Soc Trang (VNA) ꦗ– Action Aid International Vietnam has provided Long Phu district, in the southern province of Soc Trang with 18 billion VND in funding over the past decade under a development support programme.

The programme, which has been transferred back to local authorities, focuses on developing sustainable livelihood models, enhancing gender equality and women rights, improving children’s learning and living conditions as well as authorities’ accountability; offering training on disaster prevention and climate change, and HIV/AIDS prevention. Under the programme, as many as 23,500 people have been trained in cultivation and breeding techniques, agriculture and livelihood models. They were also educated about issues regarding poverty and the right to have access to land and natural resources, contributing to reducing the rate of poor households. Additionally, 11,000 people and communal officials have been given insight into the State law, grassroots democracy regulations and joined dialogues on public services and accountability to promote local socio-economic development. Nearly 3,000 officials, especially those in the villages’ disaster mitigation committees, have been able to analyse vulnerability, thereby actively designing community-based disaster mitigation and climate change adaptation schemes. Vu Minh Duc, head of the programme’s office, expressed his hope that experience and models developed over the process will continue spreading to other localities, contributing to sustainable poverty reduction./.