Challenges to Rural Poverty Reduction in Viet Nam - Oxfam Blogs

PREFACE 1
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In early 2007, Viet Nam was admitted as the 150 th member country of the World
Trade Organization (WTO). This has created many opportunities for Viet Nam but also
poses challenges, particularly in ensuring that the benefits and opportunities of WTO
membership are shared by all, especially the poor and vulnerable.
In this context, and as organizations with a long history of working to support the poorest
and most marginalized groups in Viet Nam, ActionAid International Viet Nam and Oxfam
in coordination with local partners started an initiative “Participatory Poverty Monitoring”
in early 2007.
This initiative involves a periodical study of livelihoods and market access of poor and
vulnerable groups in selected communities throughout Viet Nam. The intention is to
provide recommendations for policy discussions at a national level, as well as inform
the design of programmes of ActionAid and Oxfam in Viet Nam. Reports were published
from 2007 to 2011.
This report aims to provide a synthesis of our findings over the last five years (2007-2011).
We hope you find it interesting and useful.
Andy Baker
Country Director
Oxfam
Hoang Phuong Thao
Country Director
ActionAid International Viet Nam
1 Many organizations and individuals contributed to this study. The opinions and recommendations expressed
in this study do not necessarily represent the policy position of ActionAid, Oxfam or the organizations or
researchers whose work is cited below.