Irish Aid in Vietnam has committed EUR 1.4 million (USD 1.62 million) to the Resilience First programme to strengthen climate resilience and empower ethnic minority women in 13 communes across Tuyen Quang, Quang Tri, and Phu Tho provinces. (Photo: Courtesy of CARE Vietnam
The programme, implemented by Plan International Vietnam, CARE International in Vietnam and the Centre for Research on Initiatives of Community Development, announced the funding following a planning meeting in Phu Tho, where partners finalised a 12-month plan for 13 communes in Tuyen Quang, Quang Tri and Phu Tho.
Deirdre Ni Fhalluinn, ambassador of Ireland to Vietnam, said Ireland was proud to continue supporting the initiative. “This EUR 1.4 million commitment reflects our dedication to safeguarding vulnerable communities against climate change and empowering ethnic minority women as leaders in their own development,” she said.
The renewed funding will strengthen local authorities’ capacity, support poor and ethnic minority communities in mountainous areas and improve resilience to both immediate and long-term climate threats.
Ngo Cong Chinh, programme director of Plan International Vietnam, said strong collaboration among partners had strengthened the adaptive capacity of more than 26,000 people and expanded women-led, climate-resilient livelihood models. The next phase, he added, will bring climate-smart initiatives to additional communities.
During 2024-2025, the programme delivered significant community-driven results. Under the commune-level climate adaptation component, officials in 15 communes were trained in vulnerability analysis and climate response planning. More than 140 community activities reached 1,747 people, including 732 women, through training, equipment provision, emergency drills and public awareness campaigns on climate change and waste management.
Under the infrastructure and capacity-building pillar, 31 micro-projects- including bridges, roads, water facilities, revetments and reinforced disaster shelters-were completed, with 24 managed fully by local communities. Nearly 12,000 residents, mostly ethnic minorities, now benefit from safer mobility, improved shelters, secure water and irrigation systems, and broader electricity access. An additional 247 people received training in project planning and implementation, helping build long-term technical capacity.
The programme also improved climate-resilient schools, assessing 32 institutions and implementing preparedness and adaptation measures.
Women’s empowerment and climate-adaptive livelihoods were central to the programme. More than 1,400 people, mostly women, received training in adaptive farming and resource management. Over 64 per cent applied new resilience techniques, 36 per cent reported increased income and nearly 87 per cent said they now participate confidently in household and community decision-making.
“Empowering women is an investment in community resilience,” said CARE Vietnam country director Le Kim Dung. “When women have knowledge and resources, they become powerful drivers of local climate adaptation solutions.”
Mao Quoc Toan, deputy director of Tuyen Quang’s Department of Foreign Affairs, praised the community-based approach, noting improved training for officials, safer schools and more confident women’s groups. The new funding, he said, is expected to bring meaningful progress to highland communes that continue to face significant challenges.
