Women to take lead in the green transition and sustainable development initiatives
Hanoi, April 22, 2025 – Today marks the official launch of the “Project on Supporting Women-led Green Initiatives” (PWG), a key component of the “Women-led Green Partnership Programme” which is funded by the European Union (EU).
Implemented by Oxfam in Vietnam, the PWG project is expected to award 65 sub-grants over a 54-month period from 2024 to 2029. Each grant, worth up to VND 1.65 billion (EUR 60,000), will support non-state actors (NSAs) and mass organizations in the provinces of Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Hue, Quang Nam, and Bac Lieu, with a duration of 12 to 18 months per grant.
Vietnam remains highly vulnerable to climate change and natural disasters. According to a 2022 World Bank report, the country incurred approximately $10 billion in economic losses in 2020 due to climate-related impacts. Women and girls are among the most affected, often facing unequal access to resources, finance, and decision-making spaces, while shouldering the responsibility of unpaid care work.
The Vietnamese Government has taken steps to respond through gender-responsive policies in green and circular economy, climate adaptation and disaster resilience, while also participating in global green and gender equality commitments.
PWG contributes to these national efforts by improving access of women in all their diversity to decent jobs and entrepreneurship opportunities in the green and circular economy. It will also enhance their participation in decision-making at both national and local levels, facilitating their influence over policies that affect their lives.
The first funding round focuses on the theme: “Raising awareness and contributing to improve green livelihoods, accessing decent jobs and increasing participation, contributing to policy development in response to climate change, disaster risk reduction and environmental protection for women”.
Gonzalo Serrano De La Rosa, Deputy Head of Cooperation, EU Delegation to Vietnam, emphasized: "We believe that empowered non-state actors are vital to sustainable development. They play a key role in shaping effective policies, advancing equitable development, and fostering inclusive growth. A strong partnership between government and non-state actors is essential to ensure that policies and reforms are grounded in community needs, locally driven, and sustainably implemented. As such, cooperation with NSAs is a key priority for the European Union.”
Pham Quang Tu, Deputy National Director of Oxfam in Vietnam, shared: “Promoting gender equality alongside climate action in Vietnam remains a complex challenge. Women and young women must have a meaningful voice in decision-making and action for a green economy, especially as they are a driving force in both the formal and informal labor markets. Yet, to truly lead and thrive in the green transition, which demands new skills and knowledge, they need active support and enabling conditions from all stakeholders. The PWG project contributes to this goal by conducting in-depth consultations with local authorities and women’s communities to ensure that project priorities align with national policies as well as the real needs and capacities of each locality.”
PWG will provide networking and capacity-building support in key areas such as gender equality, climate resilience, and sustainable production. It also promotes public-private collaboration to improve access to finance for women-led MSMEs, creating green jobs and strengthening women’s role in development.
Tran Thi Kim Loan, President of the Vietnam Women's Union in Hue, noted: “This program aligns well with Hue’s development approach, emphasizing heritage conservation and sustainable tourism. Women’s unions at all levels will continue to support women in realizing their potential through green initiatives.”
The PWG project is expected to benefit 7 to 10 million people indirectly by raising awareness and improving access to green employment opportunities.
Workshop materials: LINK
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 European countries. It is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. It acts globally to promote sustainable development of societies, environment and economies, so that everyone can benefit.
Website of EU Delegation to Vietnam
Oxfam is a global movement of people who are fighting inequality to end poverty and injustice. Oxfam confederation currently has 21 member organizations working in 79 countries. We share a vision of a just and sustainable world. A world where people and the planet are at the center of our economy. Where women and girls live free from violence and discrimination. Where the climate crisis is contained. And where governance systems are inclusive and allow for those in power to be held to account.
Oxfam in Vietnam believes that a reduction in poverty, injustice, and inequality will occur through the interaction between active citizens, accountable states and responsible private sector, and that it is fundamental to Vietnam’s development. Oxfam in Vietnam contributes to a shift from the current growth-based development model to a Human Economy that cares about People and the Planet.
Nguyen Trinh Lan, Communications Specialist & Writer, Oxfam in Vietnam
Email: lan.nguyentrinh@oxfam.org
Project on Supporting Women-Led Green Initiatives - Background Information
Project on Supporting Women-led Green Initiatives (PWG) is a component of the EU funded “Women-led Green Partnership Programme” and implemented by Oxfam in Vietnam.
The project aims to empower women in all their diversity and integrate them into the green and circular economy, by improving access to decent jobs and entrepreneurship opportunities. It will also enhance their participation in decision-making at both national and local levels, facilitating their influence over policies that affect their lives.
To this end, the PWG project is expected to award 65 sub-grants over a 54-month period from 2024 to 2029. Each grant, worth up to VND 1.65 billion (EUR 60,000), will support non-state actors and mass organizations in the provinces of Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Hue, Quang Nam, and Bac Lieu, with a duration of 12 to 18 months per grant. These grants will support initiatives that promote climate resilience, sustainable agriculture, responsible consumption and production practices, disaster preparedness, and gender equality, aiming to make a significant impact on 7-10 million people, particularly vulnerable women and girls.
PWG adopts a flexible and transparent funding mechanism that prioritizes grassroots initiatives, which are proposed and implemented directly by local social organizations based on the real needs of their communities. The identification of priority areas was carried out through extensive consultations with local authorities, the Women’s Union, and social organizations to ensure that selected initiatives reflect the needs, conditions, and potential of each province.
The “Kick-off workshop and information sharing session on the first call for proposals of the Project on supporting Women-led Green initiatives” will be held on April 22 in Hanoi, April 24 in Bac Lieu, and April 25 in Hue. These sessions will provide details about the project and guide participants on how to apply for the first round of sub-grants.