Challenges to Rural Poverty Reduction in Viet Nam - Oxfam Blogs
Challenges to Rural Poverty Reduction in Viet Nam - Oxfam Blogs
Challenges to Rural Poverty Reduction in Viet Nam - Oxfam Blogs
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Five-year Synthesis Report<br />
Part 3: Toward Susta<strong>in</strong>able <strong>Rural</strong> <strong>Poverty</strong> <strong>Reduction</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Viet</strong> <strong>Nam</strong><br />
Part 3: Toward Susta<strong>in</strong>able <strong>Rural</strong><br />
<strong>Poverty</strong> <strong>Reduction</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Viet</strong> <strong>Nam</strong><br />
<strong>Rural</strong> poverty moni<strong>to</strong>r<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>itiative, round 5, 2011 summarizes poverty trends <strong>in</strong> the last<br />
five years (2007-2011) at the moni<strong>to</strong>r<strong>in</strong>g po<strong>in</strong>ts, at the same time study more carefully<br />
key challenges <strong>to</strong> rural poverty reduction <strong>in</strong> the com<strong>in</strong>g period. Recommendations for<br />
discussion are made <strong>in</strong> this report with the hope <strong>to</strong> contribute <strong>to</strong> suggest<strong>in</strong>g changes<br />
on approaches <strong>to</strong> susta<strong>in</strong>able poverty reduction <strong>in</strong> rural areas <strong>in</strong> the 2011-2020 period.<br />
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9. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DISCUSSION<br />
9.1. Achievements and challenges <strong>to</strong> rural poverty reduction<br />
The last five years (2007-2011) has been a difficult period for <strong>Viet</strong> <strong>Nam</strong>. High<br />
<strong>in</strong>flation, the global f<strong>in</strong>ancial crisis and economic recession, natural disasters and<br />
epidemics have affected the lives of everybody <strong>in</strong> <strong>Viet</strong> <strong>Nam</strong>, particularly the poor.<br />
Nevertheless, the poverty rate cont<strong>in</strong>ues <strong>to</strong> decl<strong>in</strong>e. Major Government <strong>in</strong>vestments<br />
have provided the poor with improved <strong>in</strong>frastructure, education, health care, access<br />
<strong>to</strong> credit, agro-forestry extension services and hous<strong>in</strong>g improvements. Improved liv<strong>in</strong>g<br />
standards at the moni<strong>to</strong>r<strong>in</strong>g po<strong>in</strong>ts are associated with strategies <strong>to</strong> comb<strong>in</strong>e agriculture<br />
(land-based diversification and <strong>in</strong>tensification), non-agriculture (<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g labour mobility)<br />
and <strong>in</strong>vestment <strong>in</strong> children’s education.<br />
The recorded achievements are remarkable, yet rural poverty reduction rema<strong>in</strong>s a<br />
challenge. <strong>Poverty</strong> reduction rates are uneven <strong>in</strong> rural areas. The poverty rate among<br />
ethnic m<strong>in</strong>ority groups rema<strong>in</strong>s stubbornly high, particularly <strong>in</strong> remote mounta<strong>in</strong>ous<br />
areas. In such situations, it is more important <strong>to</strong> close the widen<strong>in</strong>g poverty gap<br />
between regions, ethnic groups and with<strong>in</strong> communities .<br />
A multi-dimensional poverty analysis is essential. Across the moni<strong>to</strong>r<strong>in</strong>g po<strong>in</strong>ts<br />
people’s lives have improved <strong>in</strong> many respects. People own more property (ma<strong>in</strong>ly<br />
hous<strong>in</strong>g, mo<strong>to</strong>rbikes, and lives<strong>to</strong>ck) and have improved access <strong>to</strong> <strong>in</strong>formation (TV,<br />
telephones). However, many people face difficult liv<strong>in</strong>g conditions (safe water, latr<strong>in</strong>es),<br />
have limited access <strong>to</strong> markets, have little opportunity of non-agricultural employment<br />
and struggle <strong>to</strong> manage the many risks they face. The percentage of households that<br />
are predom<strong>in</strong>antly engaged <strong>in</strong> agriculture rema<strong>in</strong>s high, and rema<strong>in</strong>s a significant<br />
<strong>in</strong>dica<strong>to</strong>r of household poverty. Food shortages between harvests or dur<strong>in</strong>g epidemics<br />
and natural disasters rema<strong>in</strong>s a significant challenge. Gender roles rema<strong>in</strong> the same<br />
<strong>to</strong>day as <strong>in</strong> 2007, and women still do not play an active role <strong>in</strong> productive and social<br />
activities. The proportion of women <strong>in</strong> adm<strong>in</strong>istration is still low and their capacities at<br />
local adm<strong>in</strong>istrative levels are limited. In communities <strong>in</strong> which different social groups<br />
have specific difficulties it is important <strong>to</strong> tailor policies <strong>to</strong> each group.<br />
Develop<strong>in</strong>g social security systems is a major challenge. Policy coverage is limited,<br />
the level of assistance is low, target<strong>in</strong>g is imperfect and often <strong>in</strong>adequate and local<br />
capacity <strong>to</strong> implement social policies is weak. Recipient households are identified us<strong>in</strong>g<br />
a list of poor households. However, the different needs of vulnerable households vary<br />
considerably and are not recorded <strong>in</strong> the list, mak<strong>in</strong>g more nuanced policy difficult.