASE STUDY Mr. Nguyen Huy Lieu, Phu Tho Province

Contributing to Gender Equality

Building Strong, Sustainable Livelihoods

By taking appropriate steps towards SRI implementation, and by gaining the support and trust of local government officials and community members, the project has already begun to make a strong contribution to the social and economic development of the project areas. On a larger scale, however, the successful application of SRI marks a major step forward in the development of a sustainable, efficient, and eco-friendly rice production sector in Vietnam.

”If only I’d known about SRI earlier...”

These are words that Mr. Nguyen Huy Lieu repeated many times during a field-day workshop to evaluate the application of SRI. Mr. Lieu is one of the first 30 farmers in Kinh Ke commune, Lam Thao district, to participate in SRI trials for the 2008 spring crop. In the beginning, despite the training he received from experienced technicians and the field visit he paid to successful SRI fields in Ha Tay, Mr. Lieu still doubted that SRI techniques would improve his yields. Traditionally, rice seedlings are transplanted when they have four or five leaves and four to six tillers per cluster. But the SRI method is to transplant smaller seedlings, with only two leaves and one tiller, and to space the transplanted seedlings much more widely than is traditionally done. Out of curiosity, though, he decided to try SRI in one sao of his family’s rice paddies.

Getting More for Less Taking note of the instructions and information that he had received, Mr. Lieu realised that if he followed the principles of SRI, his fields would need just on e -ff i f t h o f t h e s e e d s normally required and o n e -hh a l f o f t h e l a b o u r f o r t r a n s p l a n t a t i o n . Moreover, his fields would need half as much fertiliser as he normally used, and would require n o p e s t i c i d e s .

On top of these reduced inputs, the average yield for one SRI sao is 260kg, while that of a non-SRI sao is just under 200kg. “Doing the calculations, I realised that using SRI would increase my profits by 120,000 VND per sao. What’s more, the SRI grains look plumper, shinier and even cleaner,” said a happy Mr. Lieu.

Changing Mindsets, Improving Livelihoods With the spring crop producing encouraging results, Mr. Lieu has become c o n v i n c e d o f t h e b e n e f i t s a n d e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f S R I , and for the autumn crop, he and his family are planning to apply SRI in 3.6 sao. At the moment, his SRI crop is in the “red tail” phase, with about 18 to 20 strong, long, and grain-rich flowers per cluster. To Mr. Lieu, this is a sign that his SRI field will be much more productive than his other fields. Having gained both technical instruction and practical experience in the application of SRI, and having seen the results of SRI first-hand, both in his fields and in the fields of others, Mr. Lieu has now become a s t r o n g a d v o c a t e f o r S R I i n h i s c o m m u n i t y , encouraging others to overcome their hesitation and embrace the new technique.

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The implementation of SRI has also contributed to the changing of attitudes towards gender roles. In the past, learning about new agricultural technologies and techniques was seen as the responsibility of men. Over the course of this project, however, women have taken change in organising and leading SRI implementation, making up the majority (70%) of farmer-trainers. Women have taken a leading role both in their communities and in their homes; at the household level, it is often women who make the decision to apply SRI in their families’ fields. After achieving successful results, women have also become tireless promoters of SRI in their communities.

farmers. Therefore, in order to strengthen and develop sustainable community rice varieties, and to seek support from government agencies for farmers’ rice seed systems, SRD and the Bac Kan Plant Protection Sub-Department (PPSD) developed a new project to follow up on the results of the former project. This new project focuses on three objectives: a) Improving capacity on rice seed production for more farmers, especially farmers and women in other villages and communes, to improve household incomes, sustainably develop agriculture, and reduce poverty; b) Promoting the gradual adaptation of farmers to the impact and implications of WTO integration. In particular, the government’s seed price subsidy has been totally abolished and farmers will have to manage their own rice and seed production according to local, national and international market forces;

Strengthening Rice Seed Systems in Bac Kan Building on a Successful Foundation

From 2005 to 2007, the “Capacity Building for Farmers’ Groups on Sustainable Community Rice Varieties” project in Bac Kan Province contributed greatly to strengthening, diversifying and promoting the use of local purebred varieties in 20 out of the province’s 122 communes.

Farmers participating in the project have applied their newly learnt knowledge to seed production as well as rice production, thereby increasing rice yields and becoming less dependent on external sources of seed supply. At the same time, community cooperation has been built up through new seed exchange practices among farmers.

However, the number of farmers who directly participated in the project, as well as those who acquired technical knowledge from key farmers, made up only 3 – 5% of Bac Kan Province’s population. Moreover, the mountainous terrain in the area lowers accessibility and limits linkages, hence preventing widespread knowledge transmission from farmers to

c) Advocating for policy change, so that the government recognises farmers’ role in seed production, supports them in seed production to serve local demand, and at the same time supports the certification of some varieties crossbred by farmers themselves that are suitable to local conditions.

Strengthening Capacity, Cooperation, and Local Knowledge

The new three year project, “Strengthening and Developing a Rice Seed System for Farmers” was begun in April 2008 with the aim of improving the livelihoods and social knowledge of farmers, especially poor farmers and women. Over the past six months, the project has helped 340 new farmers in 12 communes to acquire basic knowledge of seed production and rice cultivation techniques, including variety rehabilitation, multiplication, comparison, and line selection. In addition, to maintain farmer groups’ operations on rice seed production and experience sharing, two Farmers’ Learning Centres have been set up. These centres are not only good places for farmers to learn, but also for local partners to gain knowledge of and support the local rice seeds produced by farmers. Furthermore, in all of the project’s activities, attention is paid to continuously improving the capacity of the technical staff of the district and the provincial Plant Protection Department in management and project facilitation to enable them to fill their new role of coordinating and cooperating with other local agencies to support farmers.

