Gender and Development

Viet Nam

Forestry Sector Project in Viet Nam, 1997

Under this project ADB is financing rehabilitation of degraded forests and bare lands in three watersheds. The project includes provision for creating employment and income-generating opportunities for women in forestry-based activities.

To equip women for these activities, the Vietnam Women's Union, with its widespread grassroots network, will be strengthened to offer training to women in land-use planning for sustainable agriculture and livestock production, together with other improved agriculture and forestry techniques. Under the project some women trained by the Union will become land-use planning officials, working with village communities.

Women leaders, heads of households, and members of ethnic minorities will be particularly targeted to participate in demonstration farming. Because the project will focus on ethnic minority groups with limited access to services, training will also be provided on basic health, family planning, nutrition, and literacy. The training programs will include evening sessions to enable women to participate after completing their daily work.

Women will also be encouraged to participate in other aspects of project planning and decision making to ensure they are given equitable access to project resources. The Vietnam Women's Union will promote credit and savings activities. Women's access to land will be strengthened through joint use and individual rights. While under traditional law men and women in Viet Nam have equal rights to land ownership, it will be important to ensure that the names of both husband and wife appear on land use certificates provided with the project.