Promoting Gender Equality and Womens Empowerment : Strengthening Capacity of Women along the Central Mekong Delta Connectivity

(CMDC) Project Phase II (My An to Cao Lanh)

Road Construction linking My An to Cao Lanh GDCF : PreConstruction activities to address potential opportunities and social risks EA: Ministry of Transport : CIPM IA: IOM Funding: US$ 400,000 Location: Cao Lanh and Thap Muoi District , Dong Thap Province Duration: June 2012December 2013

Uzma Hoque 5 Nov 2013

The views expressed in this presentation are the views of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), or its Board of Governors, or the governments they represent. ADB does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this paper and accepts no responsibility for any consequence of their use. The countries listed in this paper do not imply any view on ADB's part as to sovereignty or independent status or necessarily conform to ADB's terminology.

The Project Objectives: Two Key Areas of Interventions

1. Help women capture future employment and income earning opportunities from: - infrastructure construction activities - influx of large workforce into the area - better roads ( increased mobility, access to markets, increased employment opportunities)

2. Reduce womens vulnerability to risks as a result of increased physical connectivity - Increase knowledge on HIV/AIDS and trafficking - empower women to protect themselves.

Project Outputs Output 1: Strategy for enhancing income earning opportunities for
women in the project areas

Output 2: Increased capacity of women in a range of locally

marketable skills and income generating skills - 300 women supported to access training on a range of skills; - 50 women supported to access employment in local industries/enterprises; - 50 women supported to access credit

Output 3: Increased knowledge amongst women in the project areas

on issues related to gender and HIV/AIDS and trafficking in women. - 90% women and 50% men from households along the route attend these meetings - 80% of those who attend can articulate HIV transmission and prevention - Commune plan for rolling out briefing every 3 months available

Output 1: Strategy for enhancing income earning opportunities

for women in the project areas Field assessment of womens needs & mapping of various service providers Consultations with women, DARD, DOLISA, VWU, VTC & private sector Constraints on womens livelihoods Limited access to skills training Limited capital and access to credit Limited access to decent formal employment opportunities Inadequate family support for women - limits access to opportunities Constraints on mobility

Output 1: Strategy for enhancing income earning

opportunities for women in the project areas
Integrated strategy to increase womens livelihood options, promote gender equality, and reduce risks Training on improving technical skills; business devt & management; market info Training on gender equality, life skills & workers rights Incentives: stipend or transport allowance Devt/ adaptation of TOT materials and training to relevant govt. agencies/ VTC/NGOs. Where training through placement in local factories, agreement with factories to employ women trained. Support to access credit - linkages with Social Policy Bank, Agri Bank, Womens Union, etc.

Collaboration with existing local institutions:

-Local factories &SMEs

-Prov & dist agri dept for training & agri extension services

-VWU: skills development trng

Institutionalization of trainings to ensure sustainability and roll out in the future.

Snapshot of activities:
No

Training
Gender equality & livelihood improvement (TOT) BD plan (TOT) Gender equality & livelihood improvement (roll-out) BD plan (roll-out) BCC on counter-trafficking and HIV/AIDS (TOT) BCC on counter-trafficking and HIV/AIDS (roll-out) Gender equality & life skills and worker's rights BD finalization workshop VTC training (BD management, marketing, micro finance - 15 days) VTC training (water hyacinth weaving - 15 days) VTC training (animal husbandry - 15 days) VTC training (cultivation - 15 days)

Participants
WU members, DARD specialists, Agricultural extension specialists WU members, VTC specialists Women beneficiaries & husbands Beneficiaries WU members Beneficiaries Beneficiaries Beneficiaries Beneficiaries Beneficiaries Beneficiaries Beneficiaries

No. of participants 26 30 192 320 27 929 60 46 50 25 100 25

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Total trainees:
Total BCC Trainees

874
956

Output 2: Increased capacity of women in a range of locally

marketable skills
Training on Gender Equality & Improving Livelihoods Beneficiary criteria: 35+, poor/near poor, interested in home-based livelihoods, would go on to train in business development Content: Womens rights & GE Law, joint home care management, technical information on managing home-based enterprises and increasing productivity Deliverables achieved: 96 couples + 27 trainers trained GE training integrated in employment support Locally relevant training materials developed and shared with WU Each trainee provided poster with pictorial messages for easy reference/ facilitate recollection 96 households developed action plans to promote gender equality at home. Active participation and positive responses from men and women

Initial feedback
The most important

thing in the class was the Law on Gender Equality

Women appreciated the discussion on practical examples of how supporting womens equal rights benefits households.

Women attending training

Acknowledged that training helped men to understand and support womens participation in project training activities.