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Actively Seeking the Strong Support of Local Partners

Looking to the Future

The current plan is to expand the project to 30 more communes over the next two years, bringing the total to 42 communes with 1,200 new farmers who are trained and capable of applying their knowledge and skills on rice plant genetic resources in their rice seed production. In addition to building the knowledge of local communities in seed production, the project will also help farmers develop linkages with international and domestic counterparts to share experiences and exchange seed varieties. For that purpose, SRD and the Project Partner will work closely with the two Farmers’ Learning Centres to disseminate the results of their efforts and help local communities make their voices heard at the national and regional levels, so that they can advocate for the strengthening and sustainable development of the Farmers’ Rice Seed System.

Livelihoods and Sanitation Improvement for Marginalized Communities in Bac Kan In Vietnam, disparities between urban and rural areas, among regions, and, most notably, among ethnic groups have been increasing over recent years. These growing inequalities are especially apparent in access to resources, specifically on the part of women, ethnic minorities, and the poorest of the poor. As stated in its newly issued 2008-2012 Strategic Plan, SRD continues to work for the improvement of marginalised communities’ capacity to manage their livelihood systems sustainably. Drawing on lessons learnt from the Diversification of Agricultural Production and Sustainable Livelihoods Project, which was implemented in four poor communes in Pac Nam district from 2005 to 2007, SRD launched a new livelihoods and sanitation project in August of 2008. This project will work in Pac Nam to target two communes that are among the most impoverished and remote in Bac Kan province. The aim of the project is to build the capacity of marginalised communities to improve their livelihoods, solidarity and participation in social and economic development.

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To advocate for the government’s recognition of farmers’ role in seed production and for government support for farmers in producing seeds to serve local demand, SRD has worked with the Bac Kan Department of Agricultural and Rural Development (DARD) and other local government agencies such as the Agriculture and Forestry Extension Centre (AFEC) and the Agricultural Supplies and Seed Company (ASSC) to introduce and promote the project and its objectives. As a result of SRD’s advocacy efforts, these agencies will work with SRD and the Project Partner to support the project by providing certification that farmer-bred seeds meet government standards. These agencies are also actively involved in a range of activities. Project staff members, for example, deliver monthly updates at DARD meetings. The AFEC, on the other hand, has provided one of its rice fields to conduct experiments for seed certification, in addition to supporting communication and advocacy activities. The ASSC is supporting farmers’ groups in marketing the rice varieties that they produce, while the PPSD and its district stations are providing support in developing the technical knowledge and skills of farmers. Finally, the Commune People’s Committees are committed to supporting the project and providing favourable conditions for its successful completion.

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Local Ownership and Control

To help facilitate the programme in an effective and suitable manner, SRD has set up a project office and assigned a field-based Programme Officer to work with local partners and beneficiaries. In addition, SRD has collaborated with local authorities and community members to establish Project Management Boards at the district, commune, and village levels. By taking control and ownership over the programme at the local levels, the Project Management Boards can help build local confidence and capacity in project planning, implementing, and monitoring. Furthermore, basing a Programme Officer in the field allows for greater involvement of local partners and community members, increased communication, and better local knowledge on the part of SRD staff. With such an arrangement, SRD and its staff can respond more suitably, more rapidly, and more effectively to any issues which may arise in the life of the project.

Inclusive Project Management

In September, SRD staff, local authorities, and community members organised the signing of the new project agreement, which was followed by a start-up workshop. In the workshop, the Project Management Board, Programme Officer, and local community members discussed and agreed upon the approach, methodology and financial management of the project. The next step in the process will be to arrange a joint discussion between the Project Management Boards at the different levels and representatives from four villages, with the support of the

Programme Officer, on the implementation plan for the first year. Training on the formulation of farmers’ groups, participatory planning, monitoring and evaluation was conducted as the initial capacity building activity for residents of the project areas in 2008.

Challenges and Future Activities

The project has been implemented in a particularly challenging area of Bac Kan province, both in terms of physical environment and socioeconomic situation. In order to reach the project’s goal, SRD, the local partners and villagers will work together to overcome current challenges.

These challenges can be grouped into four categories: infrastructure, human capacity, natural conditions and social environment. Following the initial capacity building activities, which have already been implemented, in the time ahead the project will focus on: z Promoting the formation and operation of farmers’ groups and community-based organisations (CBOs) for better cooperation, solidarity and participation in the community’s decision making z Household livelihoods and income generation through the introduction and development of technical skills and suitable technology for the villagers z Improvement of the basic living conditions in poor villages through improved infrastructure, environment and hygiene z Strengthening the status and role of women through the mainstreaming of gender equity in community development

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TOPICAL HIGHLIGHTS

Vietnam, with its tropical climate and long coastline, is one of five countries most at risk from climate change.1 Climate change and its consequences have been and will continue to affect Vietnam’s economy, especially the agricultural sector, and create threats to the livelihoods of dozens of million of people, particularly the poor and the poorest, in all areas of the country. The Vietnamese government is actvely working to address this issue, tasking the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment with formulating a National Target Programme (NTP) to respond to climate change. NGOs, community groups and other civil society organisations are also important actors, since they work directly at the grassroots level and can play a significant role in the national effort to minimise the negative impact of climate change.

Climate Change: A Threat to Livelihoods

Since SRD is an NGO targeting the poor and the poorest, focusing on sustainable agriculture and livelihoods in mountainous areas, it considers climate change an issue of high priority. The strongest effects of climate change have been and will continue to be on agriculture, and so climate change poses an enormous threat to the livelihoods of the poor. At the

(1)

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SRD’s Climate Change Initiative

same time, some agricultural practices themselves contribute to the threat of climate change.

