Project on Supporting Women-led Green Initiatives (PWG) (2024 - 2029)

Vietnam is highly vulnerable to climate change and disasters as it ranks sixth among countries and territories hit hardest by extreme weather events (1). The climate change scenarios predict a difficult future for Viet Nam with weather fluctuations, extreme weather events and natural disasters.

Women predominantly work in agriculture, a sector highly vulnerable to natural disasters. They have limited access to resources such as land, credit, agricultural inputs, decision-making structures, training, extension services, and technology, making it difficult to adapt to climate change and improve disaster resilience. Women, girls, and women-led businesses face challenges in accessing natural resources, finance, business skills training, market information, and networks, compounded by discriminatory gender norms and the heavy burden of unpaid care work.

Women have limited participation in decision-making bodies and political priorities, especially in areas like green growth, climate change, and disaster preparedness. Viet Nam ranks 87th out of 156 countries in terms of gender gap, with low scores in women's political empowerment (2). Women and girls from vulnerable groups face significant obstacles in accessing employment, financial resources, land, digital technologies, and entrepreneurial opportunities due to gender and socio-cultural stereotypes. 

Women's representation in high-level decision-making bodies related to environmental policies remains low, limiting their influence and contributions. Societal biases further restrict women's opportunities in technical and scientific fields concerning climate change and disaster preparedness, leading to a gender gap in expertise and knowledge.

The Government of Vietnam has adopted key policies on climate change adaptation, green growth, and gender equality, engaged in international green and gender-related commitments. Gender-responsive environmental Non-State Actors (NSAs) have actively contributed to policy implementation and monitoring, particularly in environmental protection, disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, and gender equality.

These NSAs amplify women's voices in policy processes. Despite resource and capacity limitations, some NSAs have gained government recognition and have been invited to provide policy input.

• Overall objective: Women, in all their diversity, influence decision-making processes on climate change and environmental conservation policies and actions in Viet Nam.

• Specific objective: Improved access to decent jobs and entrepreneurship opportunities in the green economy and the circular economy for women in all their diversity

Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Hue, Quang Nam, and Bac Lieu

The PWG project will award 65 sub-grants during 2024 - 2029. Each grant, worth up to VND 1.65 billion (EUR 60,000), will support non-state actors (NSAs) and mass organizations to implement initiatives at local level with a duration of 12 to 18 months per grant. in five provinces/city such as Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Hue, Quang Nam, and Bac Lieu. Initiatives can enable women and young women to access decent jobs and entrepreneurship in the green and circular economy. 

The sub-granting implemented by NSAs will be an effective mechanism supporting NSAs in delivering initiatives to contribute to the government’s efforts and commitment, amplifying women’s voices in decision-making, and strengthening collaboration between NSAs and the state. This contributes to a more enabling environment for civil society and accelerates Viet Nam’s green transition.

Through sub-grants and capacity development, NSAs or grantees will improve their technical knowledge, operational, networking, and contribution to decision-making processes on gender equality and gender-sensitive climate change adaptation and mitigation, disaster risk reduction, environmental protection, sustainable agriculture, sustainable forestry, responsible consumption, and production practices.

Multi-stakeholder partnerships between sub-grantees and linkages with TA Facility will be established for sharing expertise, experience, knowledge, and effective participation in policy dialogue to promote gender-responsive green transition in Vietnam. It will also enhance women participation in decision-making at both national and local levels, facilitating their influence over policies that affect their lives.

The project will increase public and private sector financing mechanisms for MSMEs owned or managed by women, including informal business gender bonds.

• Approximately 65 organizations receive grants and demonstrate improvement in capacity
• 1,155 women and girls in all their diversity, involved in the project, employed in the green and circular economy
• At least 33 women-led businesses operating in the green and circular economy create more economic benefits for women and girls
• 10 changes in policy and practice at sub-national levels
• 7-10 million people benefit from increased awareness and greater access to green employment opportunities.

The project is funded and supported by the European Union. Oxfam in Vietnam will work closely with the following stakeholders for an effective implementation:

• Non-State Actors (NSAs), and Mass Organizations: Around 65 NSAs and mass organizations dedicated to green growth, gender equality, climate change, and environmental conservation.
• Women-led MSMEs: Micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises led by women, playing a crucial role in green economic development. The MSMEs (except social enterprise) are not eligible to receive grants directly, but they can involve the project as contributors and beneficiaries.
• Women’s Unions: This includes the Vietnam Women’s Union (VWU) and provincial Women’s Unions (PWUs) in the selected provinces.

An organization is eligible for funding, according to Clause 3, Article 2 of the Government of Vietnam's Decree No. 80/2020/ND-CP dated July 8, 2020, if it is one of the following:​

a) Socio-political organizations, socio-political-professional organizations, social organizations, social-professional organizations, science and technology organizations, social funds, and charitable funds legally established in accordance with Vietnamese laws on associations, science and technology organizations, social funds, and charitable funds;​

b) Social enterprises receiving aid to achieve objectives of addressing social and environmental issues;​

c) Public non-business units whose operating funding is partially guaranteed by the state budget.

The European Union

(1) Germanwatch (2020). Global Climate Risk Index 2020
(2) Gender Gap Report 2021 of the World Economic Forum