Strengthening Capacity of Women along the Central Mekong Delta Connectivity (CMDC) Project Phase II (My An to Cao Lanh)

8/13/2019 Strengthening Capacity of Women along the Central Mekong Delta Connectivity (CMDC) Project Phase II (My An to Cao Lanh)

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Uzma Hoque

5 Nov 2013

The views expressed in this presentation are the views of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of

the Asian Development Bank (ADB), or its Board of Governors, or the governments they represent. ADB does not

guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this paper and accepts no responsibility for any consequence of their use.The countries listed in this paper do not imply any view on ADB's part as to sovereignty or independent status or necessarily

conform to ADB's terminology.


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The Project Objectives: Two Key Areas of Interventions

1. Help women capture future employment and

income earning opportunities from:

- infrastructure construction activities- influx of large workforce into the area

- better roads ( increased mobility, access to

markets, increased employment opportunities)

2. Reduce womens vulnerability to risks as a result of

increased physical connectivity

- Increase knowledge on HIV/AIDS andtrafficking - empower women to protect

themselves.


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Project Outputs

Output 1: Strategy for enhancing income earning opportunities forwomen in the project areas

Output 2: Increased capacity of women in a range of locallymarketable skills and income generating skills

- 300 women supported to access training on a range of skills;

- 50 women supported to access employment in local

industries/enterprises;

- 50 women supported to access credit

Output 3: Increased knowledge amongst women in the project areason issues related to gender and HIV/AIDS and trafficking in women.

- 90% women and 50% men from households along the route attend these

meetings

- 80% of those who attend can articulate HIV transmission and prevention

- Commune plan for rolling out briefing every 3 months available


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Output 1: Strategy for enhancing income earning opportunitiesfor women in the project areas

Field assessment of womens needs & mapping of various serviceproviders

Consultations with women, DARD, DOLISA, VWU, VTC & private

sector

Constraints on womens livelihoods

Limited access to skills training

Limited capital and access to credit Limited access to decent formal employment opportunities

Inadequate family support for women - limits access to opportunities

Constraints on mobility


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Output 1: Strategy for enhancing income earning

opportunities for women in the project areas

Collaboration withexisting local

institutions:

-Local factories

&SMEs

-Prov & dist agri

dept for training &

agri extensionservices

-VWU: skills

development trng

Institutionalization

of trainings to

ensure

sustainability and

roll out in the

future.

Integrated strategy to increase womenslivelihood options, promote gender equality, and

reduce risks

Training on improving technical skills; business

devt & management; market info

Training on gender equality, life skills & workersrights

Incentives: stipend or transport allowance

Devt/ adaptation of TOT materials and training to

relevant govt. agencies/ VTC/NGOs.

Where training through placement in localfactories, agreement with factories to employ

women trained.

Support to access credit - linkages with Social

Policy Bank, Agri Bank, Womens Union, etc.


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4 () 320

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15 ) 50

10 ( 15 ) 25

11 ( 15 ) 100

12 ( 15 ) 25

Snapshot of activities:

956


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Beneficiary criteria: 35+, poor/near poor, interested in home-based

livelihoods, would go on to train in business development

Content: Womens rights & GE Law, joint home care management,

technical information on managing home-based enterprises and increasing

productivity

96 households developed action plans to promote gender equality at home.

Active participation and positive responses from men and women

Deliverables achieved: 96 couples + 27 trainers trained

GE training integrated in employment support

Locally relevant training materials developed and

shared with WU

Each trainee provided poster with pictorial messages for easyreference/ facilitate recollection

Training on Gender Equality & Improving Livelihoods

Output 2: Increased capacity of women in a range of locally

marketable skills


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Initial feedback

The most important

thing in the class

was the Law on

Gender Equality

Women appreciated

the discussion on

practical examples

of how supporting

womens equal

rights benefits

households.

Acknowledged that

training helped men

to understand and

support womensparticipation in

project training

activities.

Women attending training


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Training on Business Development

Fundamental tools for developing feasible small

enterprise

Practical guidance to develop business plans

Training in technical skills identified in the plan

Support to refine and upgrade plans & how to access

credit

Approx. 319 beneficiaries have developed business

plans

Deliverables achieved:

320 women trained in business development

35 trainers trained from WU + VTC

Training materials and set of practical tools left

with VWU and VTC

Training Contents

- Fundamental

business concepts

- Business planning

- Capital requirements

and costs

- Cost benefit analysis

- Sources of capital


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Two Business Plan Finalization workshops to review strengths,

weaknesses and feasibility of business plans.

Representatives of SPB, Agri Bank, VWU, Farmers Union and

DOLISA attended & provided info on procedures for accessingvarious credit sources. Beneficiaries discussed credit options.

8 credit support workshops held, 5 -8 Sept for 69 women to assist

them to finalize their business plans.

