Hanoi (VNA) - Over more than 30 years of cooperation, IFAD has supported Vietnamese farmers in boosting productivity, diversifying livelihoods and adapting to climate change. Both sides are now moving towards more inclusive and sustainable rural development.
On October 15 in Hanoi, the Independent Office of Evaluation (IOE) of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), in coordination with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, held a national roundtable workshop on the Country Strategy and Programme Evaluation (CSPE).
The event marked an important milestone in more than three decades of effective cooperation between IFAD and Vietnam, bringing together representatives from ministries, development partners, local authorities and communities to review the results of IFAD-supported programmes implemented between 2012 and 2024, and to outline new cooperation directions for the next phase towards inclusive, modern and climate-resilient rural development.
Independent evaluation results show that the fund’s investments have generated long-term impacts on rural livelihoods, helping smallholder farmers improve productivity, diversify livelihood options and strengthen resilience to climate and market shocks.
According to Dr Indran A. Naidoo, Director of IFAD’s Independent Office of Evaluation, evaluation findings show that Vietnam’s achievements in rural development stem from proactive, locally driven innovation and inclusive cooperation.
Paolo Silveri, IFAD Lead Evaluator noted that the next phase will focus on scaling up successful models – including climate adaptation, digital transformation and inclusive value-chain development – while continuing to place women, youth and ethnic minority communities at the centre of change.
Earlier, an IFAD mission conducted field visits to the Mekong Delta, witnessing tangible outcomes of projects under the fund’s portfolio.
At the workshop, Vietnam reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening cooperation with IFAD to enhance investment effectiveness and expand the positive impact of its programmes.
Deputy Minister of Finance Tran Quoc Phuong stated that IFAD has been a trusted partner in Vietnam’s rural transformation for more than three decades. Its projects show that when investment is well-targeted and aligned with local ownership, it can deliver transformative impact.
Local representatives also highlighted coordination, inclusiveness and community ownership as key to sustaining results.
Nguyen Truc Son, Vice Chairman of the Vinh Long Provincial People’s Committee, said IFAD’s support has helped connect farmers, businesses and authorities within a single value chain.
“After Vinh Long, Ben Tre and Tra Vinh merged into one administrative unit, we have seen greater opportunities to scale up successful models”, added Son. The strength of this cooperation lies in people — in empowering communities to lead their own development, strengthening cooperatives and promoting inclusive, sustainable rural growth.
Reehana Raza, IFAD’s Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, stressed that the Country Strategic Opportunities Programme (COSOP) is the foundation guiding cooperation between IFAD and Vietnam, ensuring that strategic investments align with the country’s evolving rural development needs. It reflects our shared commitment to inclusive growth, climate adaptation and innovation, empowering rural communities and contributing to national development priorities.
Participants also discussed the Agreement at Completion Point (ACP), a joint commitment between IFAD and the Government of Vietnam to integrate evaluation findings into the design of future strategies and investment programmes, ensuring that lessons from practice directly inform upcoming projects./.
