ANNUAL REPORT
2011
Written by: Kate Rayson and SRD staff Edited by: Vu Thi Bich Hop and Truong Quoc Can Photos: SRD staff Design and print: haki Publishing license: 394-2011/CXB/162-21/TN Quantity: 300 copies Thanh Nien Publishing House
CONTENT About SRD · Our vision, mission and values
4
Letter from the Executive Director
6
Letter from Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA)
7
Sustainable agriculture and livelihoods · Supporting sustainable agriculture and livelihoods in 2011 · Improving incomes and community health in Yen Bai · Farmer Rice Seed system improving livelihoods · Supporting ethnic minority people to adapt in rapidly urbanising surrounds Climate change · Tackling climate change in 2011 · Building community capacity to respond to climate change
15 16 18
Cross-cutting issues · Putting gender in the spotlight o Knowledge and confidence building female leaders · Research and advocacy at the forefront in 2011 o Action research improving the local chicken value chain o Networking - a powerful advocacy tool
20 21 22 23 24 25
Inside SRD · Capacity building starts within · Looking ahead - SRD 2013 -17 Strategic Plan · Organisation chart
26 27 28 29
Finance Statements · Finance overview · Income and expenditure · Balance sheet
30 31 31 32
Projects and partners · Donors · Local partners · Project portfolio · Project map
34 35 36 37 39
8 9 10 12 14
ABOUT SRD
4 | Annual Report 2011
Our Core Values
Our Vision People in rural communities are empowered to sustainably manage their own livelihood systems in an equal and compassionate society.
Ownership People should have ownership of their own development. Sustainability A development effort is sustainable if the community can maintain and extend the results of development interventions. Equity All members of a community should be assured of equal opportunities, access to resources and benefits, responsibilities, and protections.
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.
A Dao woman takes a break from household budget training during a community workshop in Nam Cuom village.
About SRD | 5
Accountability/transparency The organisation, its partners and beneficiaries professionally and openly operate in transparent ways. Efficiency Achieving the best results with the least resources.
LETTER FROM
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Writing this letter for the SRD Annual Report is always an enjoyable and meaningful task, as it is an opportunity to reflect on our successes, our challenges, and all that we learnt along the way. 2011 was a significant year for SRD, marked with the celebration of our fifth anniversary. I am extremely proud of how far SRD has come over the past five years - with the organisation doubling in both staff and program size. SRD’s growth is a reflection of its capacity to respond to the increasing challenges faced by the rural poor in Vietnam. The turmoil in global financial markets has had a significant impact on the local economy, and high levels of inflation in Vietnam continue to push vulnerable communities into poverty, particularly in remote and rural areas. We remain committed to building the capacity of these communities, and advocating for them at a local, national and global level. One of SRD’s most influential advocacy opportunities in 2011 was attending the Busan High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Korea. This was the first time that civil society organisations were invited as official delegates, and SRD was one of only two Vietnamese civil society organisations to represent the voice of poor Vietnamese farmers.
A major focus in 2012 will be the development of our 2013 - 17 Strategic Plan. This project commenced with a staff retreat and prestrategic planning workshop in October 2011 and will be followed by comprehensive consultation with stakeholders and a series of workshops. The plan will be launched in October 2012. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank our donors, partners, community members, and all those who supported us over the last year. It is only through partnership and collaborative efforts that we will achieve our vision - a future where people in rural communities are empowered to sustainably manage their own livelihoods, in an equal and compassionate society.
Mrs. Vu Thi Bich Hop Executive Director, Centre for Sustainable Rural Development (SRD)
6 | Annual Report 2011
LETTER FROM VIETNAM UNION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATIONS (VUSTA) Thanks to the strong political will of the Party and government efforts, Vietnam has seen remarkable achievements in poverty reduction and hunger eradication in the last decade. Alongside government efforts, mass organizations and non-government organisations have significantly contributed to this progress. SRD is an integral NGO in the VUSTA network, and is highly regarded throughout Vietnam for its contribution to community development and poverty alleviation, its positive interventions in rural communities, and its sound policy advocacy. Since it was established in 2006, SRD has continued to develop from both an organizational and program perspective. With particular strength in the field of sustainable agriculture, SRD has helped develop livelihoods and improve living conditions for thousands of poor households in northern and central Vietnam. SRD has also taken a leading role in climate change capacity building for Vietnamese CSOs, evidenced by its role as the founding member and Chair of the Vietnamese NGO and Climate Change network (VNGO&CC) and as a core member of the Climate Change Working Group (CCWG). Through these networks, and through the integration of climate change
Annual Report 2011 | 7
mitigation strategies into its projects, SRD is helping many of Vietnam’s most vulnerable communities to develop effective models to respond to their changing environment. SRD has also actively supported VUSTA to strengthen the capacity of the VUSTA network to respond to climate change in the Mekong Delta region. The success of SRD’s community interventions is underpinned by its communitybased approach to development. Over the past five years, SRD has collaborated with a number of state agencies and institutes, developing a solid foundation of evidence to inform its interventions and policy advocacy. Testimony to the effectiveness of this approach is the continued and strong support of major international donors. On the occasion of the fifth year anniversary of SRD, VUSTA awarded SRD a Certificate of Merit - recognition of its immense contribution to promoting a well-developed civil society in this country. We hope that more organisations will follow SRD’s example of excellence in the future, and hope that SRD will continue its success, contributing to poverty alleviation and sustainable development in Vietnam.
