The AWEEV project benefits ethnic minority women in Quang Binh district, Ha Giang province. (Photo: VNA)

Ha Giang – A meeting to review the implementation of the “Advancing Women's Economic Empowerment in Vietnam" (AWEEV) project in the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang was held by Care International Vietnam (CARE) and the provincial People’s Committee on October 5.

According to Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Hoang Gia Long, the AWEEV project, which was funded by the Canadian government through CARE, benefited ethnic minority women in Quang Binh district.

Positive results of the project have contributed to promoting sustainable economic development and reducing gender bias barriers in women's participation in economic activities.

Long expressed his hope that the Canadian government and CARE will consider expanding the project to other areas and sponsor other relevant programmes and projects in the locality.

The provincial authorities pledge to continue close coordination with CARE and related units to effectively implement the project, he said.

Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam Shawn Perry Steil showed his appreciation for Vietnam's development and the bilateral relations between the two countries in recent years, affirming that the Canadian government will continue prioritising assistance to ethnic minority women in mountainous areas of Vietnam in general and in Ha Giang in particular.

The diplomat urged the provincial authorities to continue collaboration and enhance its responsibility and efforts in achieving the overarching goals of the project, contributing to promoting the economic development rights of women and empowering their autonomy.

Implemented from 2021 to 2025, the AWEEV project aims to support 2,635 ethnic minority women and men in six communes of Ha Giang and three communes of the northern mountainous province of Lai Chau. Its total budget is over 4.5 million CAD (over 3.27 million USD).

In Ha Giang, as of May 2023, the project had supported 150 ethnic minority women in Quang Binh district in implementing livelihood models involving poultry, pig, and goat breeding, and peanut cultivation, which have helped improve the income and economic well-being of beneficiaries.

In addition, the project also supported the upgrading of boarding classrooms and utensils at 10 preschools with a total funding of over 2 billion VND in the district.

Thanks to the project, the amount of time men spend on family care and housework has increased from 2.9 to 3.4 hours per day, while the time women designate to economic activities to create income has risen from 8.2 hours to 11.1 hours per day.