An Integrated Approach to Livelihoods Development and Climate Change

In its programmes, SRD has always worked directly at grassroots level, supporting communities in sustainable agriculture development and environment protection. By integrating climate concerns into its work, SRD can make a significant impact at the local level. SRD’s projects on rice seed conservation, the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), Participatory Land Use Management (PLUM), and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) have each contributed to the adaptation of rural communities to the risk of climate change and the minimisation of its harmful effects.

A Sustained Response

In its 2008-2012 Strategic Plan, SRD places a high priority on the issue of climate change and resolves to mainstream climate-related concerns into all aspects of its work. SRD will also collaborate closely with local partners and communities to develop small scale adaptation and mitigation models to prepare for climate change, as well as building up a database on the impact of climate change in its project areas, allowing for further monitoring, analysis, and the development of new interventions.

Collaboration and Advocacy

SRD is a founding member of the Climate Change and Civil Society Organisations, a network of VNGOs, and is the only Vietnamese NGO in the Climate Change Working Group’s (CCWG) core group. Our purpose in joining these groups is to learn, to share experience, and to join forces with other NGOs to help people adapt to climate change and to minimise its negative impacts, as well as to make sure that the voices and concerns of grassroots stakeholders reach policy makers.

The Threat of Climate Change

Over the past decade, the gradual warming of the earth's climate has become a matter of global concern, leading national governments, multinational corporations and civil society organizations to develop many programs to counter the threat of climate change. It has been predicted that Vietnam will be one of the countries most seriously affected by climate change. Recently, flooding has happened with increasing frequency, resulting in crop failure and degraded soil fertility. Such consequences are very significant for an agricultural country like Vietnam, in which rice production is one of the pillars of the economy.

The Need for Diversity

There are two main rice-producing areas in the country, the Red River Delta and the Mekong River Delta. The national annual rice production is about 3334 million tons of raw rice, of which 8 million tons (equivalent to 4 millions tons of husked rice) are exported, while the rest is for domestic consumption and national reserve. This high level of export makes Vietnam the second largest rice exporter in the world. That achievement was made possible by using more productive and shorter-term rice varieties, and by employing intensification techniques. The challenge now is to maintain a diverse range of high quality rice varieties that can proactively adapt to the negative impacts of global climate change, such as the degradation of land fertility due to flooding and the proliferation of pesticide-resistant organisms. That challenge is critical,

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FARMERS' RICE SEED SYSTEMS AND CLIMATE CHANGE

given the fact that the government's rice seed supply service can provide only 20-30% of farmers' demand, while the remaining 70-80% comes from farmers' own conservation efforts.

Building the Capacity of Farmers to Conserve Seed Variety

From 2008, with Cordaid financial support, SRD has extended its earlier program results to its new project on "Strengthening and Developing a Farmers' Rice Seed System in Bac Kan." This project aims at improving capacity in rice seed production for farmers and advocating for the role of farmers in rice seed production, taking into account Vietnam's recent accession to the WTO.

Results from the Field

Transferring knowledge on the rehabilitation of local rice seeds to farmers has already proven its use as a tool for climate change preparation. Local rice varieties are stable, well-adapted to local conditions, more pest-resistant and drought-resistant, and have less need for intensification techniques.

Supporting Local Innovation

Farmers might have less scientific understanding about global climate change than researchers, but they are the first to bear the impact of any change in temperature or weather patterns. If they do not have control over seed supply and do not continuously improve seed quality, stability, and suitability to local conditions, they will be increasingly vulnerable to such changes. To help farmers protect their livelihoods, governments must provide appropriate agricultural extension policies and NGOs, such as SRD, must provide access to resources and utilization methodologies. Through its work in Bac Kan province, SRD has been helping farmers, especially poor farmers, to safeguard their own livelihoods and to contribute to global efforts on climate change adaptation.

Local government officials visit an SRD project site

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The productivity of rice and its resistance to pests and extreme temperatures depend significantly on seed quality. In turn, the quality of seed depends very much on the skill and knowledge of farmers.

With the aim of improving farmers' knowledge on seeds and biodiversity, SRD has participated in the Biodiversity Use and Conservation in Asia Program (BUCAP). This program, managed by the Southeast Asia Regional Initiative for Community Empowerment (SEARICE), has been implemented in Vietnam since 2000 and has supported farmers with knowledge and skills on selection, rehabilitation, multiplication and breeding of rice varieties in order to sustainably maintain rice seed systems, enabling a proactive response to climate change. By the end of 2007, more than 5,000 farmers from 185 communes of 13 provinces had participated in the program, stretching from the North (Hoa Binh, Yen Bai, Bac Kan, Hanoi) to Central Vietnam (Nghe An, Quang Binh, Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam) and the South (Long An, Dong Thap, Kien Giang). Since 2003, SRD/CIDSE has implemented the program in Bac Kan.

The use of local seeds has already shown great promise throughout Vietnam. In the northern provinces of Hoa Binh and Bac Kan, some 37 varieties have been successfully rehabilitated, including the pink bao thai variety, a high quality, high yield rice well adapted to the northern mountains; before its rehabilitation, this variety was nearly extinct. Seed conservation efforts have also shown great promise in the Mekong River Delta, Vietnam's rice basket. There, increased knowledge of variety comparison, line selection, and breeding techniques has helped farmers to expand the stock of local seeds, allowing for their large scale adoption. In Kien Giang, a group of 240 farmers has successfully rehabilitated 10 rice varieties, which are stable, highly productive, pest and drought resistant, and suitable for use in marginal soil. In Tra Vinh, a local farmer, Mr. Duong Van Chau, has gained fame as the "king of rice seeds" for his success in developing the TM 14 rice variety. Over the past five years, demand for TM 14 seeds has increased from 40 tons per year to 100 tons, and they are being widely planted across the Mekong Delta.