Prof. Dr. Dang Vu Minh President of VUSTA
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND LIVELIHOODS
8 | Annual Report 2011
Supporting sustainable agriculture and livelihoods in 2011 With more than 90 per cent of Vietnam’s poor living in rural and remote communities, sustainable agriculture and stable livelihoods are critical to poverty alleviation and the country’s development. In the last decade, the Government and development actors in Vietnam have committed to promoting and supporting the poor to build sustainable livelihoods, and have achieved remarkable results. However many factors continue to negatively affect farmers, including increased costs of living, rising input costs, the consequences of intensive, unsustainable farming practices, and the impacts of climate change. In 2011, the combination of these factors pushed many vulnerable farming families into poverty. Through evidence based interventions, SRD supported farmers across northern and central Vietnam to mitigate the impact of these issues. During 2011, SRD implemented eight sustainable agriculture projects in 47 communes across Vietnam. More than 2,000 farmers - men and women - directly benefited from these projects, and the flow-on benefits to their communities were immense. Our focus included building the knowledge and technical skills of small-hold farmers, developing agricultural planning skills, facilitating farmer collaboration and improving marketing skills.
Sustainable agriculture and livelihoods | 9
The success of the projects was underpinned by our approach to project development - a process involving close consultation and participation of local people - ensuring that they held ownership of their development and their true needs were met. From the promotion of indigenous medicinal plants to improved animal husbandry, the projects were developed to meet the specific needs of the various communities. The long-term impacts of climate change remained a key consideration in the development of all SRD’s projects, ensuring that interventions remain sustainable in the context of the changing environment.
From the promotion of indigenous medicinal plants to improved animal husbandry, projects were developed to meet the specific needs of communities.
A Dao woman tends to Mach Mon plants at the community nursery in Cam An commune. The nursery provides seedlings for local farmers to cultivate herbal plants on their own household plots.
Improving incomes and community health in Yen Bai Tung (pictured opposite) is a Tay ethnic minority man living in Cam An - a poor farming commune in the northern mountainous province of Yen Bai. The commune comprises 717 households with five ethnic minority groups. More than a third of people in Tung’s commune live on less than 50 cents per day. For generations, Tung’s community have relied on indigenous herbal plants and traditional remedies to maintain their health and treat disease. In recent years this system of health care has deteriorated, due largely to overharvesting of herbal plants in the forest
and a loss of knowledge about traditional remedies among the younger generations. With the support of Cordaid, SRD has implemented a range of interventions that are rebuilding the traditional health care system, conserving indigenous herbal plant species, and improving farmer incomes. Through hands on training, Tung and his neighbours are learning the skills needed to grow the indigenous herbal plants on their own land - returning significantly higher profits than the tea, rice and cassava traditionally
10 | Annual Report 2011
grown in the region. In addition to the increased income, this approach is ensuring suitable quantities of the herbal plants are available for use by local healers, and that the endangered species of traditional herbal plants are conserved. The project is also linking the small number of local healers with local authorities and farmers, documenting knowledge of traditional medicine and ensuring that it is passed on to younger generations within the commune.
“Tung and his neighbours are learning the skills needed to grow the indigenous herbal plants on their own land - returning significantly higher profits”
“It is important that understanding about the traditional remedies is not lost, for our culture but also for our health.” Mr. Tung, Tay ethnic minority farmer.
Sustainable agriculture and livelihoods | 11
Farmer Rice Seed system improving livelihoods Bac Kan is a mountainous province in the Northeast of Vietnam, home to thousands of poor ethnic minority farmers in more than 120 communes. Their primary source of income and food is rice production, although in recent years the changing climate, increased plant disease and vastly fluctuating seed prices have threatened food security and livelihoods. In response to these major challenges, SRD has worked with the community for three years, increasing the technical skills and knowledge of the farmers, as part of the project “Strengthen and Develop Farmer Rice Seed System in Bac Kan Province,� supported by Cordaid. The project has improved the livelihoods and social capital of farmers, especially the poor and women, by developing and strengthening the farmer’s rice seed systems. Since the project began in April 2008, more than 1,200 farmers (60 per cent of whom were women) attended hands-on training at farmer field schools and learnt the basics of the Plant Genetic Resource (PGR) approach - a combination of seed rehabilitation, variety comparison, seed production and line selection. In addition to the farmer field schools, the project established two community learning centres - spaces that have successfully promoted information sharing and collaboration between farmers, technicians and local authorities.
