Annual Report 2010 - English

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

OUR MISSION The Centre for Sustainable Rural Development is a Vietnamese development agency supporting poor rural communities to sustainably manage their own livelihoods through capacity building and supporting pro-poor policy advocacy.

ANNUAL REPORT

CENTRE FOR SUSTAINABLE RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Address: No. 56, Lane 19/9 Kim Dong Str., Hoang Mai Dist., Ha Noi Phone: +84 4 3943 6678/76 - Fax: +84 4 3943 6449 Email: info@srd. org.vn - Website: www.srd.org.vn

ŠBC-110225/HAKI

2010

ANNUAL REPORT

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CONTENT

LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR LETTER FROM VIETNAM UNION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATIONS (VUSTA) SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE - THE BASIS OF DEVELOPMENT

System of Rice Intensification – Easy yet effective Livelihoods improvement for poor farmers in Van Chan District, Yen Bai Province Farmer rice seed system and positive impact on communities Local herbal plants and remedies conservation Poor farmers, including women manage irrigation works Participatory land use and management Livelihoods development supported by sanitation improvement

CLIMATE CHANGE RESPONSE

Community based disaster risk management Sustainable livelihoods that cope with climate change: What do rural communities need?

RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY

CBO, economic crisis and hybrid rice research Developing market opportunities through value chain action research

CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES

New status for people with disabilities A man with disability: “Now I have developed new knowledge and skills, I’m not worried any more” Capacity building for poor rural communities is a key for sustainable development Gender equality – A basic human right HIV/AIDS integration – A highly responsible approach

OUR COMPETENCIES PROJECT LIST FINANCIAL STATEMENT LOCAL PARTNERS

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LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR

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iet Nam is on pace to become a middle income country, but there were still a number of social and economic challenges to be addressed in 2010, such as public administration, transparency and effectiveness of state-owned businesses, competition ability, climate change and poverty reduction orientation.

Being well aware of this context, SRD continues to design and carry out practical interventions which effectively address issues relating to sustainable development and communities, particularly poor rural communities. With more than 20 projects ranging from agriculture and rural development, climate change, sustainable livelihoods, supports to people with disabilities to community development, HIV/AIDS and gender equality, SRD has been providing direct support to improve the living conditions of different communities, and facilitating rural people to raise their voices on issues of concern. Our projects aimed not only to transfer new techniques and skills but also to help communities to sustain them.

In the area of climate change, our projects have gained encouraging initial results, paving the way for SRD’s future programs in this area. Our knowledge on climate change mitigation and adaptation models in different communities are highly valued. SRD maintains our leading role in the network Vietnam Non-governmental Organizations and Climate Change (VNGO & CC), which contributed to putting the issue on the agenda of national and international strategic planning.

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Our research and study activities have been crucial to the development of a number of SRD’s interventions as well as advocacy work. In 2010, a number of training workshops and research studies were conducted on climate change and value chain, which helped SRD to better design projects on sustainable livelihoods.

Above is a snapshot of SRD’s achievements over the past year.

These achievements would not have been possible without the tremendous support of the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Association (VUSTA), our partners at different levels, our donors, rural communities we worked with and SRD’s committed staff.

Looking ahead to 2011 SRD is in a confident position to expand our already successful projects as well as taking on new initiatives that continue to support to rural communities to achieve sustainable development, in this time of rapid change in Viet Nam.

Vu Thi Bich Hop Director Centre for Sustainable Rural Development

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LETTER FROM VIETNAM UNION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATIONS (VUSTA)

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overty alleviation and economic development have been established as principal targets for Vietnam. Over the past years, Vietnam has gained considerable achievements in all aspects of these and has achieved significant success in reducing poverty across the country, in particular in rural areas. However, a dark side of development which Vietnam as well as other developing countries has been suffering is the impact of pollution and environmental degradation resulting from unsustainable development processes. A major global result of rapid economic development is climate change, and Vietnam is one of the countries most vulnerable to its impacts.

At the moment, the Vietnamese Government is formulating an “Action Program Responding to Climate Change”. Quite a few countries and international organizations have been working with the Vietnamese Government and local people to implement this program, at both the national and the community level. SRD is one of the proactive organizations carrying out many activities in this area.

In early 2008 climate change was still a new issue in Vietnam.

SRD was the first Vietnamese NGO participating in the Climate Change Working Group (CCWG) which only consisted of international NGOs at that time. Starting in September 2008, with the support from VUSTA, SRD with three other Vietnamese NGOs actively took the initiative to establish the network “Vietnamese Non-governmental Organizations and Climate Change” (VNGO&CC) for which SRD is the Chair of the Steering Committee and a founding member. In the same year, in line with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment’s National Target Program, SRD actively cooperated with the two networks VNGO&CC and CCWG to successfully develop the project “Capacity Building on Climate Change for Civil Society Organizations”. The project’s most notable achievements include

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VIETNAMESE NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS RESPONDING TO CLIMATE CHANGE

the development of ‘Training the trainer’ training materials on climate change, and 15 officers from different NGOs having graduated from the training course to become active trainers on climate change.

Apart from capacity building for other NGOs, SRD has also conducted applied research and integrated climate change into existing projects, complementing the efforts of the Vietnamese Government. In 2009-2010, SRD carried out 5 studies on “Sustainable Livelihoods Responding to Climate Change and Needs Assessment” in 5 provinces (Bac Kan, Thai Nguyen, Quang Ninh, Hoa Binh and Yen Bai) to inform future intervention projects helping poor rural people to develop sustainable livelihoods and build their capacity to respond to climate change.

These studies are expected to be expanded in localities which are most vulnerable to climate change such as the Central Coastal regions, the Red River Delta and Mekong Delta.

