The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the world unprepared for it. The Corona virus has exposed and exacerbated existing inequalities; besides moments of despair and anxiety, and there have been moments of breakthroughs in our thinking and reflections in designing a new way of working and a strategy fit for the future.
We have seen unprecedented efforts across the world and in Viet Nam to curb the pandemic, to protect people’s health, livelihoods, and the economy. This exceptional time showed us the vital importance of government actions, together with the private sector, social sector, and citizens being in unison to be resilient in times of crisis, and to begin building back better.
Today I am honored to present Oxfam in Vietnam’s Country Strategy 2020-2025, which was prepared in 2020 and placed in the context of the ‘VUCA’ world - Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity - concept to be essential in strengthening the organization’s agility to perform in a complex and unpredictable world; and, to continue its mission of ending inequality and build a just society in which everyone has equal access to resources and opportunities, is treated with dignity and respect, and has a voice. Oxfam in Vietnam’s strategic goal for 2020-2025 is to work towards a Human Economy that puts people and the planet before profits.
The new strategy builds on positive achievements of the past strategy 2015-2019, such as contributing to the government’s agenda of reducing poverty through numerous research on inequality issues in Vietnam, promoting active citizenship for good governance, advocating for gender equality in policy and practice, strengthening resilience to disaster, enabling a fairer sharing of resources and productive assets. A desk systematic review was done to assess achievements and the challenges, consultations with our partners as well as Oxfam staff through a series of learning sessions and numerous conversations were organized to reflect on lessons learned. The country strategy development has also been guided by the making of Oxfam's global strategy where hundreds of partners from Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, were invited to formulate the priorities of Oxfam's 10-year strategy 2020-2030.
Oxfam continues our commitment to building a people-centered development model that is feminist and values what truly matters to society. We aim to enable the voices and agency of citizens to strengthen accountable governance. And we work for inclusive, participatory decision-making in efforts to tackle the climate emergency, end inequality and injustice in our system, and bring long-term sustainable change. These broad aims are realized through three specific goals: Gender equality and women’s agency; Social accountability and empowered citizens; and Secured livelihoods and resilient communities. We also focus on our research and campaigns to inform our work and to share knowledge and take action with relevant stakeholders and the people.
As the new National Director of Oxfam in Vietnam, I feel honored and excited to lead the Oxfam team, to work with our strategic partners from the government, social sector, private sector and communities, and our donors. I would like to thank all of you for your dedicated partnership, significant support, compassion, and commitment to Vietnam's inclusive and sustainable development for a sustainable and just world.
No matter how VUCA the world is, we must not lose sight of our vision and priorities. We take this time as an opportunity to reimagine our future and will set our sights on expanding pathways and opportunities ahead of us to end poverty and inequalities.
Together we can and will create meaningful and deep changes!
Vu Thi Quynh Hoa
National Director, Oxfam in Vietnam
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“Ending inequality and poverty is possible. Doing so is a conscious choice”[1].