The average income of households participating in the project has risen by 15-25 per cent. This is attributed to a 30 per cent increase in productivity, 50 per cent decrease in pesticide use, and 70 per cent reduction in seed costs.
The impact of improved knowledge and production practices has been immense. The average income of households participating in the project has risen by 15-25 per cent. This is attributed to a 30 per cent increase in productivity, 50 per cent decrease in pesticide use, and 70 per cent reduction in seed costs. Evaluation of the project has shown that farmers from the field schools are actively sharing their new skills and knowledge with their neighbours and the success of the new techniques has spread across the region.
12 | Annual Report 2011
As well as seeking to ensure food security, the project supported farmers to move from selfsufficiency to commodity production. Eighteen farmers from Huyen Tung village collaborated to produce additional rice seed for sale to the market. Following two years of technical and business skills training, the group negotiated a contract with the Agricultural Service Company and successfully sold 14.8 tonnes of rice seed. As a result, the farmers are now benefitting from an income that has increased by 45 per cent. Thanks to a more stable and sustainable livelihood source, the outlook for the ethnic minority farmers in Bac Kan province looks bright.
Mr.Quyet, a Tay ethnic minority farmer and leader of the farmer focus group in his village.
Sustainable agriculture and livelihoods | 13
Han says the project is helping to fulfil her hope for her family - “that my sons can go to school and we have a steady income.”
over 80 per cent of households don’t have access to hygienic sanitation, and the province has recorded the highest HIV infection rates in Vietnam over the past two years. Although there are some Government programmes and policies supporting poor villages in the region, Han’s community is unable to access these as her village is now classified as a town.
Supporting ethnic minority people to adapt in rapidly urbanising surrounds Han (pictured) is a mother living in Chieng Khoang - a northern Vietnamese village located on the edge of the rapidly urbanizing town of Tuan Giao. Like many ethnic minority farmers in her village, Han’s agricultural land was reclaimed to make way for a highway and other infrastructure required for urban development. With little education or access to outside knowledge, the situation for people within the village has been worsening. More than 20 per cent of households live below the poverty line,
However, Han can see now hope for her sons and her community, thanks to a project being implemented by SRD and funded by Caritas Australia. Based on the needs identified by the community, the project has supported local ethnic minority people in four key areas: improved social and life skills for better participation in the urban environment, access to safe water and hygienic sanitation, increased incomes through diversified livelihoods and technical training, and advocacy for the poor. In less than six months, Han has already participated in several workshops on topics ranging from chicken farming, effective rice growing techniques, HIV awareness and prevention, and household and community fund management. Following the fund management training, SRD established a community credit system, which is managed by and for the benefit of local women. Han was one of 75 women to receive a loan of 2 million VND (approximately US$100), and used the money to purchase a small number of cattle. She is using the skills she is learning at livestock workshops to raise the cattle, including how to feed them, prevent disease, and keep them warm in the winter.
14 | Annual Report 2011
CLIMATE
CHANGE
Sustainable agriculture and livelihoods | 15
Tackling climate change in 2011 Climate change poses an urgent threat to the progress of development in Vietnam. With a coastline that stretches more than 3,000km, it is expected to be one of the countries worst impacted by climate change and rising sea levels. While the impact of climate change will be widespread, it is expected to be most severe for poor farmers, women and disadvantaged people who rely on agriculture, land and water resources for their livelihoods. Alongside the efforts of the Government and other development actors, Vietnamese civil society organisations (CSOs) are actively responding to climate change. However, climate change is an emerging issue with complex causes and broad ranging consequences, and the ability of many local CSOs to respond is still limited. In this context, SRD has focused much of its effort on building the capacity of CSOs to understand and respond to climate change. Working with climate vulnerable groups, SRD has supported community based initiatives that are strengthening and promoting climate resilience at a grass roots level. This has included the integration of climate change into existing projects, as well as developing and implementing new projects with a specific focus on climate change response. Projects in 2011 included developing skills in community based disaster risk management, and developing livelihood models which respond effectively to climatic changes.
