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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Participa<strong>to</strong>ry poverty moni<strong>to</strong>r<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> rural communities <strong>in</strong> <strong>Viet</strong> <strong>Nam</strong><br />
58<br />
on agricultural extension). A Community Learn<strong>in</strong>g Centre has a direc<strong>to</strong>r (often a<br />
commune vice chairperson <strong>in</strong> charge of cultural-social affairs) and 1-2 deputy direc<strong>to</strong>rs<br />
(teachers or full time officers). Community Learn<strong>in</strong>g Centres are operational under the<br />
management of the commune People’s Committee, and professional guidance from the<br />
District Education and Tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g Division.<br />
At the moni<strong>to</strong>r<strong>in</strong>g po<strong>in</strong>ts, some Community Learn<strong>in</strong>g Centres have made some<br />
improvements <strong>in</strong> their activities <strong>in</strong> the last five years. Accord<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong> assessments <strong>in</strong><br />
2007, Community Learn<strong>in</strong>g Centres at the moni<strong>to</strong>r<strong>in</strong>g po<strong>in</strong>ts operated <strong>in</strong>effectively and<br />
<strong>in</strong> a formalistic way due <strong>to</strong> lack of fund<strong>in</strong>g, poor facilities and no specific plans of action.<br />
But <strong>in</strong> the 2008-2011 period, <strong>in</strong> some areas implement<strong>in</strong>g Reflect Project - Literacy and<br />
community development funded by ActionAid (<strong>in</strong> Thuan Hoa-Ha Giang, Thanh Xuong-<br />
Dien Bien, Duc Huong-Ha T<strong>in</strong>h, Cu Hue-Dak Lak and Thuan Hoa-Tra V<strong>in</strong>h), Community<br />
Learn<strong>in</strong>g Centres are l<strong>in</strong>ked <strong>to</strong> Community Development Clubs with an aim <strong>to</strong> <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g<br />
the role and activities of Community Learn<strong>in</strong>g Centres, while enhanc<strong>in</strong>g the possibility<br />
of susta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g clubs. At present, these Community Learn<strong>in</strong>g Centres play the focal po<strong>in</strong>t<br />
role <strong>in</strong> collect<strong>in</strong>g learn<strong>in</strong>g needs from community/clubs <strong>to</strong> be <strong>in</strong>corporated <strong>in</strong> their plans<br />
of action, or transferred <strong>to</strong> relevant agencies (such as agricultural extension, health,<br />
education...). Activities of Community Learn<strong>in</strong>g Centres considered effective <strong>in</strong>clude:<br />
organization of tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>gs on lives<strong>to</strong>ck breed<strong>in</strong>g, cultivation, gender equality, HIV/AIDS<br />
prevention; support <strong>to</strong> members of clubs and <strong>in</strong>terest groups <strong>to</strong> access revolv<strong>in</strong>g funds<br />
from Micro Credit Funds.<br />
In addition <strong>to</strong> the Community Learn<strong>in</strong>g Centres mentioned above, activities of the<br />
rema<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g Community Learn<strong>in</strong>g Centres at the moni<strong>to</strong>r<strong>in</strong>g po<strong>in</strong>ts (Ban Lien-Lao Cai, Luong<br />
M<strong>in</strong>h-Nghe An, Xy-Quang Tri, Phuoc Dai and Phuoc Thanh-N<strong>in</strong>h Thuan) <strong>in</strong> the last five<br />
years are <strong>in</strong> general rather weak, just s<strong>to</strong>pp<strong>in</strong>g at some activities such as communication<br />
and dissem<strong>in</strong>ation of knowledge. Current biggest difficulties and challenges <strong>to</strong> effective<br />
activities of Community Learn<strong>in</strong>g Centres <strong>in</strong>clude:<br />
• Lack of proper care and direction from local Party committees and authorities.<br />
• Activities of Community Learn<strong>in</strong>g Centres are not yet <strong>in</strong>corporated <strong>in</strong> the<br />
commune plans of activities. Therefore, <strong>in</strong> the annual socio-economic<br />
development plann<strong>in</strong>g and budget<strong>in</strong>g, most of the communes have not yet paid<br />
attention <strong>to</strong> plann<strong>in</strong>g activities for Community Learn<strong>in</strong>g Centres and <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g<br />
them <strong>in</strong> the correspond<strong>in</strong>g budget l<strong>in</strong>es, thus fund is not allocated <strong>to</strong> activities<br />
of these centres 14 .<br />
• Community Learn<strong>in</strong>g Centres are currently not considered a focal po<strong>in</strong>t <strong>in</strong><br />
implement<strong>in</strong>g related local communication, tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g and livelihoods support<br />
activities. Functional agencies and projects cont<strong>in</strong>ue <strong>to</strong> carry out activities on<br />
their own channels, without coord<strong>in</strong>ation with Community Learn<strong>in</strong>g Centres.<br />
Legal Aid<br />
In the last five years, legal aid has been implemented <strong>in</strong> surveyed sites through various<br />
channels (by the commune judicial committee) and Programmes 135 and 30a 15 . People’s<br />
needs for legal aid often concentrate on areas like land, marriage and family, prevention<br />
of domestic violence and adoption of children...<br />
14 Under Circular 96/2008/TT-BTC dated 27/10/2008, Community Learn<strong>in</strong>g Centres are provided once<br />
with VND30 million at <strong>in</strong>ception. Centers established <strong>in</strong> ethnic m<strong>in</strong>ority and mounta<strong>in</strong>ous communes receive<br />
VND20 million/year for Category I communes and VND25 million/year for Category II and III communes.<br />
15 Decision No. 112/2007/QĐ-TTg dated 20 July 2007 and Decision No. 52/2010/QĐ-TTg dated 18 August<br />
2010 of the Prime M<strong>in</strong>ister