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BENEFITS OF SRI Higher yields and higher quality rice Reduced use of water, seed, fertilizer and pesticides Greater resistance to storms, floods, drought, and climate change Higher environmental sustainability Community empowerment through grassroots education campaigns

What is SRI?

SRI is a set of effective, eco-friendly rice farming practices proven to increase crop productivity, while at the same time reducing inputs such as seed, water, fertiliser and pesticides. The key tenets of SRI include the use of younger seedlings, single plant transplantation, wider spacing of plants, timely drainage of water, and frequent weeding. SRI was initially developed in the 1980s by a French priest, Fr. Henri de Laulanie, S.J., working in Madagascar. It was Dr. Norman Uphoff of Cornell University’s International Institute for Food, Agriculture, and Development (CIIFAD), however, who popularised SRI through his work with farmers, NGOs, governments, and research institutes throughout the world.

An Innovative Approach to Strengthening Rural Livelihoods

Though effective, SRI represents a radical break from traditional farming practices in most rice-growing regions, and requires effective education and awareness building among farmers before it can be implemented successfully.

When adopted, though, SRI can bring dramatic improvements to the livelihoods of rural communities. This is being proven across Asia, where grassroots-based organisations are successfully implementing SRI. In Cambodia, for example, the NGO CEDAC has worked with Oxfam America to disseminate SRI methods in conjunction with the development of community savings groups, allowing local farmers to both increase incomes and save for their families’ futures.

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System of Rice Intensification (SRI)

SRI in Vietnam: A Coordinated Approach

Since 2003, SRI has already been applied in 17 provinces in Vietnam as part of a national IPM (Integrated Pest Management) project coordinated by the Plant Protection Department (PPD) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD). The initial results of these trials have been very promising, both in terms of socio-economic and environmental impact.

Empowering Farmers to Improve their Livelihoods

In September of 2007, the PPD developed an SRI curriculum for use in training of trainers (TOT) for the six provinces. Farmers’ Field Schools (FFS) were then set up on the commune level. In total, 13 Farmers’ Field Schools were set up, training 390 farmers to serve as the focal point for SRI experimentation and dissemination. These farmers then undertook field studies, under the technical supervision of PPD staff. These studies were designed by the farmers to meet their specific needs, and focused on such issues as soil nutrition, water management, transplantation of seedlings, rice seed selection, soil preparation, and seedling preparation.

These 390 core farmers then attended follow-up training at field days and workshops, as well as carrying out farmer to farmer training. In total, these core farmers trained another 1,274 farmers in SRI methods, leading to the application of SRI in 302.3 hectares.

Farmers in these communities report that seed use has gone down by 75%, and pesticide use by 50-100% in their SRI fields, while rice yields have increased by 13-29%, and net profits by 8% to 32%.

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A New Initiative: Working with the Disabled in Thua Thien Hue SRD’s 2008-2012 Strategic Plan reaffirms its inclusive approach and commitment to working with poor and disadvantaged communities, as well as its twin objectives of improving livelihoods and developing grassroots organisations, such as CBOs and farmers’ groups. Putting these principles into action, SRD has launched a new project centred on people with disabilities. Through this project, SRD will be able to complement its earlier work in Thua Thien Hue and to expand existing livelihoods programmes to reach the disabled. In its work with people with disabilities, SRD will build on its existing work with CBOs by developing cooperative organisations for people with disabilities.

Disability and Social Exclusion

People with disabilities are normally understood in terms of their impairments, whether physical or mental. Such impairments often hinder the disabled from

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Over the past year SRD, in cooperation with the PPD, Oxfam Quebec, and funded by Oxfam America, has worked to develop a collaborative initiative that aims to support small-scale rice farmers through SRI implementation. The initial implementation of the SRI programme in Vietnam took place in 12 communes, distributed among six provinces: Ha Tay, Yen Bai, Phu Tho, Thai Nguyen, Nghe An and Ha Tinh. This initiative is part of Oxfam America’s broader Livelihood and Income Security programme in the Mekong Sub-region (including Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam). The SRI application currently taking place in Vietnam will gradually expand to Laos, while educational and knowledge-sharing exchanges will be coordinated between partner organisations and farmers throughout the three countries.

living their lives independently or from making a living. Therefore, one common type of development intervention is to help disabled people to improve their capacities, through rehabilitation, medical treatment, and prosthetics and other forms of technological assistance. Another approach is to care for the disabled, whether in special schools or residential facilities. While both of these approaches play an important role in meeting the challenges facing the disabled, they do not address another major problem: the exclusion, abuse, and marginalisation that the disabled face in their daily lives.

Living with Disabilities in Vietnam

Disability and Development

As a result of the prolonged wars and poverty that have marred its recent history, Vietnam has a disproportionately large number of people with disabilities. Issues of poverty and disability are mutually reinforcing. On one hand, poverty can cause disabilities through inadequate nutrition, disease, and lack of access to medical care. On the other hand, living with a disability puts one at a higher risk of poverty, as disabled people are excluded from the livelihoods available to others. In rural areas where poverty is endemic, the disabled make up the poorest of the poor.

However, since poverty and disability are so closely related, there is a great opportunity for carefully designed development interventions that can help counter both problems at once.

As a development agency with a holistic view, SRD approaches the issue of disability with two aims in mind. The first is to improve the living conditions of disabled people by expanding access to medical care and assistive technologies, by helping the families of the disabled learn rehabilitation techniques, and by developing livelihoods opportunities for the disabled and their family members. The ability of the disabled to contribute to the incomes of their families is essential, since the economic condition of the household is an important factor in the health and wellbeing of people with disabilities.

