On the 24th – 25th of November 2022, MCNV organized an exposure visit for a group of ethnic women and representatives of the local authority and community to the processing facility of Nhien Thao Quang Tri Co. Ltd. – a linked enterprise in Quang Tri province, Vietnam.
This was part of the “Promoting Sustainable Partnership between CSOs and Enterprises for Sustainable Forest Management in the Context of Climate Change” (PROSPER) project that is co-funded by the EU and MCNV. One of the the project’s focuses is to promote market-oriented linkages between enterprises with strong corporate social responsibility and indigenous communities in the area.
Contract signing between enterprise and community on the supply of NTFPs
The visit was aimed at concretizing mutual understanding and building trust for a win-win business cooperation. The ethnic poor women in Huong Viet commune took a journey in an entire Custody of Chain, from their supply of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) to the stages of material processing and product finishing. Both sides discussed about quality requirements and developed an action plan for future cooperation.
An ethnic woman processing raw material of black locust before delivery
Beside materials of wild pomelo and black locust presently supplied by the women group in Huong Viet commune, the enterprise would expand their material areas with other other kinds of NTFPs such as lime and lemongrass to the other ethnic communities in the province. The stage of processing raw materials would be handed over to the communities to decrease transportation cost for the enterprise and increase the added values of NTFPs for the community suppliers. The nursing of NTFPs seedlings was also taken into deep consideration.
Enterprise sharing stages of processing and finishing NTFPs-origin products
It is the fact that growing demand for NTFPs in the recent decades evokes a special concern over sustainable use, preservation and development of the forest resources in particular and the eco-system in general. To this end, the exposure visit was going on the right track and reached the set goal./.
On the 18th – 19th of November 2022, Chenh Venh Eco-Tourism Cluster in Huong Phung commune of Quang Tri province received special guests in the countrywide on a Famtrip in Huong Hoa district. These include around 64 representatives of the local authority and relevant agencies, Vietnam Association of Community Tourism, Tourism Associations in provinces of Thua Thien Hue, Quang Binh and Quang Tri.
The trip, which was jointly organized by Quang Tri Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Helvetas Vietnam and a local tourist enterprise, aimed to consult relevant stakeholders on the improvement and development of Chenh Venh Eco-Tourism Cluster and Ta Con flowers garden in the years to come. The activity is also part of a technical assistance project titled ‘Biodiversity conservation and sustainable forest management’ by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Visiting a local community house
As part of the Famtrip’s agenda, the delegation spent an entire day of the 18th of November 2022 at the tourist destination, experiencing a vast of services and visiting all of the tourism attractions consisting of the FSC certified natural forest under the management of the community. At a wrap-up meeting on the next day, the tourists expressed their satisfaction of the services, highly appreciated the tourist operation of the community, and definitely gave feedback on things that need improving in the coming time.
A tour to FSC certified bamboo forest.
Chenh Venh Eco-Tourism Cluster is an initiative that has been developed, facilitated and supported by MCNV since mid-2021. At a wider scope, in the PROSPER project MCNV provided technical assistance to Chenh Venh ethnic community and the others in neighboring communes to gain FSC certificate for the community-managed natural forest in November 2021, and FSC certificate on eco-system in October 2022. All of these are expected to usher in opportunities for the indigenous people to generate income and improve livelihoods, thus contributing to sustainable forest management./.
*More pictures capturing the trip
A lunch with local specialties
Camping on Sa Muoi Hill
Enjoying a bonfireFamtrip participants in Chenh Venh Eco Tourism Clusters.
Congratulations to 17 physicians on graduating from the 6-month Basic Rehabilitation (Rehab) Course provided by the Training and Direction of Healthcare Activities Center, Bach Mai Hospital on November 18, 2022.
Mr.Anthony Kolb, Deputy Director of USAID’s Reconciliation and Inclusive Development Office, representatives of NACCET, Bach Mai Training Center and Rehab Center and the graduated trainees at the certificate awarding reception.