On behalf of VUSTA’s Presidium, I warmly wish SRD every success in continuing to make a very active and effective contribution to poverty alleviation and sustainable development in Vietnam, especially in the context of climate change, one of the biggest challenges of the 21st century.

Ho Uy Liem Vice President Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations

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SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE THE BASIS OF DEVELOPMENT

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ith rural farmers comprising 70% of Viet Nam’s population, and 90% of the poor living in rural areas, sustainable agriculture has been seen as a solid foundation for poverty reduction and the core of the country’s development. Despite an annual agricultural growth of about 5.5%, Viet Nam has not yet achieved a level of sustainable agriculture characterised by economic growth, socio-economic equality and a well managed environment.

Sustainable rural development is the most significant component of SRD’s programs.

In 2010, our projects continued to support farmers stabilize their sources of income and to contribute to environmental protection. Through the project “Strengthening rice seed systems in Bac Kan province”, the farmers’ incomes have been increased, local resources are utilized by promoting the use of purebred varieties and traditional cultivation and less pesticide and chemical fertilizer are used thus emissions are reduced. Varieties selected and developed by the farmers are resistant to the impacts of bad weather. The project “System of rice intensification” in Thai Nguyen and Phu Tho has helped decrease the cost of farm inputs such as seedlings, fertilizer, irrigation water, etc. while increasing the productivity. Other projects like “Participatory land use and management” and “Water User Association” in Phu Tho have empowered farmers to participate in the sustainable use and management of resources such as land, irrigation water and environment. Local cultural values and resources are maintained and promoted in the project “Development and conservation of traditional remedies and indigenous medical plants” and “Livelihoods improvements for ethnic minorities in Yen Bai province”. Besides rice production, our projects also supported mountainous farmers to develop the cultivation of other products such as herbal, tea, non-timber forest products, etc. , through which they can have equal access to agricultural, social and economic services.

SRD commits to work side by side with rural communities and continuously initiate technical support for farmers in order to help them achieve the goals of sustainable rural development.

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SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE – THE BASIS OF DEVELOPMENT

SYSTEM OF RICE INTENSIFICATION Easy yet effective

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ystem of rice intensification (SRI) is a set of eco-friendly farming practices proven to increase crop productivity while at the same time reduce inputs cost. SRI has been shown to work effectively in both mitigating and adapting to climate change as the system helps limit rice losses in harsh weather conditions, increase drought and pesticide resistance, reduce demand for irrigation water and shorten the harvest time and thus reducing greenhouse gas emissions, especially CO2 and N2O. Due to its advantages, UNDP in the 2009 report “Viet Nam and Climate Change” has recommended SRI to be widely applied in Viet Nam. SRD has helped transferred SRI skills since 2008 in Thai Nguyen and Phu Tho through training provided for technical officers and farmer trainers. As a result, 7900 farming households were able to apply SRI across 1900 ha in the summer cultivation season of 2010.

SRI has proved to be of economic, social and environmental effectiveness as it helps reduce famers’ input of seedlings by 75%, and their input of irrigation water, fertilizer and pesticide by 33% while at the same time increasing yields by 17%. “Easy yet effective”, as farmer remarked in the sharing workshop on SRI in Thai Nguyen and Phu Tho.

LIVELIHOODS IMPROVEMENT FOR POOR FARMERS IN VAN CHAN DISTRICT, YEN BAI PROVINCE

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n order to help households in Gia Hoi and Nam Bung communes of Van Chan district, Yen Bai province to stabilize their incomes, in 2010 SRD started a project on sustainable livelihoods by diversifying the sources of incomes and accessing appropriate services.

Local farmers expressed concerns not only on how to raise the quantity of the products but also on how to access the market. Value-chain-based livelihoods development requires the farmers to have a thorough grasp of both technical and market knowledge to add value to their products.

To build capacity comprehensively for the farmers, nearly 50 training sessions on cultivation and husbandry have been conducted for more than 2000 farmers. Workshops on policies and government’s programs dealing with issues such as food security, livelihoods, community-based agricultural service provision were also organized for ethnic communities.

The project has initially created a foundation to improve food supply and strengthen the link between farmer groups and service providers such as agricultural product processors and private businesses to enhance the product value and offer better services to poor ethnic communities.

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SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE – THE BASIS OF DEVELOPMENT

FARMER RICE SEED SYSTEMS HAVE POSITIVE IMPACTS ON COMMUNITIES

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ighty percent of Bac Kan’s population is from an ethnic minority and 103 out of 122 communes are listed by the government as very poor. Due to limited access to advanced technologies farmers faced difficulties in raising rice yields.

To repond to the above problems, SRD initiated the project “Strengthen and develop farmer rice seed systems in Bac Kan” in order to strengthen and diversify local purebred varieties. The project aims to stabilize rice yields, reduce the expansion of pests, reduce farmers’ dependence on rice seeds from elsewhere and conserve good quality varieties which have high yields and adaptability to local conditions.

Farmers’ Field Schools (FFS) were conducted and experiments were performed at two Community Learning Centres to compare, select, rehabilitate and SRI multiply. Farmers were also trained on rice plant genetic resources. About 1200 farmers of across the eight districts have participated in the FFS, among those 77% were women, 95.7 % were ethnic minorities, representing 38% of poor households.

As a result, there have been 14 rice varieties selected and produced on a large scale.

Notably, two varieties, known as DV108 and KDDB, were chosen by farmers and have been certified and listed in the provincial rice seed system by the Department of Agricultural and Rural Development due to their good quality, high yields and resillience.

They can be cultivated in two seasons per year, contributing to the improvement of households’ incomes.