As a founding member and Chair of the Steering Committee of the Vietnamese NGO Climate Change Network (VNGO&CC), and a core member of the Climate Change Working Group (CCWG), SRD remains closely involved in policy advocacy at the local, national and global level. In 2011, we contributed our research and practical understanding of climate change issues from the grassroots level at forums including the Fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan and Community Forestry: A key to solving current and emerging issues in Thailand. SRD believes collaboration with government at all levels is critical to successful climate change adaptation and mitigation. In November 2011, SRD (on behalf of the VNGO&CC network) together with CARE International in Vietnam (on behalf of the CCWG network), signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Meteorology, Hydrology and Climate Change (DMHCC). It was a significant milestone for Vietnam - the first MOU signed between the Government and NGOs. The actions to follow in 2012 include a national dialogue workshop on climate change and regular roundtable forums on technical issues.
The signing of the first MOU between the Government and NGOs - representing a commitment to tackle climate change in Vietnam collaboratively.
16 | Annual Report 2011
Climate change capacity building materials and training tools, developed by SRD.
A major element of SRDs climate change capacity building in 2011 was leadership of the Capacity Building on Climate Change for Civil Society Organizations project. Funded by the Embassy of Finland in Hanoi and completed in December, the project received extremely high praise from the independent consultants evaluating the project. It was recognised by independent evaluators that within a limited time frame and with modest funding, the project successfully met its key objectives; · development of a Climate Change in Vietnam training pack for trainers and development staff; · development of a team of senior climate change trainers on across Vietnam; · facilitation of climate change information sharing and learning among a range of stakeholders.
Participants of a training of trainers (TOT) workshop - part of an SRD led project to train staff from NGOs across Vietnam to become climate change leaders.
Climate change | 17
Praise for the project included comments from Professor Truong Quang Hoc - an independent consultant from the Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and the Environment who stated that “in my humble opinion, this is one of the best projects I have ever cooperated with. Although there are only three project officers in charge of a big project, remarkable results have been attained.”
Building community capacity to respond to climate change Thua Thien Hue is a province located in central Vietnam that comprises both mountains and coastal plains. In recent years, the frequency and severity of natural disasters including typhoons, floods, droughts and forest fires has significantly increased. The impact on local people has been devastating. This is particularly evident in Hai Duong and Huong Phong two lagoon districts in which the number of households living in poverty has nearly doubled in recent years. The main source of income for these communities is wet rice cropping and shrimp farming. The average annual income per person is just US$260, although this is frequently threatened by factors including increasing high tides, sea water intrusion causing rising salinity, sea bank erosion, and pollution and disease caused by upstream flooding.
The increased severity of natural disasters also poses a great threat to the personal safety of vulnerable people within the communities. Traditionally, the villagers have lacked the skills and equipment needed to protect their lives when disasters such as typhoons and flooding strike. In response, SRD - through the support of Caritas Australia - is working in partnership with local people to implement a communitybased disaster risk management project. The project is providing the skills and resources required to plan for and cope with disaster, as well as adapting livelihoods to suit the changing climate and environment. Practical activities in 2011 included the development of a disaster early warning system, workshops with local people to develop personal disaster action plans, the establishment of six official village rapid response teams, along with training and the provision of emergency and aid equipment to support the rapid response teams.
Members of the rapid response team established in Hai Duong commune, attending training on disaster risk reduction planning.
18 | Annual Report 2011
Huong Phong village: members of one of three new rapid response teams in the village prepare for rescue skills training, using their new emergency rescue equipment.
Climate change | 19
In 2012, the Thai Duong Thuong cooperative of farmers will trial a new variety of rice that is better suited to the increasingly saline conditions in the region. Fifteen local farmers formed the cooperative and each contributed two hectares to grow the pilot crop, which will be harvested in July 2012. If successful, it is hoped the new variety will be adopted by others in the community.
CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES 20 | Annual Report 2011
A group of Dao woman learn household budget skills during a community workshop in Muong Lo village. The workshop is part of a livelihoods project in Gia Hoi - a commune comprised of 90 per cent ethnic minority people, and where the poverty rate is nearly 50 per cent. The project is providing local people, especially women, with the practical knowledge and skills required to manage and improve their family’s livelihoods.
Putting gender in the spotlight It is widely recognised by development actors that gender discrimination is a systematic obstacle hindering social equity and poverty elimination worldwide. As a developing country with a long history of Confucian ideology, patriarchy is dominant in many Vietnamese households, particularly in poor, rural communities. SRD recognises the disempowered position of many women, particularly in poor rural communities, and our projects are developed to ensure that women are given equal opportunity to access resources for sustainable livelihood development. All SRD projects operate at the community level, promoting fair and balanced participation from both men and women. In 2011, gender considerations continued to be integrated into all of SRD’s projects, ensuring high levels of engagement and participation from women at focus groups, workshops, consultations and Training of Trainer courses.
