Project launched to strengthen women’s role in economic development

Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, one of famous businesswomen in Vietnam. (Source: VNA)

Binh Thuan (VNA) – A project on enhancing opportunities for women’s enterprises (EOWE) has been launched in the four central provinces of Binh Thuan, Ninh Thuan, Quang Binh and Binh Dinh.

A ceremony to introduce the EOWE project, jointly organised by the Binh Thuan province and the Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV) in Binh Thuan on September 21, was attended by over 100 representatives from the four targeted provinces.

It is part of the Funding Leadership and Opportunities for Women (FLOW) programme funded by the Netherlands Government, which will be carried out in Vietnam and Kenya from 2016 to 2020 at a total investment of 6.6 million EUR.

It aims to create a favourable climate for female owners’ enterprises in agricultural fields, thus narrowing the gender gaps.

Under the project, around 100,000 people are expected to have better awareness of gender equality; 20,000 women will have higher incomes; and 18 others will receive assistance to run their lucrative businesses.

Other objectives of the project include building capacity for governmental agencies to better implement policies integrated gender issue and promote the women’s empowerment.

Support will be provided for female-run start-ups and trade promotion, while strengthening role of women in agricultural cooperatives.

SNV Vietnam Director Miguel Mendez said his organisation has developed a programme to address gender barriers in agricultural production, hoping that the situation will be improved in the next five years, with female voices better heard in social plan making.

Participants also discussed strategies to promote gender equality, smart agricultural production, climate change and value chain.-VNA