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LOCAL HERBAL PLANTS AND REMEDIES CONSERVATION

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erbal plants and remedies have been used for many years. Thus, the traditional ways of healing using herbs are already a part of people’s cultural lifestyle in rural areas. Cam An commune of Yen Binh district, Yen Bai province has suitable conditions for growing herbal plants, so SRD has helped the communities to conserve and develop local herbs to increase their incomes and maintain traditional cultural values and practice.

Nearly 100 ethnic minority households have been equipped with techniques on growing, tendering, harvesting and post-harvest preservation. Financial support was provided to build processing facilities. Herbal plant growing helps contribute about 5% of the households’ total income and is considered an extra source of incomes for ethnic minority people. In particular, over 30 local healers were encouraged to share certain common remedies within the community. The project was strongly supported by professional agencies like the Traditional Medicine Association, Provincial Science Council and Department of Health.

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SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE – THE BASIS OF DEVELOPMENT

POOR FARMERS, INCLUDING WOMEN MANAGE IRRIGATION WORKS

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articipatory Irrigation Management (PIM) is an approach by which farmers are encouraged to participate in discussions and decision making processes about planning, developing, using and maintaining local irrigation works. This approach has helped improve and strengthen irrigation works and enhance farmers’ ownership of better water resource management.

Hung Long commune of Yen Lap district, Phu Tho province used to have a high rate of poor households, partly due to limited capacity and awareness of local people. SRD’s project has attracted the participation of over 1500 poor farmers, with more than half being women. Project activities included training workshops, meetings, presentations and Water User Associations and Groups establishment. These activities have built capacity for farmers in monitoring the construction of irrigation works and developing water distribution plans for households, which led to a doubling of the area of irrigated paddy fields (up to 30ha, with a 25% increase in productivity) and contributed to the reduction in the incidence of poor households (from 55.78% down to 13.9%). Some active farmers have even gained the capacity to train others. Women’s profiles were raised and women took on more significant roles; notably three out of five board members of the Water User Association were women, including the Chair of the board.

Mr. Nguyen Truong Son, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Yen Lap district remarked “…despite moderate financial resources, the project has met practical needs of poor farmers and women in the areas”. He recommended expanding the model to other communes of the district.

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PARTICIPATORY LAND USE AND MANAGEMENT

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ndustrialization and urbanization has resulted in the loss of farm land. In order to help farmers actively participate in effective land use and management, SRD initiated the project “Participatory Land Use and Management� in Tram Than, Bao Thanh and Vinh Phu communes of Phu Ninh district, Phu Thu province.

Poor farmers have been provided with information on land use rights through training on the Land Law and 13 other topics on land governance, assisting with increasing land use rate. Approximately 800 households (accounting for 90% of all households) participated in these training sessions, farmer field school, experimental models and other communication activities.

Apart from this, farmers were encouraged to give comments on the communes’ socioeconomic development plans and directives and to formulate a five year plan on land use and planning for the period 2011-2015. As a result, land management in these communes has been strengthened and land use plans have become more feasible. The farmers have also become more responsible for the implementation of those plans, ensuring successful community-based land use and management.

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SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE – THE BASIS OF DEVELOPMENT

LIVELIHOODS DEVELOPMENT SUPPORTED BY SANITATION IMPROVEMENT

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o Linh and An Thang are two remote communes of Pac Nam, one of the poorest districts in Bac Kan province. The communities in these communes need a wide range of support, from livelihoods development to sanitation and infrastructure.

Based on the findings of the needs assessments conducted using PRA methods, SRD carried out the project “Improvement of marginalized community’s livelihoods and sanitation” to improve the living conditions for the communities by meeting people’s practical needs.

Nearly 30 training courses have been conducted on cultivation, husbandry, gender equality and grassroots democracy to build the capacity of farmers in order to help them sustain their livelihoods. Infrastructure improvement was also a focus of the project. The environmental conditions and sanitation at the two communes have been considerably improved with the construction of three clean water facilities, four commune houses, 87 public toilets, 59 cattle grounds and about five km of inter-commune road. In particular, poor people and ethnic minorities have had opportunities to discuss and decide on the project’s activities. “The project has met the daily needs of the people, bringing about practical benefits for the communes and my family” said Mr Trieu Sy Ham, head of Ban Sang village, Co Linh commune.

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CLIMATE CHANGE RESPONSE

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iet Nam is among the countries heavily affected by climate change due to its long coast line and river delta areas. With a natural resources based economy and about 60 million people earning their living from farming, the impacts of climate change will be serious if long-term solutions are not introduced.

To respond to the urgency of this issue, with regards to the sustainable development of poor rural communities, climate change was identified as a priority in SRD’s fiveyear strategic plan 2008-2012. A comprehensive approach has been developed covering research and assessment, capacity building, integration and advocacy.

Through the trainer of training (TOT) program of our project “Capacity building for civil society organizations on climate change”, 15 officers from different NGOs were trained to become climate change trainers. These trainers then conducted 14 training courses on mitigation and adaptation for other civil society organizations (CSOs) in Hanoi and several provinces. The project has also carried out many information sharing activities such as workshops and real case study visits. The dissemination of monthly and quarterly newsletters and bulletins, as well as the development of a database on climate change issues, are important ways for us and our partners to share up-to-date climate change information.