Cross-cutting issues | 21
Women continued to be encouraged to be active members of Project Management Boards, and take strong leadership positions in project activities. All projects that commenced in 2011 included (or will include in 2012) gender training workshops, where relevant local people and authorities were trained in gender issues, and had the opportunity to openly discuss issues such as domestic violence, women’s leadership, and the roles of both men and women in the community. As a result of the continued and intensive facilitation of women’s participation, SRD’s projects not only bring positive impacts to the living conditions of the poor, but also improve women’s position and their decision making power, both at the family and community level. This contributes to gradually reduced incidence of gender based discrimination in the community and society.
Knowledge and confidence building female leaders Le Thi Hai Yen is 41 year old San Diu ethnic minority woman, living in the remote mountain village of Da Non in Northern Vietnam. Two years ago she took up the role of village leader - making history as the first female village leader in the region. Yen was a keen participant in SRD’s Strengthen and Develop Farmer Rice Seed System in Bac Kan Province project (April 2008 - March 2011), attending farmer field schools regularly, and other training courses including gender workshops. Yen says that with the support of the project, the role of women in the community has begun to change. “Women have been attending many more of the training courses than men, meaning that women are bringing a lot of new information and ideas
to the community. This has given us power to contribute to decisions in our community,” Yen says. “My confidence grew a lot when I began to learn new things and was able to help grow my family’s income. With my new confidence I decided to run for the position of village leader. I want to prove that women can do everything that men can do, that they are strong and capable.” “At the beginning of my role, there was a lot of pressure from the community because they had never had a women leader before. I was nervous and sometimes even doubted if I could do it and if people would listen to me. But it has been very good. The community - the men and women - have been very supportive of me.”
Women from Da Non - the first village in the region to elect a woman as the head of the village. The women say they are “very proud” of their leader.
22 | Annual Report 2011
Research and advocacy at the forefront in 2011 The World Bank’s classification of Vietnam as a middle income country was a significant occurrence in 2011. While this highlights the outstanding progress Vietnam has made in recent decades, it also represents new challenges for the development sector, including NGOs. As the focus of local and global investment moves towards economic growth, it is likely to come at the cost of investment in poverty reduction. Whilst Vietnam’s membership with the World Trade Organization and further integration into the global economy will likely bring about great economic development, it is also expected to catalyse many environmental and social challenges. These changes are all part of the dynamic context of poverty in Vietnam. In response to this ever changing context, SRD believes that to be effective, NGOs cannot simply act as charities or service providers - but also need to actively contribute at the policy making level. More than ever in 2011, SRD focused on strengthening its research and advocacy capacity. Aside from gaining practical experience through its projects at the grass roots level, SRD also conducted several research projects and surveys in the areas of sustainable agriculture and climate change. With expert knowledge drawn from both practical experience and research, the organisation continued to actively engage in networking and advocacy forums, further strengthening its ability to represent the voice of the rural poor at the highest levels.
Cross-cutting issues | 23
NGOs cannot simply act as charities or service providers - but also need to actively contribute at the policy making level.
Action research improving the local chicken value chain Bao Thanh is a commune in Phu Tho province comprising both hilly and flat land. 95 per cent of the local people rely on agriculture for their livelihoods, particularly chicken breeding which makes up approximately 30 per cent of the average household income.
As a result, there are now two groups of farmers in Bao Thanh commune that are working collaboratively to raise chickens. Through the groups, the farmers are supporting each other with skills and techniques in reducing disease and increasing the quality of their chickens. As a group they are also able to buy feed and sell the chickens in larger quantities, improving profit margins by 8 - 10 per cent.
Although the commune has a long tradition of chicken rearing, farmers have faced a number of challenges in recent years that have significantly impacted productivity and incomes. The native breed of chickens in the area have a slow production cycle, disease epidemics are increasingly common, and most farmers lack the technical knowledge and capital to move from small to large scale chicken farming in order to improve their income. As part of a project funded by Manos Unidas - Development of Participatory Land Use and Management (PLUM) in Phu Tho - SRD conducted a study into the value chain of native chickens in the region. The study aimed to build the capacity of local partners and farmers to analyse the value chain, helping them to better connect with key stakeholders in the market process and add value to the product as it moves through the market chain. Based on the research findings, SRD was able to build new interventions into the existing PLUM project. The interventions included a series of intensive technical workshops focused on breeding quality and disease prevention, training on raising earthworms as an alternative food for native chickens, development of a farmer interest group for native chickens, and provision of a revolving fund to help small-scale farmers increase their chicken stocks to at least 100 heads per household.
A farmer feeds her chickens in Bao Thanh commune. SRD’s research and interventions have helped improve profit margins in her commune by 8 -10 per cent.
24 | Annual Report 2011
Networking - a powerful advocacy tool
Development Network (GENCOMNET), Peoples’ Participation Working Group (PPWG) and the CSOs group on Governance and Public Administration Reform (GPAR).