Secondly, SRD will support people with disabilities in improving their social and economic capacity through training, education, and participation in livelihoods development projects. The aim of this initiative is to promote solidarity and mutual assistance among the disabled, through the creation of disability self-help groups, as well as to support the gradual integration of people with disabilities in the social activities of their communities. In addition, SRD will work with local communities and governments to promote better awareness of the problems disabled people face and advocate for better and more inclusive policies and affirmative actions towards the disabled. By simultaneously developing both the confidence and capacity of disabled people and a better appreciation on the part of community members and government officials for the struggles and accomplishments of the disabled, true social integration can be achieved.

Healing the Wounds of War

SRD’s commitment to working with this disadvantaged community will be realised through a new project in Thua Thien Hue. This province lies in the heart of Vietnam, near the former border between North and South, and was the scene of bitter fighting and bombing in the 1960’s. Though the conflict ended years ago, it continues to take a terrible toll, as the lingering effects of dioxin (Agent Orange) contamination continue to cause birth defects and disabilities. It is time, however, to turn the page on this sad chapter and work towards justice and inclusion for those facing the twin challenges of disability and social marginalisation. In coordination with current and future projects in the province, the new disability initiative will contribute to SRD’s larger goal of helping the poor and disadvantaged to improve their own lives in an equal and compassionate society.

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These problems are especially acute in Vietnam, where people with disabilities have little chance of gaining decent employment, and where little effort is made to accommodate the disabled and their needs.

Employment advertisements in Vietnam often specify that only “good looking” applicants will be considered, effectively excluding the disabled, and the lack of infrastructure, such as wheelchair ramps and accessible toilets, prevents disabled people from fully participating in public life and community activities. This situation calls for an approach to disability issues that addresses not just the physical or mental impairments of the disabled, but the external barriers, whether social, environmental, or institutional, that people with disabilities face.

Building Capacity, Fighting Exclusion

Community Development Network), SRD provided input in the drafting of Vietnam’s new Gender Law, and has helped organise educational workshops on the Gender Law and on CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women) in 2008.

Sharing Experiences and Building Knowledge

NETWORKS AND ADVOCACY Over the past year, SRD has continued to play an active role in both national and regional networks. Participating in such networks is a key aspect of SRD’s work, allowing it to effectively advocate for stakeholders at the grassroots level, to share knowledge and experience, and to address complex issues that cut across geographical and sector boundaries. In addition, the development of such networks contributes to the growth of a dynamic civil society, both in Vietnam and in the region.

Effective Advocacy

SRD is an active member of Vietnam-based networks, allowing it to join forces with Vietnamese and international NGOs to achieve positive results at the national level. For one, such networks provide SRD with a forum to influence policy-making and legal reform, as well as to educate stakeholders on the law; having served as a Chair of the People’s Participation Working Group for nearly two years (2006-07) SRD has worked together with other NGOs and the government to promote a legal framework for Collaborative Groups or Community-Based Organisations (CBOs). These efforts resulted in the issuance of Decree 151 in late 2007 and the accompanying implementation guidelines in 2008. In light of this success, the working group has organised training for 120 representatives from CBOs across Vietnam on Decree 151 and the new guidelines. Likewise, as a member of Gencomnet (Gender and

Addressing Environmental Change

By grouping actors across many different sectors, national networks can be an effective venue for dealing with complex, crosscutting issues, such as environmental protection. Working with the River Network, which includes both organisations and researchers specialised on the conservation and protection of Vietnam’s river systems, has helped SRD to better understand and address the issues facing Vietnam’s rivers and the communities which depend on them for their livelihoods. As a core member of the newly established Climate Change Working Group (CCWG) of donors, INGOs and Vietnamese NGOs, and a member of CSOs and Climate Change, SRD has joined with other organisations to prepare for the threat of climate change by focusing on coordination, advocacy and capacity building. In particular, SRD has taken the lead in coordinating capacity building activities for NGOs. In 2008, SRD participated in and presented at four regional conferences and four national workshops on climate change issues.

Forging Linkages with International Counterparts

SRD is also an active participant in four regional and international networks.

Working within such networks allows SRD to build recognition for its work on the regional level, gain valuable experience and knowledge, and to more effectively address issues, such as food security, sustainable agriculture, and environmental degradation, which cut across national

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Membership in local networks also allows SRD to contribute to the sharing of knowledge and experience with other development organizations. As a member of CIFPEN (Civil Society Inclusion in Food Security and Poverty Elimination Network), SRD organised a February 2008 workshop on medicinal plant cultivation as a poverty alleviation tool, based on the success of its work in Bac Kan, that draw representatives of both international and local NGOs. Working with CDG (Cooperation and Development Group) SRD has taken part in field visits and research trainings, as well as contributing articles for CDG’s magazine. SRD is also planning to organise CDG workshops on community development and HIV prevention in late 2008.

An Engaged Civil Society Organisation

In addition to its participation in these networks, SRD has been active proponent of civil society engagement, and has worked to forge linkages with local and international stakeholders. In December 2007, SRD’s director was invited as the sole NGO panelist for the official Vietnam launch of the World Bank’s 2008 World Development Report, “Agriculture and Development.” SRD was also chosen by VUSTA (the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Association) to host a visiting delegation of civil society representatives from Laos, and to join the advisory board for UNDPVUSTA projects on VUSTA capacity building.