The mainstreaming of climate change is a focus in all our projects. The “System of Rice Intensification” project in Thai Nguyen and Phu Tho is helping to mitigate climate change by limiting the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and wet rice cultivation techniques that cause greenhouse gas emissions, as well as supporting climate change adaptation by reducing the need for scarce irrigation water. Other community-level adaptation projects that SRD is supporting include “Livelihoods (CASI III)” in Yen Bai, “Strengthening local rice seed systems” in Bac Kan, “Participatory Irrigation Management” in Phu Tho and Yen Bai, and “Participatory Land Use and Management” in Phu Tho. SRD also carried out participatory needs assessments on how best to develop sustainable livelihoods in the context of climate change in 5 provinces - Bac Kan, Thai Nguyen, Yen Bai, Quang Ninh and Hoa Binh – to gain a better understanding of the impacts of climate change on poor people’s livelihoods in these areas. These research activities are now helping us to design effective interventions supporting farmers’ access to natural resources such as land and water and developing adaptation models that can be replicated in other locations.

The issue of climate change adaptation cannot be successfully addressed without a supportive policy environment. SRD has made great efforts to influence policy makers and donors by contributing practical comments at different domestic and international forums and networks such as the UNFCCC’s Meetings and Conference of Parties, the Asian-Pacific Forum on Climate Change Adaptation, the Asian-Pacific REDD Network prior to the COP 16. SRD is now the Chair of the Steering Committee and a founding member of VNGO & CC Network comprising over 150 Vietnamese organizations.

Our active role as a core member of the Climate Change Working Group has included contributing to civil society efforts to ensure that the issue of climate change is better integrated into the “Vietnam Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP) 2011-2015”.

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CLIMATE CHANGE RESPOSE

COMMUNITY BASED DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT

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ai Duong and Huong Phong are two lagoon communes of Huong Tra district, Thue Thien Hue province, which often suffer from natural disasters and harsh weather.

The people here earn their living by growing rice and short-term crops and farming aquaculture products which are heavily vulnerable to the weather, thus farmers are at high risk of unstable incomes. Moreover climate change has been seriously threatening the livelihoods of thousands of people in these two communes.

To respond to the situation, SRD conducted needs assessments to prepare for the project “Community-based Natural Disaster Risk Management and Mitigation” in the two communes. The project gathered and analyzed information collected from the communities to identify the problems faced by the local people, the resources available to them, and their needs in relation to natural disaster risk management and climate change adaptation.

It was found that 50% of the 2010 summer harvest of sticky rice in Huong Phong commune was lost due to prolonged heavy rain, while in Hai Duong commune, giant tiger prawn farming failed continuously from 2001 to 2008 because of changing weather, higher rainfall and salt water intrusion.

The results of the needs assessments helped us develop the objectives and activities for our interventions on community-based natural disaster risk management. Project activities included strengthening the communes’ rapid response team, training on natural disaster preparedness, installing early warning systems, and experimenting with models on seedlings and breeding techniques which are resistant to floods and abnormally high tides. Local people were also provided with information on natural disasters in order to better prepare and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

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BIẾN ĐỔI KHÍ HẬU - THÍCH ỨNG ĐỂ GIẢM NHẸ HẬU QUẢ

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CLIMATE CHANGE RESPOSE

SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS THAT CAN COPE WITH CLIMATE CHANGE: What do rural communities need?

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oor people living in rural areas are among the most vulnerable to climate change impacts because they rely so heavily on natural resources.

In order to find out how exactly local people in rural mountainous areas are experiencing the impacts of climate change, what their particular vulnerabilities are, and to work out how best to support them to adapt, SRD conducted needs assessments on sustainable livelihoods in the context of climate change in five northern provinces of Bac Kan, Hoa Binh, Thai Nguyen, Quang Ninh and Yen Bai. The studies took a sustainable livelihoods approach. The main methodology used was participatory rural appraisal (PRA) which allows local people in poor communities to take a central role in reporting how the climate has been changing, its differences compared to previously, identifying how this is impacting on their livelihoods, and what their existing solutions and coping strategies are. Government authorities and representatives of mass organizations at the provincial, district and commune level were also consulted throughout the process.

A wide range of changes in the weather and the climate in recent years was reported including worsening water shortages, higher and more unpredictable temperatures, and more frequent extremely heavy rainfall that results in landslides and soil erosion. The research teams found that local people are already attempting to make changes to cope with these impacts. However, there are significant gaps in their knowledge and capacity to adapt in the long-term. Some of their coping strategies even have the potential to increase their vulnerability, for example many farmers are increasing their use of pesticides in an effort to combat rising levels of disease in their crops. This is damaging their health, as well as the environment and crop productivity.

An important aspect of this study was its recognition that climate change impacts cannot be analysed in a vacuum, without reference to the many other challenges faced by farmers. The research teams focused on three other important factors for sustainable livelihoods: land management; irrigation, clean water and sanitation. A value chain approach was employed to analyse key local products. There was found to be a close correlation between farmers’ resilience to the impacts of climate change and their access to land, water and markets.

SRD’s next steps in following up these climate change studies include developing and implementing pilot activities in particularly vulnerable areas. Lessons learned from these pilot activities can then be expanded to support other poor rural communities who are struggling in the face of climate change to maintain sustainable livelihoods.

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RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY CBOs, ECONOMIC CRISIS AND HYBRID RICE

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he impacts of development projects can only be maximized and sustained when interventions target the practical needs of communities, local people own their development processes and relevant policies are pro - poor. To support evidencebased program development and advocacy work, SRD has been conducting a number of research projects and studies to develop a basis for strategic planning as well as recommendations for policy lobbying and advocacy.

Research on Community - Based Organizations (CBOs) was carried out in 2008. The results from this enabled SRD to update our practices towards providing better support for CBOs and importantly, to provide evidence - based advocacy input to the government’s Decree 151/2007/ND-CP on the organization and operation of cooperative groups.