In recent years, the number of NGOs registered in Vietnam has increased rapidly and the focus of NGO work has expanded. With their grassroots level of engagement, NGOs have developed and implemented highly successful models for poverty reduction and development. Nonetheless, limitations in human and financial resources, and the cyclical nature of funding, mean that many NGOs remain small and unable to develop a strategic orientation and long term vision for their projects.
SRD’s most significant networking commitment is its role as Chair of the Vietnamese NGOs and Climate Change (VNGO&CC) network. The network was founded in September 2008 with the aim of supporting the Government’s efforts to help the poor respond to climate change, and operational regulations issued in reaction to climate change. There are currently more than 300 organisations and individuals registered to the network.
In many cases, there are also limited linkages between organizations working in the same field. This can impact the effectiveness of NGO activity - hindering the opportunity to exchange information, share experiences and advocate as a group for common goals. Acknowledging the value of collaboration amongst NGOs, SRD is strongly committed to facilitating and participating in a range of NGO networking opportunities. Since its establishment, SRD has been an active member of major networks including the Climate Change Working Group (CCWG), Civil Society Inclusion for Food Security and Poverty Elimination Network (CIFPEN), Gender and Community
During the year, VNGO&CC coordinated a range of workshops and activities to improve the capacity of its members to respond to climate change. Activities included the exchange of technical experts, project information and outcome sharing, disseminating program and technical information, and facilitating collaborative policy advocacy. The successful operation and proactive engagement of the network has drawn the attention of relevant stakeholders including donor agencies, governments and partners. SRD also contributed to development at an international level, actively participating at regional and international networks including the Mekong Adaptation Forum, SEAChange, SeaRice, Reality of Aid Network, Asia Pacific Research Network, PAN-AP and EARWG. Through these engagements, SRD not only shared its experience, but also facilitated shared learning between international partners and the development community in Vietnam on key issues including sustainable agriculture, climate change financing and development effectiveness. Representatives from VNGOs, INGOs, local partners, international donors and the media attend a community based climate change adaptation workshop, coordinated by SRD.
Cross-cutting issues | 25
INSIDE SRD 26 | Annual Report 2011
Capacity building starts within At SRD, we firmly believe that our staff are the greatest asset of the organisation, and strive to maintain a positive and dynamic workforce. A focus on capacity building underpins all of our projects, and the focus is no different when it comes to developing our organization internally. Professional development is a major focus, and in 2011 we continued to provide our 30 staff and international volunteers the opportunity to grow and develop their skills whenever possible. SRD provides regular internal training for staff on issues such as climate change, value chains, human resource management and project financial management. In 2011 staff also attended external training in Vietnam on issues such as disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation, REDD+, gender, communications, public administration reform, tax, social insurance, and project management. SRD employees attended several international conferences in 2011, enabling the organization to access the latest global knowledge from the rapidly changing development sector. Participation at international events is also critical to helping us share our on-the-ground knowledge and learning. During 2011, senior SRD staff members participated in more than ten international conferences including: · Fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness, Busan, Korea · East Asia Future Leaders Programme 2010/2011: Food and Agriculture Group, Japan · Role of NGOs in Promoting Global Women’s Issues, America · Regional Workshop on REDD + Status, Opportunities and Challenges in the Asia- Pacific, Nepal
Inside SRD | 27
In July, SRD staff and families had the opportunity to travel to Quang Binh province in central Vietnam for a work holiday, where staff were able to relax and join in team building activities. The holiday provided a valuable opportunity for staff and families to spend time together in an informal setting, and strengthen bonds between colleagues across the organisation.
In 2011, SRD was fortunate to host seven volunteers from Australia, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and Canada. All experts in their respective fields, the volunteers contributed to the human resources, communications, value chains and climate change teams. Hosting volunteers helps SRD to maintain its international context, and provides language and cultural exchange opportunities for local staff.
Looking ahead - SRD 2013 - 17 Strategic Plan The fast pace of change in Vietnam drives SRD to constantly review the socio-economic context of its work, ensuring it is able to seize new opportunities and address challenges as they arise. This ongoing process of review and evaluation will intensify in 2012, as the organisation develops its 2013 - 17 Strategic Plan. The decision was made to begin the planning process much earlier than on previous occasions, so that comprehensive consultation with relevant stakeholders could be incorporated. The project commenced with a pre-strategic planning retreat in Yen Bai province, which was attended by all staff and advisory board members. The workshop included visits to key SRD projects in the province, giving all staff the opportunity to meet local farmers and project partners first-hand. This was an important start to the strategic planning process, helping to unite the whole team with a shared vision for
The ongoing process of review and evaluation will intensify in 2012, as the organisation develops its 2013 - 17 Strategic Plan.
sustainable rural development in Vietnam. The workshop - which included leadership from three members of the SRD advisory board and an external consultant - also drew reflection on the significant and varied learnings of the SRD team over the past five years. With this reflection as the foundation, SRD will now look to the future with a series of thematic planning workshops, and consultation with stakeholders from all levels, including partners, donors, beneficiaries and other I/ NGOs. The Plan will be finalised and published in the fourth quarter.
