The document summarizes an IFAD program in Vietnam called the Decentralised Programme for Poverty Reduction in Ha Giang province. The program aims to improve living standards and food security for poor rural households, especially women and ethnic minorities. It focuses on capacity building, production support, small infrastructure projects, and natural resource management. The total cost is $20.5 million financed by IFAD, Norway, Vietnam, and beneficiaries. Initial results show improved food security and increased crop cultivation area.

1. VIETNAM
Enabling poor rural people
to overcome poverty
Decentralised Programme
for Poverty Reduction (DPPR)
Ha Giang
Dzao women clear a hillside for the construction of a new road in Hoang Su Phi. © IFAD/Alexandra Boulat
Programme Rationale
Poverty in Ha Giang province closely correlates with its local ethnic minority communities.
Some areas have considerable levels of environmental degradation, including parts of the
upland northern districts. Women are often particularly disadvantaged with higher workloads
and little participation in family and community decision-making processes. The programme
design incorporates specific strategies to ensure that women have equitable access to
programme resources and appropriate representation in decision-making processes.
Programme Objectives
The goal is to improve the socio-economic status of the poorest households in the programme
area, with particular emphasis on community-driven development approaches. Programme
purposes are to: (i) improve food security and living standards for the poorest households; (ii)
develop strong grassroots institutions that manage community resources better; (iii) improve
decentralised development approaches; (iv) improve the socio-economic status of women; (v)
improve village-level infrastructure; and (vi) improve management of natural resources.
Programme Area and Target Group
The programme covers five rural districts: Dong Van, Meo Vac, Yenh Minh, Xin Man and Quang
Binh. Within these districts there are 45 communes encompassing 494 administrative villages.
The programme primarily benefits hungry and poor households although women and ethnic
International minorities are targeted due to their relatively disadvantaged positions.
Fund for
Agricultural
Development IFAD VIETNAM >> DPPR Ha Giang >> 1

2. Programme Strategy
Enabling poor rural people Areas with the highest incidence of poverty will be targeted, ensuring the poorest households
to overcome poverty are benefited. The main beneficiaries of DPPR are the poor, especially poor women and ethnic
minorities. Production support and small scale infrastructure are most beneficial for this target
group.
Programme Components
• Capacity building for decentralized development
• Production support
• Small-scale infrastructure development
• Programme management
Programme Cost and Financing
Total costs for the programme are USD 20.5 million.
The proposed financiers of the programme are IFAD (62.2%), the Government of Norway
(13.6%), the Government of Vietnam GoVN (15.6%), and the beneficiaries (7.0%). The
Government will finance 100% of all land purchase costs and salaries/allowances, 40% of
operating costs (excluding village infrastructure maintenance costs), and the tax and duty
element of all project expenditures.
For both Ha Giang and Quang Binh provinces: Besides the IFAD loan, IFAD will provided a
grant of USD 0.63 million for the Policy and Programme Development subcomponent.
Benefits and Impact
With support, the food security situation of households in the project areas has been improving
and progress has been moderately satisfactory. The latest annual survey showed that 1,240
households reduced their number of food deficient months. In addition, the area of cultivation
has increased by over 320 ha in the project area. Food deficiency is prevalent in the project
areas, especially from December to March, when the weather is cold. During these months, the
government provides rice to households.
Contact details
Atsuko Toda
Country Programme Manager
Asia and Pacific Division
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
Unit 304, UN Apartment Building
2E Van Phuc, Kim Ma Str, Ha Noi, Vietnam
Tel: 0084- (4) 3823 7231; Fax: + 84 (4) 3823 3819
Email: at.toda@ifad.org
Skype: atsuko.toda
Website: www.ifad.org.vn
International
Fund for
Agricultural
Development IFAD VIETNAM >> DPPR Ha Giang >> 2