In March 2008, SRD was invited as a CSO representative from Vietnam to attend a workshop on Agriculture and Rural Development organised by the Donor Platform in Brussels to set the agenda for the Third High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Accra. Also in 2008, Caritas Australia (CA) invited SRD’s director as a guest speaker for their Lenten Campaign, during which she gave a series of presentations to Australian churches and schools on the work of SRD and on rural development issues in Vietnam. This visit gave SRD a valuable opportunity to help Australian people to understand how their money is spent on improving marginalised lives in developing countries and how CA supports its partners in Vietnam.

It also provided a chance for many Australians to broaden their knowledge of the development situation in Vietnam.

SRD’s Management and Operational Structure VUSTA

Advisory Board

Collaborators, Government, NGOs, Development Agencies, Scientists

Executive Director

Centre Committee

Management Team

Program Operations

Administration and Finance

HANOI OFFICE Program Manager Program Advisor Program Officers Program Communications Interns and Volunteers

Finance and Admin. Manager Accountant Receptionist/Admin. Assistant Interns and Volunteers Cook, Driver, and Guards

BAC KAN FIELD OFFICE Program Officer

THUA THIEN HUE FIELD OFFICE Program Advisor Program Officer Project Partners Project Management Boards (Province, District, and Commune Level)

Village Development Committees, CBOs, and Farmers’ Groups

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boundaries. Over the past year, SRD has joined two regional networks focused on agricultural issues: PANAP (Pest Action Network Asia Pacific) and EARWG (East Asia Rice Working Group). PANAP is committed to supporting biodiversity and ecologically sound agriculture, while EARWG is a regional network which works for sustainable rice production and supports the development of natural alternatives to genetically engineered and genetically modified crops. SRD serves as the sole Vietnamese NGO in both of these networks, providing it with a voice to effectively advocate for the interest of farmers in the world’s second largest rice exporter. SRD also recently joined SEACON (Southeast Asian Council for Food Security and Fair Trade), through which it contributes to the regional dialogue on food security, fair trade, climate change, and farmers’ rights, and has recently begun participating in the ICSW Forum (International Council on Social Welfare), a global network of CSOs focused on social protection and social welfare. SRD has also received training from ICSW on social welfare, including effective advocacy techniques, as well as participating in a regionallevel advocacy programme aimed at the ASEAN intergovernment body.

SRD works to build partnership based on values of equity, respect, responsibility, and effectiveness.

The capacity of SRD’s project partners varies significantly, and the shortage of skilled human resources is keenly felt in rural Vietnam, especially at the local (commune and village) level. SRD, however, has managed to succeed in the face of these adverse conditions, working positively with local authorities and people to create durable institutions for project management.

The success of SRD’s approach to partnership development is evident in the achievements of the medicinal herb cultivation project in Khang Ninh commune, Ba Be district, Bac Kan. After working with SRD for two years, the Chair and Vice Chairman of the Commune People’s Committee had this to say:

A VIETNAMESE NGO WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES SRD’s commitment to building strong partnerships is one of the characteristics which set it apart from other NGOs. Working with its local partners, SRD implements its grassroots activities through communitybased organisations (CBOs), which are established and managed by local people. Action plans and project proposal designs are initially developed by local people themselves, with the participation of local authorities and other stakeholders.

Through the application of participatory training and a learning-by-doing approach, SRD supports local staff to change the perceptions and build the capacity of community members, so that local organisations can participate in and contribute to community governance and the building of a sustainable civil society in rural communities. Biannual meetings are organised for stakeholders to provide feedback and comments. In this way,

“We have learned so much about management, organisation, facilitation, and communication from our work on the project. We feel more confident now when we have to make a plan for the future, or when we have to conduct monitoring or assessment of the project activities. Working together, we have discussed and reached decisions on work activities, and we’ve learned cultivation, harvesting, and storage techniques for herbal plants. We’ve also learned so much about the benefits and uses of medicinal herbs, allowing us to market our produce more effectively.”

“We truly appreciate the cooperation and effectiveness of SRD at the grassroots level. SRD staff closely monitored programme implementation, and worked hand-in-hand with farmers to carry out project activities according to quarterly and annual plans. SRD also worked with us to improve market access for medicinal herbs. There were, however, some delays in the quarterly budget transfer to the project partner, and we hope this process can be improved and streamlined in the future.”

“After two years, the project’s results are very promising. Medicinal plants have been successfully cultivated in trial plots. This is the first time that local farmers have applied these new cultivation techniques, and they’re very pleased with the results. The project has also helped the minority people of Khang Ninh to achieve good results by investing in sustainable livelihoods.

The People’s Committee of Khang Ninh urges SRD to continue providing support to local farmers to cultivate medicinal plants, because innovations such as this can contribute to social and economic development, reduce poverty, and help minority communities build a better future.”

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ANNEXES SRD'S LOCAL PARTNERS

PROGRAM PORTFOLIO SRD Ref

1

VM0012

2

VM002 3

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62

PROJECT

Year start

Year end

Building Farmers' Groups' Capacity in Sustainable Community Rice Varieties in Bac Kan Province

2005

2008

Strengthening Capacity to Improve Communities' Social and Economic Life in Pac Nam district, Bac Kan Province.

2005

2008

Budget in USD 1 181,758

224,310

Organisations

Province

Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

Bac Kan

Provincial Plant Protection Sub - Department

Bac Kan

Agricultural and Forestry Extension Centre

Bac Kan

People's Committee of Ba Be District

Bac Kan

63 Annual Report 2007- 2008

No

3

VM003

Irrigation Managed by Villagers, Tran Yen District, Yen Bai Province

2006

2008

229,708

People's Committee of Pac Nam district

Bac Kan

4

VM004

Supporting Farmers in Medicinal Plant Cultivation, Ba Be district, Bac Kan Province.