In 2009 SRD, in collaboration with the Rural Development Center (RUDEC) and the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development (IPSARD) conducted research on “Impacts of economic downturn on people’s life and social welfare policy” to submit to the Standing Committee for Economy for the National Assembly meeting of late 2009. In order to provide more information on the issue to the next National Assembly meetings, SRD and RUDEC have also collaborated with the Central Farmer’s Union and Action Aid Vietnam to evaluate the impacts of economic downturn on rural households and the effectiveness of several stimulus policies of the government. Self assessments of farmers were collected from 894 communes in eight provinces including Lang Son, Bac Kan, Nam Dinh, Nghe An, Quang Nam, Binh Thuan, Dak Lak, and An Giang, representing the country’s different ecological regions.

The research results were used as basis for policy recommendations to help farmers overcome the crisis situation.

The results recommend that the government should take measures to (1) stabilise prices of agricultural production inputs and outputs; (2) strengthen measures to ensure the quality of input materials for agricultural production; (3) enhance support and advanced technology transfer to local people; (4) promote domestic machinery industries for agriculture; (5) accelerate the process of issuing land use certificates to farm households; (6) continue to support interest rate subsidy loans for farmers; and (7) encourage credit institutions to provide trade credit to agricultural sector and rural areas.

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RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY

In October 2010, SRD collaborated with the Hanoi Agriculture University to research the impact of hybrid and purebred rice production, and strategies of how they can contribute to poverty reduction and sustainable community development. This work assisted with the evaluation of results and impacts of SRD’s ongoing “Conservation of farmers’ rice seed varieties in Bac Kan Province” project.

The research was conducted in two communes of Ba Be district and two communes of Bach Thong district in Bac Kan province. The research team gathered secondary data from the Bac Kan Plant Protection Offices of the two districts and from the People’s Committees of the four communes. Primary data was collected using questionnaires, interviews with farmers and government officials and with focus group discussion using PRA tools such as ranking, timelines, brain storming and SWOT analysis. The data was then analyzed to come up with a comparative analysis of the two varieties in terms of productivity, environmental implications and income benefits for the farmers.

Based on the findings and analysis, the research offered some recommendations: (1) identify Bao Thai as a suitable rice variety due to its high yield and quality; (2) develop policies supporting local rice varieties which have high yield and good quality in the spring crop; (3) build a model of micro credit for poor farmers; (4) manage small irrigation systems and provide intensive training courses on pesticides and rice care for farmers.

DEVELOPING MARKET OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH VALUE CHAIN ACTION RESEARCH

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he Centre for Sustainable Rural Development has been supporting farmers to produce safe tea in Phu Tho and Thai Nguyen and herbal plants in Bac Kan and Yen Bai, and has identified improving farmers’ access to market as playing an important role. Since 2009, the value chain approach was introduced and gradually applied by

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BÁO CÁO THƯỜNG NIÊN

2010

SRD as a comprehensive approach to poverty reduction. Together with an advanced training workshop for staff and local partners, SRD has conducted two value chain action research projects in 2010.

Tea is highly valued as one of the main agricultural crops that poor farmers have been cultivating for a long time in the Northern provinces of Vietnam. Although it has become an important source of income for local farmers, tea production and marketing is still hounded by different problems and issues such as lack of technical support and market information, increasing cost of farm inputs and climate change impacts. Herbal plants have also been cultivated for many years and the traditional ways of healing using herbs are an important part of the culture in rural areas. However, herbal farmers also face many constraints such as market uncertainty, price fluctuations, unavailability of seedlings, insufficient technical training and financial support in setting up their own processing facilities.

Hence there is a need to analyze the participation of farmers in producing and selling indigenous tea and herbal products and assessing the impacts of the different linkages of stakeholders in the industry in order to address these problems and sustain farmers’ livelihoods. In 2010 SRD launched some value chain research study in Yen Bai province, with one study on tea in Dong Khe commune of Van Chan district, another on herbal plants in Cam An commune of Van Chan district, and one on both tea and herbal plants in Dao Thinh commune of Tran Yen district. These studies evaluated the economic condition of tea and herbal plant farmers, identified intervention activities and recommended tailor-made solutions to increase the farmers’ share of benefits in the industry.

About 300 local farmers, collectors, government officials and representatives from private companies participated in project activities such as orientation and feedback workshops, value chain mapping, SWOT analysis, focus-group-discussion, in-depth interviews and baseline surveys. The value chain PRA activities highlighted the gaps and constraints of local farmers that need immediate attention. The study’s findings and recommendations are also aligned with cross cutting issues of climate change adaptation and mitigation for farmers. Some key findings of the VCA study of tea were that farmers suffer from: (a) low quality of tea harvest (b) rising cost of farm inputs such as pesticides, fertilizers, and seedlings (c) a lack of market information, leaving them vulnerable to price manipulation (d) price fluctuations (e) insufficient technical support and supporting policies and (f) negative effects of climate change on tea plants.

The pilot project at Dong Khe commune had also forged partnerships with some private companies in advancing tea farmers’ position in the value chain through price information sharing and expansion of market outlets via direct selling of tea harvest from poor farmers. With regards to the study of herbal plants in the value chain, the main challenges for farmers were identified as: (a) limited volume of herbal plants due to limited area and unavailability of seedlings (b) market uncertainty brought about by lack of information regarding price and current demand (c) price instability and (d) insufficient technical support.

The value chain approach is a new and more comprehensive approach through which SRD strives to help poor farmers strengthen their ability in adding more value to their products and enhancing their business knowledge and experience in order to sustain their livelihoods.

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CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES

CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES NEW STATUS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY

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he Centre for Sustainable Rural Development started its first project on supporting people with disability (PWD) in 2009 in Thua Thien Hue, one of the provinces with the highest number of PWD in the country.

