PROJECT KICK-OFF MEETING: “ENABLING WOMEN IN CENTRAL OF VIET NAM TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVE AND PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT, NATURAL RESOURCES BY APPLYING GREEN AND CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN QUANG NAM PROVINCE”

On June 12, 2025, the GreenViet Biodiversity Conservation Center (GreenViet), in collaboration with the People’s Committee of Tu Commune (Dong Giang District), held a kick-off meeting for the project titled “Enabling women in central of Vietnam to improve their live and protect the environment, natural resources by applying green and circular economy in Quang Nam Province.”

The meeting attracted over 40 participants, including representatives from the local Party Committee, People’s Council, People’s Committee, Women’s Union, Farmers’ Association, Youth Union, Bao Binh Cooperative, and local residents from several villages.

The project is funded by the European Union Delegation to Vietnam and jointly implemented by GreenViet, Visible Impact (Germany), and the Center for Social Development Research (CSDR). It was officially approved by the Quang Nam Provincial People’s Committee under Decision No. 1122/QD-UBND dated April 28, 2025. The four-year project (2025–2028) aims to raise awareness about green and circular economy principles, provide financial and capacity-building support to enable local communities to engage in sustainable production and business practices, and contribute to biodiversity conservation and environmental protection.

At the meeting, Mr. Nguyễn Văn Phúc, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People’s Committee of Tu Commune, expressed his support for the project: “We are delighted that the project creates opportunities for our people, especially women, to improve their livelihoods while contributing to environmental protection. It is important to harness our local strengths with the support of experts and project resources. I hope the women will proactively learn and make efforts to ensure the project’s success.”

According to Ms. Trần Cẩm Bình from the Institute for Circular Economy Development (IECD), Vietnam National University in Ho Chi Minh City, most of Tu Commune’s population are Co Tu ethnic minorities who rely on traditional farming practices, handicrafts, and medicinal plant cultivation. However, their exposure to green and circular economy concepts remains limited. Some local residents have adopted organic farming techniques, composting, recycling plastic bags, and collecting scrap to save resources and protect the environment. Tu Commune’s favorable geography and soil conditions also present strong potential for sustainable economic development. Several local products—such as 4-star OCOP Ra Zeh vine tea, 3-star OCOP Hue ancient rose tea, and wild sim fruit wine—are already generating income for the community.

The project’s key objective is to enhance the economic empowerment of women in Tu Commune while preserving local culture and protecting natural resources. It aims to support 135 women in improving their production processes and increasing income by 30% through green, circular, and sustainable consumption practices. It also targets 70% of the local population gaining an understanding of green and circular economies and their role in biodiversity and resource conservation.

Mr. Trần Hữu Vỹ, Director of GreenViet, emphasized the project’s major activities: capacity-building programs for women on green and circular economies; training on the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) approach; domestic and international exposure visits; and continuous support from national and international experts throughout the project.

Expected outcomes include:

• Training 135 women in green and circular economy practices and sustainable consumption.
• Equipping 30 women with ABCD-based skills to develop green, circular, and sustainable businesses.
• Ensuring 135 women have stable jobs and raise their incomes by approximately 30%.
• Enabling 70% of Tu Commune’s residents to understand the green and circular economy.
• Mainstreaming green and circular economy concepts into the commune’s annual socio-economic development plans.
• Establishing a commune-level fund of approximately VND 500 million, managed by the Women’s Union, to support women-led livelihood activities aligned with green and circular principles.

During the discussion, Ms. Đinh Thị Thơ, Chairwoman of Tu Commune Women’s Union, acknowledged that green and circular economies are still unfamiliar concepts for many women. She also noted that the daily livelihood patterns of the Co Tu people may pose challenges in scheduling and project participation. Nevertheless, she encouraged women to focus on the project’s benefits and actively engage.

Ms. Nguyễn Thị Bơ from the Commune’s Agriculture Unit expressed hope that the project would provide much-needed support, especially as many local women lack confidence and marketing knowledge. She urged the project to ensure ongoing guidance and capacity development.

Ms. Đinh Thị Nếch from Bao Binh Cooperative shared that most cooperative members are Co Tu women who were excited about the project but still unclear on what green and circular economy entails. She requested concrete examples and demonstration models to help them understand and apply the concepts effectively.

In response to the local feedback, Mr. Thái Văn Quang, representing the Union of Science and Technology Associations, highlighted that the project also includes initiatives such as green and circular economy innovation contests. These competitions will allow women to design and implement livelihood improvement models with expert support. He expressed confidence that the project would yield meaningful impacts over its four-year implementation.

The project will also support women-led cooperatives with funding and technical assistance in management and operations; organize fundraising campaigns for the Women’s Union; and host competitions, exhibitions, and workshops to showcase green and circular business models—helping to raise awareness and replicate successful initiatives across the community.

In his closing remarks, Mr. Trần Hữu Vỹ reiterated GreenViet’s commitment to incorporating local feedback, ensuring transparent coordination and project monitoring, and embedding project activities into Tu Commune’s long-term development plans. He emphasized the importance of leveraging local assets while continuing to seek additional funding sources to scale up and sustain the project’s impact.