2006

2009

122,057

People's Committee of Khang Ninh Commune, Ba Be District

Bac Kan

5

VM005

Community Livelihood Clubs to Support Poverty Reduction and Local Governance in Phu Tho Province

2006

2009

362,827

Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

Phu Tho

Provincial Plant Protection Sub-Department

Phu Tho

People's Committee of Hung Long Commune, Yen Lap District

Phu Tho

4

6

VM006

Development of Participatory Land Use Management, Thua Thien Hue Province

2008

2009

67,755

7

VM007

Poor Farmers and Women Manage Irrigation in Hung Long Commune, Yen Lap District, Phu Tho Province

2007

2010

209,599

Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

Thai Nguyen

Provincial Plant Protection Sub-Department

Thai Nguyen

8

VM008

System of Rice Intensification: Advancing Small Farmers in Mekong Region

2007

2010

189,545

People's Committee of Viet Cuong and Van Hoi Communes, Tran Yen District

9

VM014

Strengthening and Developing Farmers' Rice Seed System in Bac Kan Province

2008

2011

310,089

Department of Natural Resources and Environment

Thua Thien - Hue

10

VM015

Improvement of Marginalised Community's Livelihoods and Sanitation in Pac Nam District, Bac Kan Province

2008

2011

277,175

Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

Thua Thien - Hue

People's Committee of Phong Xuan Commune, Phong Dien District

Thua Thien - Hue

People's Committee of Phong Dien District

Thua Thien - Hue

Union of Friendship Organisations

Thua Thien - Hue

Department of Planning and Investment

Thua Thien - Hue

11

VM016

Support to People with Disabilities in Thua Thien Hue

2008

2011

154,135

12

VM017

CBO research

2008

2008

13,600

Total

1

Total budget including local contribution

2

Transferred from CIDSE Vietnam

3

Transferred from CIDSE Vietnam

4

One-year pilot

5

Currently being finalized

2,342,558

5

Yen Bai

8. Mr. Pham Hong Kien, Programme Officer Master of Development Studies, University of Melbourne, Australia (2007) Bachelor of Business, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia (1999) 9. Mr. Nguyen Duy Thinh, Programme Officer B.A. in Economics, Hue Economics University (2001) 10. Mr. Vu The Thuong, Programme Officer M.A. in Social Psychology, Hanoi National University (2003) B.A. in Social Psychology, Hanoi National University (1999) 11. Mr. Nguyen Viet Cuong, Programme Officer Master of Agricultural Economics, Hanoi Agricultural University (2005) B.A. in Agricultural Economics, Hanoi Agricultural University (2002) 12. Mr. Nguyen Dinh Phuoc, Programme Officer B.A. in Forestry, Hue University of Agriculture and Forestry (2007)

STAFF LIST 1. Ms. Vu Thi Bich Hop, Executive Director Post-graduate Diploma, Development Planning Techniques, Institute of Social Studies, The Hague, The Netherlands (1993) B.A. in Economics, National Economics University, Hanoi, Vietnam (1983) 2. Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa, Deputy Director/Programme Manager B.A. in Agriculture, Vietnam Agriculture University, Hanoi, Vietnam (1976) 3. Mr. Nguyen Van Phuc, Programme Advisor Masters in Rural Sciences, New England University, Australia (1996) Diploma in Animal Husbandry, George Dimitrov Agricultural University, Bulgaria (1977) 4. Ms. Nguyen Kim Ngan, Finance and Administration Manager/Chief Accountant B.A. in Accounting, Hanoi National Economics University (1994)

65 13. Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc, Accountant and Administrative Officer B.A. in Accounting, National Economics University (1999) B.A. in English, Hanoi University of Foreign Studies (1998) 14. Mr. Tim Gorman, Communications Officer (Part-time) MA in Southeast Asian Studies, National University of Singapore (2007) Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service, Georgetown University, Washington, DC (2003) 15. Ms. Bui Thuy Duong, Administrative Assistant/Receptionist B.A. in Tourism and Hospitality Management, Vietnam Commercial University (2006) 16. Support Staff: 1 Driver, 1 Maid/Cook, 2 Guards

Board of Advisors:

5. Mr. Le Van Anh, Thua Thien Hue Programme Advisor B.A. in Agriculture, Vietnam Agriculture University, Hanoi, Vietnam (1967)

17. Prof. Nguyen Thu Linh, PhD Director, Interdisciplinary Gender Centre, National Academy of Public Administration

6. Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong Nga, Programme Officer Medical Doctor, Hanoi Medical College (1994) B.A. in Business, Hanoi University of Finance and Accounting (2001)

18. Mr. Tran Ngoc Tue Finance Director for Save the Children in Vietnam

7. Ms. Pham Thi Bich Ngoc, Programme Officer Master of Science in Waste Management and Contaminated Site Treatment - An International Training Programme collaborated between Dresden Technical University, Germany and Hanoi University of Science, Vietnam (2007) Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science, Hanoi University of Science, National University, Vietnam (1998)

19. Mr. Nguyen Dinh Anh Chief of the NGO Division, Department of International Finance Cooperation, Ministry of Finance 20. Dr. Nguyen Manh Cuong Rector, Institute for Social Studies, VUSTA

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DETAILED EXPENDITURES

FINANCIAL REPORT Income and expenditure (*)

Programme Expenditures Personnel costs

For the year ended 31st December 2007 2007 INCOME Funding from donors

USD (A)

628,221

Other commitment Interest income

9,584

Exchange gain

37,325

Sundry income

-

Total Income

(B)

675,130

FIELD EXPENDITURE Programme Expenditure Programme Support Expenditure

24,965

Total Field Expenditure

(C)

381,163

Funding balance transferred to 2008

(D)=(A)-(C)

