Vietnam Strategic Plan 2005-2008

Vietnam was one of the first countries to receive Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA’s support due to the enormous needs in the aftermath of the Vietnam War 1963-75 and the strong involvement of many Australian unions in the anti-war movement. For Vietnam, this was only one of many wars fought over the last century to win and maintain independence.

From the late 1970s through to the late 1980s Vietnam suffered continuing embargoes by some western countries due to its role in halting the brutal rule of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. During this time international NGOs including Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA played an important role in assisting Vietnam and its people. The 1990s has seen a sustained period of reconstruction ("Doi Moi") and the replacement of a command economy by a market economy. Recent years have seen strong economic growth and investment but at the price of rising economic inequalities.

Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA has worked in some of the poorest and most remote provinces in Vietnam since 1985. Projects have focused on education and training in health, teacher training, agriculture and forestry, vocational and technical skills, labour issues, OH&S, micro finance and capacity building. Between 1985 and 2005 Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA has supported over 50 projects in all regions of Vietnam. A focus has been on northern mountain provinces of Hoa Binh and Bac Kan as well as Hanoi and surrounding areas. Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA maintains an office in Hanoi to assist program development, monitoring and evaluation.

Key Issues and Concerns

• Rural and urban poverty, particularly in regard women and ethnic minorities
• The impact of rapid economic change, including unemployment in rural areas and increasing disparity in wealth
• Access to skills and training opportunity for the economic poor and marginalised
• Low working conditions for labourers in many industries
• Poor health conditions in mountain areas
• Rising infection rates for HIV/AIDS
• On-going impact from the Vietnam War particularly the effect of chemicals such as Agent Orange
• Impact on the environment of rapid economic development and high population pressures

• Partnership and capacity building with provincial and district government structures and mass organisations (trade and women's unions)
• Income generation, employment and micro enterprise development through non-formal vocational training for the unemployed, underemployed and disabled
• Enhancing women's participation and recognition in development and leadership
• HIV and AIDS Prevention - combination of specific education programs and integration of HIV/AIDS training in general programming
• Commune and District health services improvement through staff and volunteer training
• Support for VGCL to strengthen working conditions through training of staff and work place research
• Enabling poor to access micro finance
• Provide training for young victims suffering from the on-going effects of agent orange used in the Vietnam War and related campaigns for compensation.
• Assist promotion of sustainable agriculture techniques and safe environmental practices

• Corporate Social Responsibility, Ho Chi Minh City
• Prevention of women trafficking in Hai Duong province
• Revolving loans and training for farmers in Bac Kan province
• Vocational training for disabled workers in Hai Duong province
• HIV prevention, education and support in Hai Duong and Bac Kan provinces
• Improving occupational health and safety (OH&S)

Additional Areas For Further Research & Possible Development

• Assisting Vietnam Trade Unions in adapting to market economy
• Water & sanitation
• Training for people with disabilities

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Last Modified: Monday, 23-Apr-2007 16:25:37 EST
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