ADDA VIETNAM

CEMI project: ADDA and Pan Nature Team orient Provinces on CEMI Project

Between June 2-7, the Country Representative and National Project Manager of ADDA, accompanied by Mr. Hoang Xuan Thuy, the Deputy Director of the partner NGO, Pan Nature, travelled to Son La, Dien Bien and Lai Chau to orient the Provincial Farmers’ Unions of the three provinces and other local representatives on the new project, ‘Climate Change and Ethnic Minorities in Northern Vietnam’. This project was submitted to the Climate and Environment Fund (CEF) of CISU in the third quarter of 2013 and was approved for funding by the end of the year. Since then ADDA staff have been translating the Project Document and drawing up Memoranda of Understanding with the partners. On the advice of PACCOM, these MOUs will be signed with the respective umbrella organizations of the partners, the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA) in the case of Pan Nature and the Provincial People’s Committees in the case of the three provinces. A total of 4,544,000 Danish Crowns is available for the Project, which will extend over three years from July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2017.

Despite the short title, the Project focuses on the development of sustainable agricultural systems in the target areas, introducing low carbon and environmentally friendly technologies to the local farmers. Initially the Project will review with the provincial authorities environmental problems such as soil erosion and river siltation arising from intensification of slope agriculture, partly related to development of infrastructure such as dams and new hard-top roads. Thereafter, a curriculum for improved agricultural systems will be developed and Farmer Field Schools conducted with target communities. Successful models will be introduced to local authorities and mass organizations for integration into their planning. 

Meeting at Son La Farmers; Union (picture courtesy of Son La Newspaper)

The meetings to introduce the Project were held in the Provincial Farmers’ Union offices or, in the case of Lai Chau, in the new Provincial Conference Center. The meetings were business-like and the project was recognized as addressing the provincial needs. Some revision of the draft MOUs will now be undertaken for submission to the provincial authorities.

Madame Vu Thi Lien, Vice-Chair of Lai Chau Farmers' Union addresses the Meeting in Lai Chau

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