55 women submitted application for credit to VWU who made finalreview and submitted to SPB in late September

The SPB currently reviewing applications. 15 applications

approved. Remaining under review.

Final result will be informed mid November

Credit support


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All beneficiaries interviewed highly appreciated BD training & activities.

Key learning for women: ability to calculate inputs/outputs and assess

market prices to ensure production is viable.

Women were able to clarify challenges and get further information on how

to improve their business plans to support their credit application. Linkages made between women and their local credit representatives and

women learnt the channels and contacts for seeking credit at various levels

and locations.

BD training & activities

According to women

beneficiaries,

they have clearer

information and plans onaccessing markets and their

marketing channels.


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Courses identified based on womens business plans

275 women trained on following:- Husbandry: Cows; pigs; poultry;

aquaculture: fish, frogs & eels- Cultivation: rice, fruit/vegetables

- Small business management,

marketing and sales

- Handicraft weaving

Collaboration with DARD & VTC Agriculture/husbandry training included

specific local information on resources,

and Viet GAP standards (Viet Nam

Good Agricultural Practices a set of national standards for quality andsafety of agricultural products)

Farmers complying with Viet GAP can have produce certified

accordingly.

Technical Skills Training


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I have learnt how to calculate

the cost of my inputs, find out

about market prices, fix price for

my livestock, so that I can get a

good profit. I also have more

information on the different

types of service providers and

buyers, for example, local

trading agencies, slaughterhouses to sell my poultry and

pigs. I know that I need to go to

authorized agencies with

government certificates to buy

chicks and ducklings,

says Ms Nga, beneficiary from

Anh Binh Commune

Business Development - beneficiary feedback


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The VTC recruited the services of a

trainer from the Hyacinth Weaving

Cooperative of Binh Duch, based in

Ho Chi Minh City.

Ms Chau, 33 yrs & Ms. Thuy, 27 yrs

are trainees learning the hyacinth

weaving. Both shared that they had

young children and this training

would help them to earn an incomeworking from home. They liked the

training because they were learning a

skill and also the training linked them

to the buyers. They were earning an

income through the training itself.

For one woven table, they would receive 50,000 Dong and for bigger

tables, they are able to receive

between 70,000 80,000 Dong.

The stability of this home-based workis an important addition to their

Training on hyacinth weaving

and linkages with market


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Business Development

[In the past] I didnt calculate expenses I didnt know how much I had, how

much I could use for capital, to pay interest. Now with my business plan I can ask

for more credit, because I can plan how many animals to buy, and I know that in

about 3 months I can sell them and make a profit, says Nhat, from Nhi My

commune.

Nhat attended a credit workshop and submitted her application for credit. She also

participated in the VTC training on animal husbandry. She felt confident about

using vaccinations and techniques to keep her animals healthy, and about her

credit application

Nhat also learnt water hyacinth

weaving from other women who had

been trained by the project. She

started working with a local water

hyacinth group, where she wasearning about USD30 per month. She

planned to continue weaving to

provide a steady income while she

started her animal husbandry

business.


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Pre-cursor to employment support

- Gender equality and womens rights at work

- Life skills for seeking work

- Risks of HIV and trafficking: Staying safe when seeking work

Training followed by Job Fair including local employers

Linkages made with employers offering work and training

Further constraints identified for womens employment

opportunities


60 Women trained on gender equality, life skills and workers

rights

Job Fair facilitated discussion of employer expectations &

womens needs

Training on Gender Equality workers right and employment

support


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Identify womens livelihood Consultation Assess labour market

needs and aspirations opportunities & support institutions

Employment support

DEMAND SIDE SUPPLY SIDE

1. Employer mapping- Map local employees & SMEs

- Identify opportunities & engage

employers

- Develop placements that address

womens needs

2. Outreach & Needs Assessment- Discuss with women facing barriers to

work, about potential opportunities

- Assess beneficiary needs, barriers &

capabilities

3. Tailored subsidy packages- Develop tailored subsidy packages to

address multiple constraints

- Validate support plans with beneficiaries

& WU

4. Employment workshops

BeneficiariesAccess job information &

targeted subsidy support

EmployersOffer suitable work & training

opportunities

Link women with positions &

support to match their needs


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Employment support (cont.) Target Groups:

(i) women from poor/near

poor households

seeking formal

employment;

(i) priority given to

women withouttraining and/or without

current income

activities;

(i) needing support to

address constraints onentering labour force

(training, entry costs);

(i) identify existing

skills/employment

experience and current

constraints in finding

formal employment;

(i) specific needs related

to employment

conditions (feasible

hours, location, etc.)

Employment workshops: 7 workshops at 7

communes were held for 71 women comingfrom 8 communes. (33 from Cao Lanh, 38

from Thap Muoi)

Attended by women, local employers, VWU

and DOLISA

14 22 Sept: Completion of work/ placement

agreements.