In Phong Hien, Phong Binh and Dien Mon communes of Phong Dien district, Thua Thien Hue province, PWD no longer need to worry about difficulties preventing them from taking part in their communities’ daily activities. Since SRD’s project started two years ago, a lot of activities have been implemented to support the inclusion of PWD. Three self-help groups including 120 PWD have been established. Group members were trained in agricultural skills, including developing and visiting model activities.

They also had access to project loans for livelihoods development, as well as to health care and rehabilitation services. Forty five PWD have been provided with rehabilitation equipment. A rehabilitation network was set up to train group members so that they could rehabilitate other family members.

As a result of the project’s support, the lives of the group members have significantly improved, materially and socially. Some have moved out of poverty. The positive impacts of the project were recognized by local authorities. The establishment of PWD Associations at district and commune level is being considered by the Provincial Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, which will give a legal framework to enhance PWD’s status in Thua Thien Hue.

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A MAN WITH DISABILITY: “Now I have developed new knowledge and skills, I’m not worried any more”

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hua Thien Hue province has the highest average rainfall of the country particularly in the two peak months of October and November when rainfall sometimes reaches 50% of the annual total. Phong Binh and Phong Hien communes in Phong Dien district, Thua Thien Hue, which are situated in low-land areas, often suffer from severe floods in the stormy season. Local people used to have to sell pigs before the beginning of the stormy season which resulted in a considerable reduction in their families’ income.

SRD’s project “Strengthening capacity on natural disaster adaptation and supporting livelihood development” has provided local people with basic skills on natural disaster preparedness and developed several models on adaptation to floods and storms. A needs assessment was conducted in August 2010 to find out what local people thought would help them adapt. The results showed that most of the households wanted to raise pigs.

Sixteen families were supported with 3 million VND each to buy piglets, and were trained in how to raise pigs in conditions vulnerable to flooding.

Having participated in the project, Mr Ho Van Tuong, a man with disability at Hoa Vien village, Phong Binh commune, was able to rebuild his piggery to respond to natural disasters and climate change. Tuong re-designed his former piggery to a multi-tier piggery, raised its floor and sloped the back for drainage. Instead of building standard walls, Tuong built them with lots of holes which help the water to drain out in the rainy season and keep the piggery cool in summer. These holes in the walls can also be used to insert wooden boards to raise the floor level when floods hit. “Now with the new piggery, I can raise sows during the flood season... Farmers like me rely heavily on rice and pig raising. Previously, I would have been concerned about raising sows in the stormy season. Now I have developed new knowledge and skills, I am not worried any more” Tuong said happily.

CAPACITY BUILDING FOR POOR RURAL COMMUNITIES IS KEY

C

apacity is the key to successful development of communities and countries. One of the most important principles to SRD in working with poor communities is promoting community ownership of development decisions. Capacity building for partner organizations and poor communities has therefore always been a priority of SRD. A group of our trainers has been set up to meet the training needs of different projects.

The trainers have been providing training on community development, community group administration, project management, communication, advocacy, sustainable rural development, natural disasters and climate change response and adaptation.

24

CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES

25

ANNUAL REPORT

2010

In 2010, SRD held over 100 training workshops, seminars and conferences for about 2700 participants from partner organizations and local people on community development, participatory land use and management, land law and land rights, agricultural technical skills, famer field schools, climate change and adaptation, participatory planning and monitoring, training for local healers, gender equality and training of trainers.

Training courses, workshops and seminars are effective tools to transfer knowledge and skills for beneficiaries to improve their living conditions and contribute to strengthen their ownership, a prerequisite for ensuring sustainable impacts which is one of the five important principles of SRD.

GENDER EQUALITY A basic human right

G

ender equality is a cross-cutting issue and has been integrated in all SRD’s projects.

Aiming for the abolition of gender discrimination, creating equal socio-economic development opportunities for men and women, strengthening the collaboration between the two genders in all aspects of social and family life, SRD puts the focus on capacity building for women in all our livelihoods and sustainable rural development projects.

The implementation and monitoring of the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) has been integrated into SRD’s various interventions. In particular, a women’s and children’s rights-based approach has always been an emphasis of the projects, not least projects involving ethnic minority women. 50% of ethnic minority women have participated in SRD’s projects. Women are encouraged to take part in project management boards. In order to strengthen women’s role in decision-making processes and community administration, a number of workshops and forums have been held to facilitate women to openly discuss issues such as domestic violence, women’s participation in authority at different levels, irrigation management, and climate change mitigation and adaptation.

26

CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES

SRD works with both men and women, however we focus on poor women who are disempowered to make sure all community members have equal opportunities to access resources for sustainable livelihoods development.

HIV/AIDS INTEGRATION A highly responsible approach

I

n the context of a global HIV/AIDS pandemic, SRD is well aware of the necessity of integrating HIV/AIDS into our organization development as well as all existing projects. Integration of this issue requires high commitment of SRD’s management board and the whole staff.

Non-discrimination and stigma, training and information sharing, prevention and care, introduction of mitigation measures and enabling a safe working environment are the main themes of the integration policy within SRD. Initial results will serve as a basis to mainstream HIV/AIDS into all SRD’s projects to raise awareness and transfer prevention skills for partner organizations and beneficiaries.

A thorough understanding by all members of society will help prevent the transmission of the pandemic and contribute to strengthening our country’s human resources.

27

ANNUAL REPORT

2010

OUR COMPETENCIES

S

tarting in 2006 with a group of 10 people who used to be employees of CIDSE Vietnam, SRD has rapidly developed to become a strong local NGO with nearly 30 staff, mostly graduates and post-graduates.

Our staff are SRD’s most valuable resource. The key to our human resource management is to place our people in appropriate positions which match their competencies and expectations so that they can maximize their strengths.

