The second-phase of a project designed to promote the community’s participation in socio-economic development and poverty reduction was launched in Hanoi on Sept. 13.

With a funding of 3.8 million USD granted by the Norwegian government, the second phase of the project will be carried out with help from Plan Vietnam. It will benefit 49 communes in the provinces of Thai Nguyen, Phu Tho, Quang Binh and Quang Ngai.

Glenn Gibney, Country Director of Plan Vietnam, said that the second phase of the project will continue to step up the participation of grassroots levels and focus on children, women, ethnic minorities and needy people.

In the first phase from 2008 to 2010, the project drew the engagement of over 32,000 women and children, who directly attended nearly 1,400 consultancy group meetings and 684 village meetings to work out 342 socio-economic development plans for villages and 27 communes in the provinces of Ha Giang, Thai Nguyen and Quang Tri./.