Over 800 social infrastructure projects covering rural roads, irrigation systems and fresh water facilities have become operational under the Northern Mountains Poverty Reduction Project, which aims to improve the livelihoods of mountainous residents. WTO chief lauds Vietnam's poverty reduction accomplishments Program targets 1.5% annual poverty reduction by 2020 This was just part of the outcomes of the project as reported by Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Van Hieu at a conference to review the project’s second implementation phase (2010-2015) in Hanoi on August 4. Efforts to develop production chains with the involvement of farmers have paid off in raising the local farming techniques, expanding commercial-scale farming and diversifying local products. At the same time, management capacity of local officials has been improved remarkably through training courses and participation in specific poverty reduction projects. At the event, Victoria Kwakwa, the World Bank’s (WB) Country Director for Vietnam, highlighted that the Ministry of Planning and Investment needs to improve the dissemination of information among local residents using practical and down-to-earth methods, focusing more on nutrition and environment improvement while maintaining results for sustainable development. The Northern Mountains Poverty Reduction Project was funded with $150 million in capital from the WB and corresponding funds from the Vietnamese Government. It has operated in 2,366 villages in six northern provinces of Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Son La, Hoa Binh, Yen Bai and Lao Cai. Over 133,000 families, including 67,000 impoverished households, have benefited from the project. The poverty reduction project aims to increase resident living standards in targeted areas, improve the productivity and institutional capacity of local authorities and boost market links and business innovations. Accordingly, it targets to reduce 3% of impoverished households and raise local income by 10% annually. Based on the achievements from 2010-2015, the Ministry is determined to scale up the project’s implementation in 259 communes of the six beneficiary provinces with a focus on impoverished and ethnic families. (Vov.vn Aug 5)