Staff on the strategic planning retreat learn first-hand about the impact of SRD’s projects in Yen Bai province.
28 | Annual Report 2011
Inside SRD | 29
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE MANAGER
PROGRAM OFFICERS, VOLUNTEERS
THUA THIEN HUE BASED PROGRAM MANAGER
PROGRAM OFFICERS, VOLUNTEERS
ADVISORY BOARD
Organisation chart
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICERS, VOLUNTEERS
CLIMATE CHANGE MANAGER
PROGRAM OFFICERS, PROGRAM ASSISTANTS, VOLUNTEERS
CENTRE COMMITTEE
COMMUNICATIONS, RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY MANAGER
DEPUTY DIRECTOR
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
ACCOUNTANTS, ADMINISTRATION & HR STAFF
CHIEF ACCOUNTANT/ FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION MANAGER
FINANCE
STATEMENTS
30 | Annual Report 2011
Finance Overview In 2011, SRD successfully managed thirteen main projects and five micro projects, with a total expenditure of 809,201 USD. SRD recognises that sustainable sources of finance are critical to fulfill our long-term commitment to improving the lives of poor Vietnamese farmers. As such, we promote accountability, effectiveness and transparency within all management systems, ensuring sustainable financial growth and long-term economic viability. In 2011, SRD developed proposals for six new projects and was successful in receiving funding for all six. The total budget of the new projects was 925,913 USD. SRD complies with the best practices in all areas of operation, including finance and accounting. Internal and external annual audits, combined with our regular reporting mechanisms, ensure we effectively manage financial risk and provide reasonable assurance and security to our financial position.
Income and expenditure For the year ended 31 December 2011
Unit: USD
ITEMS
2011
2010
906,221
427,374
I. INCOME
1 Donor funding during the year
2 Interest income
38,625
4,101
3 Exchange gain
36,204
2,351
4 Sundry income
96
357
5 Administration cost from projects
67,687
73,892
TOTAL INCOME
1,048,833
508,075
II. EXPENDITURE
1 Programme Expenditure
733,732
772,443
2 Indirect Overhead Costs
75,469
84,185
TOTAL EXPENDITURE
809,201
856,628
239,633
(348,553)
III. SURPLUS(DEFICIT) FOR THE YEAR
Finance statements | 31
Balance sheet As at 31 December 2011 Unit: USD ITEMS
31/12/2011
31/12/2010
753,962
540,660
7,187
7,798
843
830
6,344
6,968
746,775
532,863
ASSETS I. CASH
1. Cash on hand
Vietnam dong
Foreign currency
2. Cash in bank
Vietnam dong
493,603
90,607
Foreign currency
253,172
442,256
III. RECEIVABLES
7,656
240
1. Receivables from donor
1,335
2. Other receivables
6,321
II. SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
IV. INVENTORIES
-
-
1. Tools, Equipment
V. OTHER CURRENT ASSETS
23,173
240
2,377
1. Short-term prepaid expenses
2. Advance
23,173
2,377
VI. FIXED ASSETS
13,847
25,785
13,847
25,785
38,139
43,128
(24,292)
(17,342)
-
1. Tangible fixed assets
- Original cost
- Accumulated depreciation (*)
2. Intangible fixed assets
-
- Original cost
-
- Accumulated depreciation (*)
-
VII. LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS
TOTAL ASSETS
798,637
32 | Annual Report 2011
569 ,062
Balance sheet As at 31 December 2011 Unit: USD LIABILITIES I. SHORT TERM BORROWINGS
98,287
75,619
1. Sundry payable
14,224
10,038
2. Payable to employees
77,493
50,143
3. Liability for share - based payment with salary
4. Other payable taxes
1,094
163
5. Other payable
5,476
15,275
700,351
493,443
-
-
II. BUDGET SOURCES
1. Advanced budget
2. Realisation of exchange rate
3. Reserves fund
4. Administrative funds
5. Projects funds
6. Resources of fixed asset
TOTAL LIABILITIES
Finance statements | 33
-
182,991
160,539
50,115
40,175
453,397
266,943
13,847
25,785
798,637
569,062
PROJECTS AND PARTNERS
34 | Annual Report 2011
Donors Donor Country Manos Unidas
Spain
Caritas Australia
Australia
Cordaid Netherlands Finland Embassy in Vietnam
Finland
Care International
Denmark
KEPA Finland Oxfam Quebec
Canada
US Embassy in Vietnam
United States of America
Reality of Aid network
Network
Projects and partners | 35
Local partners Local Partner
Province
Local Partner
Province
Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
