04/07/2019

Sharing workshop on midterm review of FLOW/EOWE and WEAVE projects in Vietnam

Field

From 11 to 13 June 2019, a mid-term review sharing workshop on Climate Smart Agriculture and Gender in the scope of FLOW/EOWE & WEAVE projects was conducted in Hoi An. It was attended by 35 participants from government partners and other representatives from 5 provinces including Lao Cai, Quang Binh, Binh Dinh, Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan.

The review on results as well as experience, lessons learnt and resources of the two projects showed a holistic programmatic approach that is well-planned, strategic and community-oriented by SNV and the other project stakeholders that increased impact and enhanced sustainability. In the workshop, the overall strategy with holistic management and technical approach of the two projects was shared as well as their three key components (Business/Enterprise Development on Climate Smart Agriculture; Gender & Women’s Economic Empowerment and Policy Advocacy) have been intensely discussed based on in-depth analysis of local evidences and experiences.

The most interesting topics that attracted special attention and committed discussion included women’s economic empowerment barriers, access to finance for farmers, women-led SMEs/cooperatives and disasters/climate change impacts on agribusinesses models. In order to enhance the project intervention framework, participants also discussed about key established criteria on the number of women increasing income, the number of women-led SMEs accessing loans, and the number of SMEs/cooperatives stabilizing production and gaining profit.

Group of people
Group of people

As a side event, participants had the opportunity to visit An Nhien farm – a model of a combination of farming, community-based green living and environment led by young women. They have put up a bamboo row to protect the mangrove so it could continue to grow and to protect the river bank and the farmland behind it. Together with the enthusiasm of young women who started this social/environmental-responsive model in a harsh conditions and the initial green results they achieved the workshop participants were incredibly inspired.

Group of people
Group of people

Strong commitment, effective project implementation and efficient use of resources in the past three years have been the solid foundation for the FLOW/EOWE and WEAVE projects to build upon the remaining half of the project duration. The workshop was also an opportunity for local government, partners and project teams to further discuss the opportunity of multiplying the impacts of the combination of Climate Smart Agriculture and Women’s Economic Empowerment interventions and addressing barriers to contribute to sustainable agriculture and gender equality.