247,058

SURPLUS FOR THE YEAR

(B)-(C)-(D)

46,909

99,182

Staff development costs

6,495

Office rent/utilities

8,631

Office maintenance/other charge

897

Asset maintenance

1,887

Office supplies/consumables

4,094

Printing of Publication Communications Public relations

527 3,224 885

Travel

14,135

Meeting

1,840

Consultant/Evaluation

2,991

Audit

2,292

Grant in cash, kind, construction Bank charges Equipment Preparation new project

(*) These figures were audited by Vietnam Independent Auditing Limited Company-VNFC in February 2008

USD

Total Programme Expenditures Programme Support Expenditures Personnel costs Staff development costs Office rent/utilities Office maintenance/other charge

200,387 419 4,821 3,492 356,198 USD 17,746 2,877 58

Asset maintenance

706

Office supplies/consumables

552

Printing of Publication

652

Communications

158

Public relations

361

Travel

280

Meeting

252

Consultant/Evaluation Audit Grant in cash, kind, construction Bank charges Total Programme Support Expenditures

764 137 24,965

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356,198

2007

PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES, STRATEGIES AND OUTCOMES (From the 2008-2012 Strategic Plan) Based on SRD’s SWOT analysis and environment scanning, based on objective analysis of SRD’s experiences, niches, internal and external factors, SRD has developed three main Programme’s Objectives for its programme 2008-2012 as follows:

Improving marginalised community’s capacity to manage livelihood systems sustainably Objectives 1. Support farmers and community toward Sustainable Agriculture

2. Improve poor farmers' income through diversified and sustainable livelihood development

3. Farmers and their organisations are entitled to participate in decision making process and make contribution to society's development

1. Diversify system of plants and animals toward environmental friendliness

Outcomes 1. Farmers apply environment protection methods in agricultural production - Suitable and effective techniques are applied and disseminated

2. Using land & water resources efficiently and sustainably

2. Apply and disseminate SRI, PIM, IPM...

- Farmers replace chemical fertilisers with compost and biofertilisers - Farmers use local materials to prevent soil erosion (stone...)

3. Conserve and develop rice genetic resources

3. Farmers have adequate skills and technology to conserve local varieties - Several farmers' rice varieties are certified

4. Mainstream the issue of climate change in SRD's programme to raise awareness and build capacity

4. Local communities understand and prepare for climate change by developing small scale adaptation and mitigation models.

1. Increasing agricultural products' value through: - Processing - Conservation - Packaging

1. Farmers sell their products at competitive price

2. Improve poor farmers' income through on farm and off farm activities

2. Farmers and especially the poor and marginalised groups' incomes increase annually

3. Supporting farmers with value chains concept, marketing skills, cost-benefit analysis and business planning

3. Farmers understand the Values Chain concept, are capable of accessing and analyzing market information and make business plan as appropriate

4. Supporting farmers in certifying their products (tea, rice...)

4. Certain tea and rice products are certified as safe products

1. Improve capacity of farmers to implement the Grassroots Democracy Ordinance (GD), Land Rights, Gender Equity Law, Climate Change and other relevant regulations

1. Farmers are able to implement the core content of GD "people know, people discuss, people implement and people supervise"

2. Improve capacity for Commune People's Councils to act 3. Support various kinds of CBOs (including Disability People's Organisations- DPOs) formation and development and the cooperation between CBOs and local authorities

2. Commune People's Councils better understand their legitimate functions and are ready to exercise them 3. CBOs operate effectively with their development plans supported by People's Councils and authorities

Objectives 1. NGOs' effective poverty reduction, community development and resource management models are better recognised

2. SRD and other NGOs/ social businesses can take part in government's programmes on poverty reduction (e.g. ODA)

3. SRD and other NGOs can take part in making, evaluating and monitoring pro-poor policies/ programmes

4. SRD takes an active role and participates in climate change policies and programmes.

Strategies 1. Documenting and presenting models with focus on learnt lessons and end results

Outcomes The government issues legal documents to recognise and encourage the application of these models

2. Publishing and disseminating models in application

69

3. Allying with organisations which have similar experience, interest or strong influence to form networks in order to advocate and disseminate these models

1. Create good reputation & building up relationship with government & donors

Winning at least one component in a government/ODA project

2. Collect & maintain updated information on government's programmes & bidding procedures

1. Actively participate in and contribute constructive and practical ideas to poverty reduction and pro-poor policy forums

1. SRD will be member of NGOs groups that contribute ideas to specific policies, eg. in relation to government's programme "Agriculture, Rural and Farmers"

2. Develop capacity on monitoring, evaluating policy implementation

2. SRD will be invited to be member of evaluation groups which monitor the implementation of government's programmes/projects

1. Join national and regional Climate Change networks.

1. SRD will be invited to the government and donors' forum on climate change policies and programmes.

2. Advocate for small scale adaptation and mitigation models in local communities.

2. Community adaptation models are integrated into the government's initiatives and policies on climate change.

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Strategies

Advocacy for pro-poor policy change

MAP

The provinces in which SRD works are highlighted in red on the map below: Bac Kan Thai Nguyen

Yen Bai Phu Tho

71

Thua Thien Hue

Written by: SRD Staff Edited by: Vu Thi Bich Hop, Nguyen Van Phuc, Pham Hong Kien, and Tim Gorman Photographs by: SRD Staff and Nguyen Tien Dung

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CENTRE FOR SUSTAINABLE RURAL DEVELOPMENT No. 6, Lane 1, Le Van Huu, Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi, Vietnam Tel: (84-4) 3943-6678/76 Email: info@srd.org.vn

Fax: (84-4) 3943-6449

Website: www.srd.org.vn