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.

The relevant agencies and units of the province have closely coordinated to ensure that foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operate in accordance with regulations; guided NGOs in carrying out procedures for foreigners entering the province and implementing the appraisal and approval process for programs and projects according to regulations. They have also strengthened the dissemination and understanding of legal documents related to NGO activities, and enhanced the responsibility of officials and employees in agencies, units, and localities in their interactions and work with NGOs.

In 2024, Son La province had 29 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) registered to operate in accordance with regulations. The Provincial People's Committee agreed and proposed to the competent authority to grant, renew, supplement, amend, and convert operating licenses for 11 NGOs.

Conference summarizing the Chan-henh Project. Photo: PV

Mr. Nguyen Van Chien, Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs, stated: The specialized agencies under the Provincial People's Committee have proactively coordinated and guided all levels and sectors in the province on regulations regarding the mobilization, acceptance, implementation, and management of aid sources in accordance with regulations. During the project implementation process, donors have fully supported the funding as committed; activities have been carried out in accordance with the approved project content. The programs and projects have been implemented effectively, contributing to improving infrastructure, strengthening management capacity, and production activities with the participation and supervision of local authorities and the people.

Simultaneously, the Department of Foreign Affairs organized three working groups to contact and work with three agencies under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, one foreign embassy in Vietnam, and eight non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to strengthen cooperation and mobilize aid from foreign diplomatic missions and foreign NGOs into the province.

Representatives from the Japanese donor organization and the Save the Children organization visited households in Lang Chieu commune, Bac Yen district, participating in the "Improving Livelihoods of Ethnic Minorities in Son La Province" project. Photo: Tuan Hien

By November 2024, Son La province had received and approved the implementation of 10 aid projects with committed capital exceeding US$4,822,000, representing a 1.7-fold increase in the number of programs and projects compared to the same period in 2023. These programs and projects largely focus on healthcare, education, addressing social issues, and socio-economic development, targeting women, children, disadvantaged groups, farmers, and poor ethnic minorities in remote areas.

The International Farmers Participation Technical Network (IFPaT) of Japan has implemented the project "Building a model for improving livelihoods through introducing agricultural tourism to ethnic minority villages in the hilly areas of Son La province, Vietnam" in Son La city, with a total budget of over 470,000 USD. The project has helped people learn how to cultivate crops in greenhouses, minimizing the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers, contributing to environmental protection and improving economic efficiency. At the same time, people have gained access to and learned techniques for planting new crops, such as Lisianthus flowers, Korean melons, and Golden melons.

Japanese donors and the SCI organization visit the vegetable gardens of households participating in the "Improving Livelihoods of Ethnic Minorities in Son La Province" project. Photo: PV

In addition, the "Sustainable Livestock Productivity for Livelihoods, Nutrition and Gender Inclusion" Project (Chăn-hênh Project), with a total capital of over US$3.2 million, implemented by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) in collaboration with the Department of Livestock, Veterinary and Fisheries of Son La province over two years (2023-2024) in Mai Son and Phu Yen districts, has created positive changes in livestock farming and improved production efficiency for farmers. The project has five components: Sustainable productivity enhancement technologies and practices; increasing nutritional diversity through animal-based foods; sustainable livestock productivity for gender equality and social inclusion; livestock value chains and competitiveness; and evidence-based decision-making and model scaling.

Participating in the project, farmers in Chiềng Chung, Hát Lót, and Mường Bon communes, Mai Sơn district, received support to establish 6 livestock farming cooperatives with 89 members. Livestock farmers were guided in developing business plans, restocking plans, and projected revenue; provided with grass seeds; introduced to various forms of capital contribution in production and business; and connected to find markets for their products.

Farmers in the mountainous region of Bac Yen are also being guided on how to build shelters for buffalo and cattle, 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 received training on biosafety and disease prevention in livestock farming; techniques for processing animal feed, how to build cooperation contracts, and how to plan the use of capital in production and business, helping to reduce costs and improve the quality of livestock farming..."

In April 2024, the People's Committee of Son La province and the Australian Embassy in Vietnam signed an agreement to implement the GREAT 2 Project. Building on the achievements of Phase 1 (2017-2022), the GREAT 2 Son La Project continues to apply effective approaches and expand successful models designed to create sustainable, scalable changes. The project focuses on developing market systems for agricultural products, strengthening tourism capacity, and thereby empowering women economically. It is expected that more than 15,000 women, 70% of whom are ethnic minority women in Son La province, will benefit from the GREAT 2 Son La Project. The project helps increase income; allows participation in socio-economic activities, thereby enhancing the status and confidence of women in their families, communities, and business environments.

Ms. Cherie Anne Russell, Development Cooperation Counsellor at the Australian Embassy in Vietnam, stated: "We are committed to implementing the GREAT Project in Son La, in two phases from 2023 to 2027 across 12 districts and cities, with a total investment of over 250 billion VND, including 236 billion VND in non-refundable ODA funding and 14.5 billion VND in counterpart funding from the Son La provincial budget."

At the launch ceremony for Phase 2 of the GREAT 2 Project, Ms. Trang Thi Xuan, Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, expressed Son La province's appreciation for the Australian Government's long-term commitment to supporting the province in implementing its strategies, plans, and socio-economic development goals in a green, sustainable, and inclusive direction.

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

Quynh Ngoc