Training on Business Development

Training Contents

Fundamental tools for developing feasible small enterprise Practical guidance to develop business plans Training in technical skills identified in the plan Support to refine and upgrade plans & how to access credit Deliverables achieved: 320 women trained in business development 35 trainers trained from WU + VTC Training materials and set of practical tools left with VWU and VTC

- Fundamental business concepts - Business planning - Capital requirements and costs - Cost benefit analysis - Sources of capital

Approx. 319 beneficiaries have developed business plans

Credit support Two Business Plan Finalization workshops to review strengths, weaknesses and feasibility of business plans. Representatives of SPB, Agri Bank, VWU, Farmers Union and DOLISA attended & provided info on procedures for accessing various credit sources. Beneficiaries discussed credit options. 8 credit support workshops held, 5 -8 Sept for 69 women to assist them to finalize their business plans. 55 women submitted application for credit to VWU who made final review and submitted to SPB in late September The SPB currently reviewing applications. 15 applications approved. Remaining under review. Final result will be informed mid November

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BD training & activities

All beneficiaries interviewed highly appreciated BD training & activities. Key learning for women: ability to calculate inputs/outputs and assess market prices to ensure production is viable. Women were able to clarify challenges and get further information on how to improve their business plans to support their credit application. Linkages made between women and their local credit representatives and women learnt the channels and contacts for seeking credit at various levels and locations.

According to women beneficiaries, they have clearer information and plans on accessing markets and their marketing channels.

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Technical Skills Training Courses identified based on womens business plans 275 women trained on following:
- Husbandry: Cows; pigs; poultry; aquaculture: fish, frogs & eels - Cultivation: rice, fruit/vegetables - Small business management, marketing and sales - Handicraft weaving

Collaboration with DARD & VTC Agriculture/husbandry training included specific local information on resources, and Viet GAP standards (Viet Nam Good Agricultural Practices a set of national standards for quality and safety of agricultural products) Farmers complying with Viet GAP can have produce certified accordingly.
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Business Development - beneficiary feedback

I have learnt how to calculate the cost of my inputs, find out about market prices, fix price for my livestock, so that I can get a good profit. I also have more information on the different types of service providers and buyers, for example, local trading agencies, slaughter houses to sell my poultry and pigs. I know that I need to go to authorized agencies with government certificates to buy chicks and ducklings, says Ms Nga, beneficiary from Anh Binh Commune

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Training on hyacinth weaving and linkages with market

The VTC recruited the services of a trainer from the Hyacinth Weaving Cooperative of Binh Duch, based in Ho Chi Minh City.
Ms Chau, 33 yrs & Ms. Thuy, 27 yrs are trainees learning the hyacinth weaving. Both shared that they had young children and this training would help them to earn an income working from home. They liked the training because they were learning a skill and also the training linked them to the buyers. They were earning an income through the training itself. For one woven table, they would receive 50,000 Dong and for bigger tables, they are able to receive between 70,000 80,000 Dong.

The stability of this home-based work is an important addition to their seasonal labour.

Business Development
[In the past] I didnt calculate expenses I didnt know how much I had, how much I could use for capital, to pay interest. Now with my business plan I can ask for more credit, because I can plan how many animals to buy, and I know that in about 3 months I can sell them and make a profit, says Nhat, from Nhi My commune. Nhat attended a credit workshop and submitted her application for credit. She also participated in the VTC training on animal husbandry. She felt confident about using vaccinations and techniques to keep her animals healthy, and about her credit application Nhat also learnt water hyacinth weaving from other women who had been trained by the project. She started working with a local water hyacinth group, where she was earning about USD30 per month. She planned to continue weaving to provide a steady income while she started her animal husbandry business. 15

Training on Gender Equality workers right and employment support

Pre-cursor to employment support
Gender equality and womens rights at work Life skills for seeking work Risks of HIV and trafficking: Staying safe when seeking work

Training followed by Job Fair including local employers Deliverables achieved: 60 Women trained on gender equality, life skills and workers rights Job Fair facilitated discussion of employer expectations & womens needs

Linkages made with employers offering work and training Further constraints identified for womens employment opportunities

Employment support
DEMAND SIDE
Identify womens livelihood needs and aspirations Consultation

SUPPLY SIDE
Assess labour market opportunities & support institutions

1. Employer mapping 2. Outreach & Needs Assessment

Discuss with women facing barriers to work, about potential opportunities Assess beneficiary needs, barriers & capabilities - Map local employees & SMEs - Identify opportunities & engage employers - Develop placements that address womens needs

3. Tailored subsidy packages

Develop tailored subsidy packages to address multiple constraints Validate support plans with beneficiaries & WU

4. Employment workshops Beneficiaries

Access job information & targeted subsidy support

Employers
Offer suitable work & training opportunities

Link women with positions & support to match their needs 17

Employment support (cont.)

