Start-up workshop on "Sustainable rural development for the poor" project in Ha Tinh and Quang Binh provinces

After two years of surveying and building up the project, Vietnam government and IFAD (the International Fund for Agricultural Development) signed an agreement for SRDP in Ha Tinh and Quang Binh provinces for the 2014-2018 period in Rome, Italia in August, 2013.

Accordingly, the goal of the project is to sustainably improve the incomes and reduce the vulnerability of rural poor households in targeted upland areas of Ha Tinh and Quang Binh Provinces. The project development objective is "investment in climate-smart, socially equitable and profitable rural development models that promote pro-poor market linkages, value-chains and enhanced rural business competitiveness".

The total project costs are estimated at USD45.679 million, of which funds allocated to the SRDP project in Quang Binh is USD22.762 million.

During five years of implementation, the project will carry out its activities in 50 communes of 10 districts in Ha Tinh and 40 communes of six districts in Quang Binh.

Target groups for the project are poor rural households with land and labour resources; unskilled and unemployed rural people; landless people; ethnic minorities who lack income and skills; small and medium sized rural trade enterprises and value-chain entrepreneurs.

The project is organised into four inter-related components, including market-led development planning enabled, rural financial services strengthened, leveraged market and value chain investments operational and efficient project management.

Speaking at the workshop, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Binh province stressed that the start-up workshop is an important event to orient the project implementation in Quang Binh and Ha Tinh, representing a high commitment of IFAD to poverty alleviation asistance in Vietnam in general, Ha Tinh and Quang Binh provinces in particular.

Mr Henning Pedersen said Quang Binh and Ha Tinh need to exchange information and closely coordinate to mobilize all resources to minimize the expenses of the project.

At the workshop, participants heared the guidances for implementation of components of the project as well as specific situation of the project implementation in Ha Tinh and Quang Binh provinces. The workshop also pointed out advantages and disadvantages and discussed solutions in the project implementation process.

Reported by Hong Luu
(www.quangbinh.gov.vn)