Staff development is one of SRD’s priorities.

Our program and project officers are encouraged to take part in training workshops and seminars in Vietnam and abroad to maintain up-to-date understanding and knowledge in their fields. In 2010 SRD’s staff were sent to almost 40 in-country training courses and workshops and 28 regional and international seminars and conferences.

Our human resources have also been complemented by undergraduate interns and international volunteers, supported by programs which give the trainees and volunteers the opportunity to practise their work in a local NGO, while also offering our staff a chance to exchange with foreign expertise, which in the long run helps to strengthen SRD’s competencies.

In 2010, we welcomed nine undergraduate interns, two Australian volunteers who came from AusAID’s Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development (AYAD) program and one Filipino volunteer from VSO. The volunteers have been working on climate change, communication, market access and value chain. A short-term volunteer from CARE Denmark also worked with us on climate change within the CASI III project funded by CARE. We believe that respecting staff ownership and creativity ensures that everyone contributes their best to the organization. This also helps enhance staff’s commitment, which fosters a successful human resource strategy and ongoing organizational development.

28

OUR COMPETENCIES

SRD’S MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION STRUCTURE VUSTA

ADVISORY BOARD

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

CENTRE COMMITTEE

DEPUTY DIRECTOR

Collaborators, Government, NGOs, Development Agencies, Scientists

Sustainable Agriculture Manager

Climate Change Manager

Comms/ Research/ Advocacy Manager

Finance/ Admin Manager

Accountants Receptionist/ Admin. Assistant Intern and Volunteers Cook, Driver, Guards

HANOI OFFICE Program Officers, Communications Officers, Interns, Volunteers

THUA THIEN HUE FIELD OFFICE Program Manager Program Officer

PROJECT PARTNERS Project Management Boards (Provincial, District and Commune Level) (Provincial, District and Commune Level) Village Development Committees, CBOs, Farmers’ Groups

29

ANNUAL REPORT

2010

PROGRAM PORTFOLIO Period Code

Project Name

Start

MAIN PROJECTS

Total approved budget (USD)

Finish

04/2006

03/2009

89,736

VM004

Support farmers in growing medicinal plants, Ba Be District, Bac Kan Province

VM005

Community Livelihood Clubs to support Poverty reduction and Local governance in Phu Tho Province

04/2006

03/2009

281,125

VM006

Development of participatory land use management, Thua Thien Hue Province

01/2008

12/2009

65,783

VM007

Poor farmers and women manage irrigation in Hung Long Commune, Yen Lap District, Phu Tho Province

03/2007

03/2010

185,482

VM008

System of Rice Intensification: Advancing Small Farmers in Mekong region

09/2008

09/2010

214,558

VM014

Strengthen and develop farmers’ rice seed system in BacKan Province

04/2008

03/2011

229,580

VM015

Improvement of Marginalised Community’s Livelihood and Sanitation in PacNam District, Bac Kan Province

07/2008

06/2011

265,055

VM016

Support to People with Disabilities in Thua Thien Hue

01/2009

12/2011

153,633

VM019

Development & conservation of traditional remedies and indigenous medicinal plants

07/2009

07/2012

206,310

VM020

Capacity Building on Climate Change for Civil Society Organisations

04/2009

04/2012

317,143

VM021

Development of participatory land use management (PLUM) Phu Tho Province

10/2009

12/2012

248,656

VM028

Livelihood project area in Van Chan District, Yen Bai Province

01/2010

12/2012

165,678

VM031

Community-based disaster risk management and reduction in Thua Thien Hue Province

10/2010

09/2013

248,647

VM032

A need assessment on sustainable livelihoods responding to climate change in Hoa Binh, Thai Nguyen, Yen Bai an Quang Ninh Provinces

05/2010

05/2011

83,358

VM036

Integrated Forest Management in Northern Vietnam: Managing forests for poverty reduction and forest conservation

11/2010

11/2011

66,299

2,821,043

Total budget for main projects

30

PROJECT LIST

Period Code

MICRO PROJECTS

Start

Finish

Total approved budget (USD)

VM022

Impact assessment of economic crisis and the Vietnamese Government’s support policy on rural households

08/2009

08/2010

48,797

VM023

Budget for institutional capacity building

01/2009

12/2009

10,000

VM024

Climate change & sustainable agriculture network

01/2010

01/2011

6,715

VM025

Capacity building on value chain for poverty alleviation

01/2010

01/2011

40,292

VM026

Harnessing rice diversity

01/2010

01/2011

6,715

VM027

Emergency relief and rehabilitation support to Phong Dien District, Thua Thien-Hue Province

10/2009

03/2010

31,000

VM030

HIV maintreaming

11/2009

05/2010

6,469

VM033

Strengthening people’s capacity of natural disasters adaptation and supporting livelihood development in Phong Binh, Phong Hien Communes, Phong Dien District, Thua Thien – Hue Province

01/2010

12/2010

40,000

VM034

Strengthening activities of the network VNGO&CC

09/2010

03/2011

12,747

Total budget for micro projects

202,735

TOTAL BUDGET

3,023,778

Project Name

31

ANNUAL REPORT

2010

FINANCE STATEMENT Sustainability and transparency in finance is a key to SRD’s further development

T

he Centre for Sustainable Rural Development has been implementing 12 main projects and 9 micro projects for the period 2009-2010 (compared to 5 when newly established in 2006). Five-year and annual budget plans were developed in line with SRD’s strategy. Strictly complying with finance management regulations, SRD has gained trust from big donors such as Caritas Australia, Cordaid, Manos Unidas, Oxfam America, Embassy of Finland and Care International.