23rd Sep 30th Oct: job/internshipcommencement


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Employment support

Confirmed supported posts: 59

Soccer ball sewing: 16 (training fee, salary subsidy,

sewing/fixing tool)

Manicure: 20 (training fee, salary subsidy, manicure kit)

Placement in garment production SME:

10 home-based (salary subsidy; equipment)13 on-site (salary subsidy, transport subsidy)

59% (number) women entering regular employment for

the first time23% (number) left formal employment due to family

responsibilities and were either unemployed or casual

labourer re-entering regular employment through home-based work.


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Ms Luu Thi Huong is in the final week ofher manicure internship in My Quy

commune. Before, she could not join any

training because she had to take care of

her 4 young children. She also lived in a

remote area, & transport was a major

barrier. She had no option but to stay at

home, where she earned less than 1USD

a day peeling lotus seeds.

Project/VWU arranged childcare for her

children with another household in thecommunity. The subsidy package

provided her with a bicycle for transport.

She is now very confident in the skills

she has learnt, and has already provided

services to 6 women in her

neighbourhood. She expects to have 5clients per day, earning about USD 2.50

per day, an increase of 150%.

Employment support


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Key Issues: BCC strategy developed

with WU

Training/ BCC

messages developedand pre-tested

ToT in BCC for 27 WU

3 x information

workshops for 100

collaborators (300)

Integrate in regular

VWU meetings +

Collaborator Network

(Happy Family &

Domestic ViolenceClubs), drama, contests

Leaflets to HHs

Loudspeaker messages

HIV& traffickingintegrated in training

Output 3: Increased knowledge amongst women in the project

areas on issues related to gender and HIV/AIDS and trafficking inwomen.

- Knowledge of HIV present lack ofunderstanding of risk behaviour andtransmission channels

- Low knowledge of trafficking

- Low understanding of mobility/migration and HIV and traffickingamong officials

-

Women, Spouses, Community,VWU, local government officials

Target Groups:


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Results achieved

Content

TraffickingFamily & neighbours

may give inaccurate

information or be

involved with traffickers

Work opportunitiesshould be researched

and arranged in detail

before travel.

Using official channels

helps to stay safe

Parents should discuss

risks and plans with

youth who are moving

HIV

Risks & safe practices

Husbands and partners

can transmit HIV -

It is important to discuss

HIV & risk.


Tailored communications strategy developed

27 trainers + 300 collaborators trained in BCC

tools and skills

20,000 leaflets printed and distributed

Community-based BCC meetings organized for

425 women and Happy Family clubs for 60 women

from Thap Muoi

5 information sessions for 50-80 young womenand men at each session on HIV and human

trafficking

WU staff trained with up-to-date risk information

for the local context and skills for community-

based BCC: Staff and collaborators applying tools in

community meetings

Targeted materials for inter-personal, community

& mass media channels

BCC: Trafficking & HIV


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Nguyen Thi Kim Huyen is from a poor household,and is working away from home. After attending a BCC

information session, she began to take precautions for

her safety by asking for phone numbers of police officers,VWU and Youth Union, and by seeking information about

her employer. She then called her family to inform them

of her location, and accommodation in the workplace.

She also signed a formal labour contract.

Nguyen Van An wanted to migrate for work, but did not havemuch information about job offers. After attending a WomensUnion information session, she received guidance on what the

requirements were of a suitable workplace, and information on

safe work and labour contracts, health and social insurance, basic

salary, and accommodation. Armed with this information, she wasable to find a stable job in Binh Doung province, with a formal

labour contract and accident & medical insurance. She has just

received her first months salary.


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378 women trained in technical/vocational skills

& business development

319 women developed structured business plans

57 women placed in local employment

34 women entering regular employment for the

first time

55 women supported to submit credit

applications; 13 approved to date

Women are improving livelihoods using

technical training and financial managementtools to increase productivity and develop their

business.

BCC events engaged 929 participants in

discussion and training about risks of HIV and

trafficking. WU staff at commune and district level trained in

skills and materials each component of the

project strategy.

BCC communications materials incorporated in

to Womens Union activities and collaborationswith other agencies.

Key Results


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- Need to tailor training and work opportunities to womens

specific needs help women balance work and family

responsibilities

- Improving technical knowledge and skills crucial to

improving and sustaining womens livelihood activities

- Linking training with income generation

- Comprehensive services: links to value chain

- Participation is a household decision made after discussing

concerns need to work with husbands /males in the HH

- Consultation and capacity building of local institutions and

stakeholder critical for building support, ownership and

sustainability.

Lessons Learnt


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Follow Up Next Steps to Complete the Project

Monitor placement and job training for the first 30 days

Follow-up with the review of credit applications by the Social PolicyBank

Develop project final report

THANK YOU

Documents

Strengthening Capacity of Women along the Central Mekong Delta Connectivity (CMDC) Project Phase II (My An to Cao Lanh)