‘Gender Responsive Equitable Agriculture and Tourism’ (GREAT) project, which is being implemented in Lao Cai and Son La since 2017, is the largest project funded by Australia for the northern mountainous province.
GREAT is a flagship bilateral initiative between the Vietnamese Government and the Australian Government, aiming to improve the social and economic status and resilience of ethnic women living in Lao Cai and Son La provinces. With an investment of AUD 67.4 million over 10 years, the GREAT project, funded by the Australian Government, aims to create equal opportunities for women residing in Vietnam’s mountainous areas through various development initiatives.
The GREAT program aims to identify innovative approaches to building inclusive business development models in agriculture and tourism. By collaborating with various implementing partners from government agencies, market actors, to ethnic minority women, and communities, it will create long-term benefits for all stakeholders even after the program ends in 2027.
Positive Impacts of the GREAT Project: Phase 1 (2017-2022)
In Lao Cai province, the project has been implemented in five districts and towns: Sa Pa, Bac Ha, Bat Xat, Muong Khuong, and Van Ban. The project focuses on developing markets for 10 high-value economic sectors in the province, such as organic cinnamon, tea, vegetables, medicinal herbs, and community-based tourism.
Additionally, the project has supported the development and improvement of policies for agricultural and tourism development in the province, introduced digital solutions in agriculture, and assisted cooperatives in participating in e-commerce or training courses to improve their digital transformation capabilities. Lao Cai has initially developed agricultural experience tourism combined with relaxation in Bao Yen, Bac Ha, and Sa Pa town, with 205 OCOP products to serve tourists who want to purchase local specialty products.
In Son La province, the project has supported the operation of the community-based tourism model in Ta So village, Chieng Hac commune; supported 17 households providing homestay services in Vat village, Muong Sang commune, to upgrade the community-based tourism model; and supported the technical operation of the night tourism market in Nong Truong Moc Chau town.
At the same time, the project has developed and published the “Moc Chau Tourism Guide,” “Community Tourism Development Process,” and the “Ta So Tourism” website. Training sessions have been organized to enhance the knowledge and skills of homestay groups in management and service provision. The project’s model and activities have contributed to promoting community-based tourism, creating jobs and increasing income for households, contributing to poverty reduction and boosting the local economy.
As a result of Phase 1, GREAT has successfully mobilized 6.1 million USD from the private sector to invest in building and improving the efficiency of agricultural supply chains and tourism service models, increasing the income of more than 15,257 women. Among them, 3,657 women have found new jobs, 86% of women participating in the project feel confident in their technical capacity in production and tourism service provision, and 97% of women have participated in decision-making regarding family business, finances, and household chores.
Expanding Opportunities: Roadmap for the GREAT Project’s Phase 2 (2022-2027)
Phase 2 of the project will be implemented from 2022 to 2027 expanding to most of every district, towns, and cities by replicating successful models and supporting the increase of gender inclusion and responsiveness in national and provincial supportive policies and programs. This will deliver positive sustainable change for ethnic minority women and their communities.
Initially, from July 2022 to March 2024, the program conducted research to assess challenges and opportunities. Then, developed sector strategies for agriculture, tourism, and cross-cutting areas (digital technology application, financial inclusion, policy support) were designed. The program has also developed projects in consultation with stakeholders and sought co-implementation partners. To date, three cooperation agreements have been approved, and six other proposals are under development. Additionally, the GREAT 2 Project Management Guidelines, the Project Proposal Evaluation Procedure, Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) System, and Management Information System (MIS) have been fully developed and put into operation.
During the first 15-month implementation phase from April 2024 to June 2025, GREAT 2 Lao Cai will prioritize partner mobilization, stakeholder consultations, and the timely finalization and submission of program proposals for provincial approval. Moreover, the Program will focus on building partner capacity to ensure that lead and supporting partners are prepared to implement the projects once program approval is completed. In parallel, the Program will work to finalize and sign cooperation agreements, ensuring that funding is disbursed as scheduled.
The goal of the GREAT 2 project is to directly support 30,000 women in which 70% of ethnic minority women in communities in Lao Cai and Son La are beneficial in terms of economic empowerment and social inclusion. This will provide long-lasting support for national target programs on socio-economic development in mountainous and ethnic minority regions, sustainable poverty reduction, rural development, and gender equality in Vietnam.
Australian Hospitality Alumni Network Vietnam 