Challenges to Rural Poverty Reduction in Viet Nam - Oxfam Blogs

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Participatory poverty monitoring in rural communities in Viet Nam 56 head of the credit groups. They also serve as a focal point, providing feedback to the commune and welcoming visitors. In mountainous ethnic minority communes, village heads are also heads of some mass organizations. Most village heads feel they have a very heavy work load, and are sometimes forced to neglect household chores. Allowances for village heads are low. Allowances for village heads at most monitoring points increased in early 2011 and range between 60% and 100% of the minimum wage (830,000 VND per month in late 2011) depending on the province. Allowances only cover travel and communication costs. Many people do not want to take the position of village head because allowances are too low. Village heads have had little opportunity to participate in comprehensive training, so have limited understanding of relevant policies. Most have completed lower or upper secondary school, although some did not complete primary school. In mountainous ethnic minority areas (Thuan Hoa-Ha Giang, Ban Lien-Lao Cai, Luong Minh- Nghe An, Xy-Quang Tri, Phuoc Dai and Phuoc Thanh-Ninh Thuan), village heads have only a limited knowledge and understanding of regulations and policies. Statistics, records and data are not kept systematically by village heads. Most village heads expressed a desire to attend more comprehensive training on policies, and management skills so as to better fulfil their roles. However, there are few advanced training courses on professional skills for village heads. This is a vital issue if village heads are to increase people’s participation and empowerment. Village patriarchs Village patriarchs play an important role in mobilizing villagers. At present, “village patriarchs” are either “traditional” and elected according long-standing community practices or “modern”, a result of recent Government policy 12 . An important requirement is to understand traditional customs, traditions and rituals. Therefore, village patriarchs tend to be elderly people. In some villages, as custom and tradition plays a diminishing role village “traditional patriarchs” have become less important. For modern village patriarchs, age is not considered the most important criterion. Some are young but trusted and elected by villagers (such as the one in Doi 1 village, Ban Lien-Lao Cai who is just 37 years old). The role of village patriarchs is mostly to assist the Village Management Board communicate and mobilize people to implement Government policies and local guidelines, and resolve conflicts in the village. Farmers’ groups with community functions Groups with community functions are highly sustainable in the last five years, as they stem from direct interests of local residents, help maintain community functions which are really needed by the people, and operates on voluntary basis and consensus of members, not dependent on external financial support. In fact, in surveyed sites, there are many farmers’ groups with community functions such as Community Forest Protection Group, Construction Board, Water Project Management, Community Development Club, Inter-Family Group etc. which are operational very well. These forms of informal community cooperation may promote the participation and empowerment of villagers in the implementation of policies, programmes, and projects as appropriate to local customs, practices, and socio-economic conditions. The development of operational regulations which are clear and binding responsibilities among members also help the groups to operate more effectively. 12 According to Instruction 06/2008/CT-TTg dated 1 February 2008 of the Prime Minister on promoting the roles of the respectful people in ethnic minority areas. Each village can elect one “respectful person” (so called “patriarch”).
Five-year Synthesis Report Part 1: Poverty Trends and Key Themes of Rural Poverty Reduction A good example of effective farmers’ groups at the monitoring points in the last five years is the Inter-family Group in Duc Huong commune-Ha Tinh. This is a form of groups very successful in increasing people’s participation in community activities. Households join the inter-family group voluntarily, the group has its regulation and sanctions against violations. Normally, the inter-family group meets once every month or every two months to discuss related activities (Box 1.11). 57 BOX 1.11. Inter-family groups are increasingly sustainable and effective In 2005 the Ha Tinh Centre for Community Development - HCCD in coordination with Vu Quang District People’s Committee organized a study tour of the inter-family group model in Ky Anh district for members of four project communes. Following the study tour, Vu Quang District People’s Committee assigned the District Police the task to develop a plan for the establishment of inter-family groups in communes. Inter-family groups were officially established in Vu Quang in 2006. At first the functions of the inter-family groups were to ensure social order and security, maintain the spirit of solidarity and good village relations. Over time the group has taken on other functions such as: contributing labour to build small village infrastructure facilities, cleaning up the village, encouraging children in their study, selecting households to receive relief aid, participating in reviewing the list of poor households and helping households in difficult circumstances. By the end of 2011, there were fifty inter-family groups in Duc Huong commune. Reasons for successful Inter-family groups which help increase people’s participation include: • Inter-family group meetings can be held quickly and in a very flexible way. The meetings are held in the evening at a member’s house. Each group member is expected to host a meeting. • Both husbands and wives attend meetings, helping to improve gender equality. In fact, 60% of women are heads of Inter-family groups and most deputy heads are women. • Issues discussed in inter-family groups are relevant to local residents, improving the quality of their participation. • The poor have the opportunities to participate more, and feel confident to speak as inter-family groups are small - only 7-25 members. • Activities of inter-family group help reduce the work load of village cadres. • The heads or deputy heads of inter-family groups attend monthly meetings of the commune Fatherland Front, ensuring people’s voices are heard. • With support from HCCD to build rotating funds and production models, communication activities through inter-family groups attract local residents. Inter-family groups are in close coordination with Community Learning Centres, Village Community Development Committees, interest groups, and clubs. Community Learning Centres Community Learning Centres have been established in communes under Decision 09/2008/QĐ-BGDĐT 13 to improve opportunities for people to access continuing education (from literacy, continuing education, to legal communication and training 13 Community Learning Centres in communes, wards and district towns are stipulated in Paragraph 1 Article 46 of the Law on Education and Decision No. 09/2008/QĐ-BGDĐT dated 24/03/2008 of the Minister of Education and Training on issuance of Regulation of organization and activities of the centers in communes, wards and district towns.
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PARTICIPATORY POVERTY MONITORING IN
Page 7: PREFACE 1 7 In early 2007, Viet Nam
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Page 12 and 13: 12 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The last five
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Participatory poverty monitoring in
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Part 3 Toward Sustainable Rural Pov
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