COVID-19 had a significant impact on the national economic and social situation in Viet Nam.  Vulnerable groups such as the poor and disadvantaged, women, children, ethnic minorities, and people with disabilities were the most affected. Rural laborers in Thua Thien Hue province, particularly women farmers, were not exempt from this hardship. While relief packages were provided by the local government authorities and social organizations in Thua Thien Hue province, additional sustainable support solutions were needed especially to help women farmers in rural areas.

In that context, Oxfam in Vietnam and the Red Cross Society of Thua Thien Hue province, with support from the New Zealand Government, implemented the project “Restoring and enhancing resilient livelihoods after the Covid-19 pandemic for poor and near poor female farmers in disadvantaged communes in Thua Thien Hue province”. The project covered six communes of Phu Gia, Phu Dien, Giang Hai, Vinh Hung, Phong Chuong, Dien Huong in three districts of Phu Vang, Phu Loc and Phong Dien, from 1st September 2023 to 31st July 2024, with a budget of more than 4.94 billion VND.

After almost one year, the project has effectively supported 1,511 poor and near-poor women farmers, of whom 221 are people with disabilities, helping them and their family to recover and develop sustainable livelihoods. 

The women farmers participating in the project attended 30 agricultural technical training courses tailored to their needs. 1,000 women farmers received direct cash assistance of 3.2 million VND/person to restore their livelihoods. This assistance was provided in accordance with a family livelihood recovery plan which was appraised by the project for implementation feasibility.

This publication documents short stories about the women with whom the Project was fortunate to collaborate, support, and witness significant transformations.