INCOME AND EXPENDITURE

FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2009 Unit: USD

ITEMS

I

INCOME

Donors funding during the year

II

FIELD EXPENDITURE

Programme Expenditure

577,972

597,765

Indirect Overhead Costs

38,762

18,264

616,735

616,029

III

SURPLUS (DEFICIT) FOR THE YEAR

377,969

(98,457)

2009

2008

890,060

501,704

Interest income

4,338

13,543

Exchange gain

33,728

1,924

Sundry income

499

401

66,079

-

994,704

517,572

Administration cost from projects Total Income

Total expenditure

These figures were audited by BDO Vietnam

32

FINANCIAL STATEMENT

BALANCE SHEET

FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2009

Items ASSETS

I

Cash

838,303

440,779

1

Cash on hand

111

9,637

3,161

Vietnam dong

1,066

3

Foreign currency

2

Cash in bank

Vietnam dong

Foreign currency

II

Short-term investments

III

Receivables

Code

31/12/2009

31/12/2008

8,570

3,158

112

828,666

437,617

59,860

27,028 410,590

768,806

121

22,722

-

14,722

603

1

Accounts receivable

311

14,149

603

2

Other receivables

573

-

IV

Inventories

-

-

1

Tools, Equipment

-

-

V

Other current assets

24,885

10,095

1

Short-term prepaid expenses

-

-

2

Advance

312

24,885

10,095

Fixed assets

7,654

20,502

Tangible fixed assets

7,654

20,502

VI 1

Original cost

211

23,179

51,290

Accumulated depreciation (*)

214

(15,525)

(30,787)

2

Intangible fixed assets

-

-

-

-

-

-

221

-

-

908,286

471,979

VII

Original cost Accumulated depreciation (*) Long-term investments TOTAL ASSETS

LIABILITIES

I

Short term borrowings

47,156

23,061

1

Sundry payable

2

Payable to employees

3

Liability for share - based payment with salary

4

Other payable taxes

5

Other payable

II

Budget sources

1

Advanced budget

2

Realisation of exchange rate

3

Reserves fund

4

Administrative funds

461

61,874

34,697

5

Projects funds

462

636,040

286,451

6

Resources of fixed asset

466

7,654

20,502

TOTAL LIABILITIES

908,286

471,979

3318

5,544

5,526

334

33,815

11,997 -

332

2,035

3337

375

-

331

5,387

5,539

861,130

448,918

336

-

-

413

-

-

4314

155,562

107,268

33

ANNUAL REPORT

2010

SRD’S LOCAL PARTNERS Local Partners

Province

Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

Bac Kan

People’s Committee of Ba Be District

Bac Kan

People’s Committee of Pac Nam District People’s Committee of An Thang Commune, Pac Nam District People’s Committee of Co Linh Commune, Pac Nam District Plan Protection Sub- Department Provincial Seeds and Material Supply Company Union of Science and Technology Association of Phu Tho Province People’s Committee of Yen Lap District People’s Committee of Hung Long Commune, Yen Lap District Plan Protection Sub- Department Union of Science and Technology Association of Yen Bai Province Provincial Traditional Medicine Association People’s Committee of Yen Binh District People’s Committee of Cam An Commune, Yen Binh District People’s Committee of Van Chan District People’s Committee of Nam Bung District People’s Committee of Gia Hoi Commune Plan Protection Sub- Department

Bac Kan Bac Kan Bac Kan Bac Kan Phu Tho Phu Tho Phu Tho

Sub- department of Agriculture of Huong Tra District

Phu Tho

People’s Committee of Huong Phong Commune People’s Committee of Hai Duong Commune People’s Committee of Tuan Giao District Sub- department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Tuan Giao District

Yen Bai Yen Bai Yen Bai Yen Bai Yen Bai

People’s Committee of Hoa Binh Province People’s Committee of Da Bac District

Yen Bai Yen Bai

People’s Committee of Tu Ly Commune

Thai Nguyen Thai Nguyen

People’s Committee of Lau Thuong Commune

Thai Nguyen

Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs

Department of Natural Resource and Environment Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Provincial Agricultural Extension Center People’s Committee of Phong Dien District People’s Committee of Phong Hien Commune, Phong Dien District People’s Committee of Phong Binh Commune, Phong Dien District People’s Committee of Dien Mon Commune, Phong Dien District People’s Committee of Huong Tra District

Bac Kan

People’s Committee of Vo Nhai District

People’s Committee of Dan Tien Commune People’s Committee of Lien Minh Commune

Local Partners

People’s Committee of Cao Son Commune People’s Committee of Vay Nua Commune Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Sub Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Da Bac District

Thai Nguyen Thai Nguyen Thua Thien Hue

34

Province Thua Thien Hue Thua Thien Hue Thua Thien Hue Thua Thien Hue Thua Thien Hue Thua Thien Hue Thua Thien Hue Thua Thien Hue Thua Thien Hue Thua Thien Hue Thua Thien Hue Dien Bien Dien Bien Hoa Binh Hoa Binh Hoa Binh Hoà Bình Hoa Binh Hoa Binh Hoa Binh

Plan Protection Sub- Department

Hoa Binh

Bao Yen Forestry Company

Lao Cai

PROJECT MAP Lao Cai Bac Kan Thai Nguyen Đien Bien Yen Bai Phu Tho Hoa Binh

Province with on-going projects Province with feasibility studies carried out in 2010

Thua Thien Hue

Written by Edited by Photo

Design & Print

: Le Thi Minh Thi & SRD Staff : Vu Thi Bich Hop : Nguyen Thi Hoa & SRD Staff : Haki

Giấy phép xuất bản số: 198-2010/CXB/484-05/NN Số lượng: 500 quyển, kích thước 19cm x 27cm Nhà xuất bản Nông Nghiệp