Through this support, not only do ethnic minority people have more money for their daily lives, but they have also contributed to build roads that will improve transportation between hard-to-reach areas in the region.

Ha Giang Provincial People’s Committee, UNDP, the Ha Giang Women’s Union, and the Yen Minh District People’s Committee have organized a handover ceremony for a total of 26.5 km of new rural roads connecting 17 hamlets of Na Khe, Lao Va Chai, Huu Vinh, Ngam La and Du Gia communes with the center of Yen Minh district, and connecting 4 hamlets of Lung Tao and Sinh Lung communes.

Photo: UNDP

UNDP’s gender-sensitive assessment of the socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in Viet Nam found that vulnerable households have been disproportionately impacted, especially households of Ethnic Minority people, migrant and informal workers. Incomes from agriculture and tourism activities have been significantly reduced due to border closures and travel restrictions, worsening the already-challenging conditions being faced by ethnic minorities in Ha Giang.

Joining the event, Ms. Caitlin Wiesen, UNDP Resident Representative in Viet Nam, remarked, “Besides providing incomes for more than 1,200 people to cover their essential needs and begin to recover their livelihoods during the pandemic, the 19 roads constructed through this project will assist 8,000 people from ethnic minorities in mountainous areas, including women, the elderly and children, to access education, health services, markets and employment, ensuring that no one is left behind.”

“This is a very helpful package to support the very poor who have lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We have also provided consultations and support for the women who received this assistance on how to more effectively use the money, such as buying seedlings, breeding stock, and the like,” said Ms. Duong Anh Phuong, Vice-Chairwoman of the Ha Giang Women’s Union.

According to Mr. Phàn A Chẩu, head of Nà Ngù hamlet, Ngam La commune, Yên Minh district represented the beneficiaries, “We are very happy, and all the support from the donor, the local government, and the Women’s Union is highly appreciated. Thanks for supporting us with new roads and income for the local poor people.”

UNDP has also mobilized funding from the Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF) to provide emergency support for 600 members of fabric cooperatives in Ha Giang that were closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in which each member received 2.3 million VND and a PPE package to minimize the risk of infection./.

Khac Kien