GREAT 2 Project Workshop in Son La. Photo: PV

In 2024, the Provincial People's Committee issued Plan No. 02/KH-UBND dated January 9, 2024 on strengthening cooperation and mobilizing aid from foreign non-governmental organizations, foreign diplomatic missions in Vietnam and foreign organizations and individuals.

Relevant agencies and units of the province have closely coordinated to ensure that foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operate in accordance with regulations; guide NGOs to carry out procedures for foreigners entering the province and carry out the process of appraisal and approval of programs and projects according to regulations. Strengthen propaganda and dissemination of legal documents related to NGO activities, enhance the responsibility of cadres, civil servants and public employees at agencies, units and localities in the process of contacting and working with NGOs.

In 2024, Son La province has 29 NGOs registered to operate according to regulations. The Provincial People's Committee has agreed and requested competent authorities to grant, extend, supplement, amend, and convert the operation registration certificates for 11 NGOs.

Conference to summarize the Chan-henh Project. Photo: PV

Mr. Nguyen Van Chien, Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs, said: Specialized agencies under the Provincial People's Committee have proactively coordinated to guide all levels and sectors in the province on regulations on mobilizing, receiving, organizing implementation and managing aid sources in accordance with regulations. During the project implementation process, donors have fully supported funding as committed; activities are in accordance with the approved project content. Programs and projects are effectively implemented, contributing to improving infrastructure, enhancing management capacity, and production activities with the participation and supervision of local authorities and people.

At the same time, 3 working delegations of the Department of Foreign Affairs were organized to meet and work with 3 agencies under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 1 foreign embassy in Vietnam and 8 NGOs to strengthen cooperation and mobilize aid from foreign diplomatic missions and foreign non-governmental organizations in the province.

Representatives of the Japanese sponsor and Save the Children Organization visited households in Lang Cheu commune, Bac Yen district, participating in the project "Improving the livelihoods of ethnic minorities in Son La province". Photo: Tuan Hien

By November 2024, Son La province received and allowed the implementation of 10 aid packages with a committed aid capital of more than 4 million 822 thousand USD, the number of programs and projects increased 1.7 times compared to the same period in 2023. The programs and projects of the PCPNN mostly focus on the fields of health, education, solving social problems and socio-economic development... targeting women, children, people in difficult circumstances, farmers, poor ethnic minorities in remote areas.

The International Farmers Participation Technical Net-work (IFPaT) of Japan has implemented the project "Building a model to improve livelihoods through introducing agricultural tourism to ethnic minority villages in mountainous areas of Son La province, Vietnam" in Son La city, with a total budget of more than 470 thousand USD. The project has helped people learn how to grow crops in greenhouses, reduce the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers, contribute to environmental protection, and improve economic efficiency. At the same time, people have access to and learned techniques for growing some new crops, such as Cat Tuong flowers, Korean melons, Hoang Kim melons, etc.

Japanese sponsors and SCI Organization visited vegetable gardens of households in the Project "Improving the Livelihoods of Ethnic Minorities in Son La Province". Photo: PV

In addition, the Project "Sustainable Livestock Productivity for Livelihoods, Nutrition and Gender Inclusion" (Chan-henh Project), with a total capital of over 3.2 million USD, implemented by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) in coordination with the Department of Livestock, Veterinary and Fisheries of Son La province for 2 years (2023-2024) in Mai Son and Phu Yen districts, has created positive changes in livestock farming, improving production efficiency for farmers. The project has 5 components, including: Technology and practices to increase sustainable productivity; increase nutritional diversity through animal-based foods; sustainable livestock productivity for gender equality and social inclusion; livestock value chain and competitiveness; evidence-based decision-making, model replication.

Participating in the project, farmers in Chieng Chung, Hat Lot, Muong Bon communes, Mai Son district, were supported to establish 6 livestock cooperatives with 89 members. Livestock households were guided to make business plans, herd restoration plans and revenue estimates; supported with grass seeds, introduced to forms of capital contribution in production and business, and connected to find outlets for products.

Farmers in the highlands of Bac Yen are also instructed to build barns to raise buffalo and cows, improving their livelihoods. Photo: Tuan Hien

Mr. Tong Van Long, Head of the livestock cooperative in May village, Chieng Chung commune, shared: Participating in the project, 20 member households were trained in biosafety and disease prevention in livestock farming; animal feed processing techniques, how to build cooperation contracts, plan capital use in production and business, helping to reduce costs, improve livestock farming quality...

In April 2024, the People's Committee of Son La province and the Australian Embassy in Vietnam signed the Agreement to implement the GREAT 2 Project. Inheriting the achievements of phase 1 (2017-2022), the GREAT 2 Son La Project continues to apply effective approaches and expand successful designed models, creating sustainable and replicable changes. The focus of the Project is to develop the market system for agricultural products, strengthen the capacity of the tourism industry, thereby increasing women's economic empowerment. It is expected that more than 15,000 women, of whom 70% are ethnic minority women in Son La province, will benefit from the GREAT 2 Son La Project. The project helps increase income; participate in socio-economic activities to enhance the status and confidence of women in the family, community and production - business environment.

Ms. Cherie Anne Russell, Counselor for Development Cooperation, Australian Embassy in Vietnam, said: We are committed to implementing the GREAT Project in Son La, in 2 phases from 2023 to 2027 in 12 districts and cities, with a total investment capital of more than 250 billion VND, of which non-refundable ODA capital is 236 billion VND, counterpart capital from Son La province's budget is 14.5 billion VND.

At the launching ceremony of phase 2 of the GREAT 2 Project, Ms. Trang Thi Xuan, Permanent Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial People's Committee, expressed Son La province's appreciation for the long-term commitment of the Australian Government in assisting the province in implementing strategies, plans and goals for socio-economic development in a green, sustainable and inclusive direction.

Son La is effectively implementing the program to enhance cooperation and mobilize foreign non-governmental aid for the 2020-2025 period, promoting administrative procedure reform related to the process of receiving, appraising and approving, creating favorable conditions for foreign non-governmental organizations to implement sponsored programs and projects; increasing aid attraction for local sustainable development goals in the fields of agriculture, rural development, education - training, health, natural resources and environment..., contributing to improving people's lives.

Quynh Ngoc