Women from remote ethnic groups in Vietnam are often disadvantaged because of unequal rights, few opportunities and little access to education.

On top of burdensome household workloads, many women support their families with basic farming of coffee. They generally farm alone and as a result, have little bargaining power, cannot afford farming tools, and have limited knowledge about selling their produce.

Through the Techniques to Enhance Agricultural Livelihoods (TEAL) project, CARE is helping ethnic minority women within Dien Bien and Son La provinces, build sustainable, resilient and profitable livelihoods that benefit the whole community by providing new skills and techniques to improve farming practices.

Fast Facts

• Isolated by geography, language and culture, ethnic minority women in Vietnam are disproportionately disadvantaged
• TEAL aims to directly reach 3,900 ethnic minority farmers and focus on women farmers increasing their farming productivity and income
• Major partner: This project has been made possible thanks to generous contributions and ongoing support from the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP)
• Major locations: Dien Bien and Son La provinces, Vietnam

Women are key to breaking the poverty cycle

By improving farming practices, building confidence and giving women the ability to act collectively when selling their produce to market, TEAL will help break the cycle of poverty facing ethnic minority families.

Working with farmers, the government, banks and coffee companies, CARE will provide training and links to markets to ensure ethnic minority women are respected and seen as productive leaders in coffee farming.

By supporting women to become leaders, TEAL will strengthen the vital role women play in the community and alter the ingrained inequality that has held women back.

What we hope to achieve:

• By the completion of the TEAL project, CARE aims to see ethnic minority women farmers being recognised as valuable contributors to the Arabica coffee value chain, farming sector and community
• Ethnic minority women farmers will be able to take loans to support their businesses while being supported by the implementation of policy
• Following participation in the TEAL project, CARE hopes to see ethnic minority women and their families benefitting from increased income

What we’re doing:

VSLAs provide long term benefits

Hom is a 31-year-old single mother who divorced her husband six years ago because he had a drug problem. She farms pigs and rice to support herself and her 13-year-old son.

Hom is from an ethnic group in Dien Bien district in northwest Vietnam and is particularly marginalised as she doesn’t speak Vietnamese – the national language. Her remoteness means she doesn’t get the information she needs to improve her farming techniques or access government services. Hom was trapped in a cycle of disadvantage.

CARE came to Hom’s village over three years ago and Hom joined her local VSLA. Before the VSLA group was formed, it was very difficult for her to get a loan due to her low income. Now, as a member of a VSLA group, Hom can get money quickly if she needs it.

Through the VSLA, she has received advice from other members which has helped her improve her skills and increase her production.

Hom sees great value in the VSLAs and is hopeful for the future, “I hope members can save more and the activity can continue for a long time.”

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