Nearly 3,600 women have benefited from a project on emergency response and livelihood recovery support after Covid-19 for women at risk of violence.   

The project's beneficiaries at the closing ceremony held on June 10.

“If I don’t get support, I will struggle and not know how to escape poverty,” said Nguyen Thi Thy, one of the beneficiaries of the project in the Mekong Delta Province of Tien Giang.

Nguyen Thi Thy, a mother with 4 small children, used the amount of VND5.5 million (US$216) from the project to raise goats. She received instructions on how to raise goats from the Project in addition to purchasing food and three breeds with the support funds. The mother goat gave birth to two baby goats after a few months, and her current herd of goats is growing well.

The assistance Thy received has been sourced from a project worth US$1.46 million funded by the Government of Australia to support the economic resilience of women severely affected by Covid-19 and enhance the capacity of local organizations to respond to and prevent violence against women, especially in emergency situations.

After two years of implementation (2022-2024), the project has recorded very positive results including, 3,591 women receiving cash assistance and technical assistance to rebuild livelihoods, bringing a positive impact to about 14,300 people in households. 

Representatives of UN Women and the Consulate General of Australia in Ho Chi Minh City.

In addition, it has helped 250 relevant government agencies organizations, and networks in Ho Chi Minh City and Tien Giang Province with training on the Essential Service Package.

At the same time, 2,000 service providers received capacity building in the essential services package (ESP) toolkit, and 500 received essential card support to ensure they can provide 24/7 support to those experiencing violence against women and children.

Notably, two million people were reached through national television and radio programs, national and local press agencies, social networks, and media events on the issues.

The results were provided by related parties at an event reviewing the project held by the United Nations Agency for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) in collaboration with the Ho Chi Minh City and Tien Giang Province Women’s Union with support from and the Australian Government.

UN Women partnered with Tien Giang and Ho Chi Minh City Women’s Union, Vietnam Red Cross and Center for Women and Development to implement the project. 

Caroline T. Nyamayemombe, UN Women Representative in Vietnam, speaks at the ceremony. Photos: UN Women

Speaking at the Project Closing Ceremony, Caroline T. Nyamayemombe, UN Women Representative in Vietnam said the project is a demonstration of how an integrated solution implemented with dedicated and experienced partners, with the active engagement of those affected, can meaningfully address the multi-dimensional impacts of the crisis on women and their families.

In sharing with The Hanoi Times, she said UN Women has combined its knowledge and expertise in eliminating violence against women, promoting women’s economic empowerment and women’s leadership in disaster management with the strong coordination role of the Women’s Union and Australia’s experience in crisis management to deliver this comprehensive recovery intervention.

She was impressed by the resilient efforts of the women in Ho Chi Minh City and Tien Giang, who have faced and overcome many multi-dimensional challenges left by the Covid-19 pandemic to restore their lives and improve family and community connections.  

Australia’s Consul-General, Sarah Hooper, addresses the event.

Australia’s Consul-General, Sarah Hooper, spoke of the collaboration between partners to deliver the project. “Australia is deeply committed to progressing gender equality, globally and here in Vietnam. The livelihoods recovery program here in the southern provinces is an example of how partners working together can make a real change for women at risk. ”

Tran Thi Phuong Hoa, Vice President of Ho Chi Minh Women’s Union said the organization will hold activities and technical training classes to promote support access to capital and skills to improve their livelihoods.