Target Groups:
(i) women from poor/near poor households seeking formal employment;

Employment workshops: 7 workshops at 7 communes were held for 71 women coming from 8 communes. (33 from Cao Lanh, 38 from Thap Muoi) Attended by women, local employers, VWU and DOLISA 14 22 Sept: Completion of work/ placement agreements. 23rd Sep 30th Oct: job/internship commencement

(i) priority given to women without training and/or without current income activities; (i) needing support to address constraints on entering labour force (training, entry costs); (i) identify existing skills/employment experience and current constraints in finding formal employment; (i) specific needs related to employment conditions (feasible hours, location, etc.)

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Employment support

Confirmed supported posts: 59 Soccer ball sewing: 16 (training fee, salary subsidy, sewing/fixing tool) Manicure: 20 (training fee, salary subsidy, manicure kit) Placement in garment production SME: 10 home-based (salary subsidy; equipment) 13 on-site (salary subsidy, transport subsidy)

59% (number) women entering regular employment for the first time 23% (number) left formal employment due to family responsibilities and were either unemployed or casual labourer re-entering regular employment through home-based work.
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Employment support Ms Luu Thi Huong is in the final week of her manicure internship in My Quy commune. Before, she could not join any training because she had to take care of her 4 young children. She also lived in a remote area, & transport was a major barrier. She had no option but to stay at home, where she earned less than 1USD a day peeling lotus seeds. Project/VWU arranged childcare for her children with another household in the community. The subsidy package provided her with a bicycle for transport. She is now very confident in the skills she has learnt, and has already provided services to 6 women in her neighbourhood. She expects to have 5 clients per day, earning about USD 2.50 per day, an increase of 150%.

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Output 3: Increased knowledge amongst women in the project

areas on issues related to gender and HIV/AIDS and trafficking in women.
Key Issues: - Knowledge of HIV present lack of understanding of risk behaviour and transmission channels - Low knowledge of trafficking - Low understanding of mobility/ migration and HIV and trafficking among officials Target Groups: - Women, Spouses, Community, VWU, local government officials
BCC strategy developed with WU Training/ BCC messages developed and pre-tested ToT in BCC for 27 WU 3 x information workshops for 100 collaborators (300) Integrate in regular VWU meetings + Collaborator Network (Happy Family & Domestic Violence Clubs), drama, contests Leaflets to HHs Loudspeaker messages HIV& trafficking integrated in training

BCC: Trafficking & HIV

Deliverables achieved:
Tailored communications strategy developed 27 trainers + 300 collaborators trained in BCC tools and skills 20,000 leaflets printed and distributed Community-based BCC meetings organized for 425 women and Happy Family clubs for 60 women Results achieved from Thap Muoi 5 information sessions for 50-80 young women and men at each session on HIV and human trafficking WU staff trained with up-to-date risk information for the local context and skills for communitybased BCC: Staff and collaborators applying tools in community meetings Targeted materials for inter-personal, community & mass media channels

Content Trafficking
Family & neighbours may give inaccurate information or be involved with traffickers Work opportunities should be researched and arranged in detail before travel. Using official channels helps to stay safe Parents should discuss risks and plans with youth who are moving

HIV
Risks & safe practices Husbands and partners can transmit HIV It is important to discuss HIV & risk.

Nguyen Van An wanted to migrate for work, but did not have
much information about job offers. After attending a Womens Union information session, she received guidance on what the requirements were of a suitable workplace, and information on safe work and labour contracts, health and social insurance, basic salary, and accommodation. Armed with this information, she was able to find a stable job in Binh Doung province, with a formal labour contract and accident & medical insurance. She has just received her first months salary.

Nguyen Thi Kim Huyen is from a poor household,

and is working away from home. After attending a BCC information session, she began to take precautions for her safety by asking for phone numbers of police officers, VWU and Youth Union, and by seeking information about her employer. She then called her family to inform them of her location, and accommodation in the workplace. She also signed a formal labour contract.
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Key Results
378 women trained in technical/vocational skills & business development 319 women developed structured business plans 57 women placed in local employment 34 women entering regular employment for the first time 55 women supported to submit credit applications; 13 approved to date Women are improving livelihoods using technical training and financial management tools to increase productivity and develop their business. BCC events engaged 929 participants in discussion and training about risks of HIV and trafficking. WU staff at commune and district level trained in skills and materials each component of the project strategy. BCC communications materials incorporated in to Womens Union activities and collaborations with other agencies.

Lessons Learnt
Need to tailor training and work opportunities to womens specific needs help women balance work and family responsibilities Improving technical knowledge and skills crucial to improving and sustaining womens livelihood activities Linking training with income generation Comprehensive services: links to value chain Participation is a household decision made after discussing concerns need to work with husbands /males in the HH Consultation and capacity building of local institutions and stakeholder critical for building support, ownership and sustainability.

Follow Up Next Steps to Complete the Project

Monitor placement and job training for the first 30 days Follow-up with the review of credit applications by the Social Policy Bank Develop project final report

THANK YOU

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