Australia helps improve women’s lives in northwestern region

Tea growers in Son La province’s Van Ho district. A new programme was launched on Tuesday in the northwestern province of Son La aimed at empowering women, creating jobs and improving incomes for local women. – Photo courtesy of Aus4Equality/GREAT program.(Photo: VNA)

 Son La (VNA) - The Australian Government on July 24 officially kicked off its Gender Responsive Equitable Agriculture and Tourism (GREAT) programme in northwest Vietnam, which aims to create jobs and improve incomes for local women. 

The 33.7 million AUD (24.9 million USD) programme, which began last year and will end in 2021, will empower local women to engage in agriculture and tourism markets, and enhance women’s voices in economic decision-making.

It is expected to help 40,000 self-employed women to improve their incomes and create 4,000 jobs for women to drive economic growth in the provinces.

The programme will partner with a diverse range of actors, including private and non-government sectors in agriculture and tourism, to improve the environment and stimulate inclusive and equitable growth in the mountainous northwestern region of Vietnam.

Justin Baguley, Counsellor at Economic and Development Cooperation at the Australian Embassy, said: “Gender equality is a priority for both Australia and Vietnam and a critical part of the Australian Government’s development cooperation in Vietnam.”

The programme aims to stimulate innovative solutions to enhance the lives of women, their families and local communities in northwest Vietnam, and will also contribute to higher productivity and economic growth in the region, he said.-VNA