Bac Kan
People’s Committee of Nam Bung Commune
Yen Bai
People’s Committee of Ba Be District
Bac Kan
People’s Committee of Gia Hoi Commune
Yen Bai
People’s Committee of Pac Nam District
Bac Kan
Provincial Traditional Medicine Association
Yen Bai
People’s Committee of Cho Moi District
Bac Kan
People’s Committee of Yen Binh District
Yen Bai
People’s Committee of Cho Don District
Bac Kan
People’s Committee of Cam An commune
Yen Bai
People’s Committee of Bach Thong District
Bac Kan
Plant Protection Sub Department
Thai Nguyen
People’s Committee of Na Ri District
Bac Kan
People’s Committee of Vo Nhai District
Thai Nguyen
Plant Protection Sub Department (PPSD)
Bac Kan
Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs
Thua Thien Hue
Provincial Seeds and Materials Supply Company
Bac Kan
Department of Natural Resources and Environment
Thua Thien Hue
Phu Tho Science and Technology Associations
Phu Tho
Department of Agricultural and Rural Development
Thua Thien Hue
People’s Committee of Thanh Son District
Phu Tho
Provincial Agricultural Extension Centre
Thua Thien Hue
People’s Committee of Tan Son District
Phu Tho
People’s Committee of Phong Dien District
Thua Thien Hue
People’s Committee of Phu Ninh District
Phu Tho
People’s Committee of Huong Tra District
Thua Thien Hue
People’s Committee of Tram Than Commune
Phu Tho
People’s Committee of Tuan Giao town District
Dien Bien
People’s Committee of Bao Thanh Commune
Phu Tho
Provincial People’s Committee
Hoa Binh
People’s Committee of Vinh Phu Commune
Phu Tho
People’s Committee of Da Bac District
Hoa Binh
Plant Protection SubDepartment
Phu Tho
Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
Hoa Binh
Yen Bai Union of Science and Technology Associations
Plant Protection SubDepartment
Hoa Binh
Yen Bai
People’s Committee of Van Chan District
Bao Yen Forestry Company
Lao Cai
Yen Bai
People’s Committee of Can Loc District
Ha Tinh
36 | Annual Report 2011
Program portfolio for period 2010 - 2011 Period Code
Project Name Start
Finish
Total approved budget (USD)
Main Projects 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 Bac Kan province.
04/2008
03/2011
229,580
VM015
Improvement of marginalised community’s livelihood and sanitation in Pac Nam 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
Comunitiy-based disaster risk management and reduction in Thua Thien Hue province (Phase I from 03/2011 to 02/2012 with budget USD 89,500)
03/2011
06/2014
331,194
VM032
A needs assessment on sustainable livelihoods responding to climate change in Hoa Binh, Thai Nguyen, Yen Bai and Quang Ninh provinces.
05/2010
05/2011
83,358
VM035
Support of marginalised Thai ethnic communities to adapt to rapidly urbanising surroundings.
03/2011
06/2013
253,000
VM036
Integrated forest management in Northern Vietnam: managing forests for poverty reduction and forest conservation.
11/2010
11/2011
66,299
Projects and partners | 37
Program portfolio (continued) Period Code
Project Name Start
Finish
Total approved budget (USD)
Main Projects VM037
Vietnamese NGOs toward ethnic minority communities’ livelihoods in northern mountainous areas.
07/2011
06/2014
432,818
VM039
Farmers piloting the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) toward climate response in Bac Kan province.
11/2011
11/2012
67,515
Total budget for main projects
3,220,280
Micro Projects VM022
Impact assessment of economic crisis and the Vietnamese Government’s support policy on rural households
08/2009
08/2010
40,292
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 mainstreaming
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 VNGO&CC network.
09/2010
03/2011
12,675
VM040
Capacity building and working group formation on aid effectiveness for Vietnamese nongovernment organisations 2011
04/2011
12/2011
12,000
Total budget for micro projects
196,158
TOTAL BUDGET
3,416,438
38 | Annual Report 2011
Project map Lao Cai
Bac Kan
ﾄ進en Bien
Thai Nguyen Hanoi Yen Bai Phu Tho Hoa Binh
Ha Tinh
Quang Tri Thua Thien Hue
CENTRE FOR SUSTAINABLE RURAL DEVELOPMENT ADD No. 56, Lane 19/9 Kim Dong Str., Hoang Mai Dist., Hanoi TEL +84 4 3943 6678/76 FAX +84 4 3943 6449 EMAIL info@srd.org.vn WEB www.srd.org.vn