Thanks to the valuable guidance of the lecturers from the Training and Direction of Healthcare Activities Center and the Rehab Center, Bach Mai Hospital, 17 trainees coming from three Central and Central Highland provinces (Kon Tum, Binh Dinh, Quang Tri) have completed the course with impressive results:
100% trainees are qualified to be conferred with the certificate of Basic Rehab Training, complying with the Circular No.22/2013/TT-BYT and No.26/2020/TT-BYT issued by the Ministry of Health on continuing education.
Out of 17 trainees, 01 graduates with High Distiction, 8 with Distinction and 7 with Good results.
Nowadays, manpower shortage is still a challenge facing the rehabilitation sector in Vietnam, especially at the district-level healthcare system. Aiming to address this pressing issue, MCNV proposed for organizing a rehabilitation course for physicians as part of the “Improving the quality of life of persons with disabilities in provinces heavily sprayed with Agent Orange” (Inclusion) project.
Delegates from USAID, CCIHP, CCRD, MCNV, NACCET, Bach Mai hospitals and the trainees at the course closing event.
The Basic Rehab course was organized by MCNV as part of Inclusion 1 & 2 project, sponsored by USAID via the CCIHP (Center for Creative Initiatives in Health and Population) and CCRD (Center for Community Health Research and Development). Inclusion project is owned by the National Action Centre for Toxic Chemicals and Environmental Treatment (NACCET).
Delivered in six months (May 2022 – November 2022), the course aims to equip the trainees with adequate knowledge and skills in diagnosis and intervention for common conditions that require rehabilitation services such as stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, knee joint, hip joint replacement.
The trainees are provided with relevant skills in screening, providing assessment and intervention for patients and persons with disabilities (PwDs) in hospitals and the community./.
*More photos:
Gifts presented to the three highest achievers.(Right to left) MD.MSc.Pham Dung – MCNV Vietnam Country Director; CCIHP Director – MD.MSc.Tran Hung Minh and CCRD Director – MSc.Pham Thai Hang (left) present appreciation bouquets to Prof.Assoc.Dr.Luong Tuan Khanh (Director of Rehab Center) and MSc.MD.Vu Van Nhan (Deputy Director of the Training and Direction of Healthcare Activities Center) Bach Mai Hospital.Mr.Anthony Kolb, Deputy Director of USAID’s Reconciliation and Inclusive Development Office gives his speech at the Closing Ceremony.Mr.Tran Duc Hung, NACCET Deputy Director gives his speech.MCNV Country Director, MD.MSc.Pham Dung speaks at the closing ceremony.Assoc.Prof.Dr.Luong Tuan Khanh – Director of the Rehabilitation Center, Bach Mai HospitalMr.Le Quang Hung, Director of Binh Dinh provincial Department of Health gives his speech.Mr.Tran Khanh Phoi, Deputy Director of Quang Tri provincial Department of Foreign Affairs speaks at the event.Testimonials given by trainee: MD Nguyen Van Vinh, Health Center of Dak Ha District, Kon Tum Province.Testimonials given by trainee: MD.Ngo Thuong Phuc, Healthcare Center of An Nhon Town, Binh Dinh.Testimonials given by trainee: MD.Nguyen Thi Thuy Duong (Quang Tri General Hospital).
September 27th, 2022 – After five years of implementation, the Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) Education Development in Vietnam project was concluded with all goals achieved, including the graduation of Vietnam’s first ever 14 Master and 20 Bachelor degree holders of SALT (MSALT and BSALT).
Following the first ever Master of SALT, the first Bachelor of SALT (graduating from Da Nang University of Medical Technology and Pharmacy) was another significant outcome generated by SALT Education project – a component of DISTICNT project by VietHealth, funded by USAID in a five-year period (October 1st , 2017 – September 30th, 2022).
Dr.Le Thi Thuy – In-charge Vice Rector of Da Nang University of Medical Technology and Pharmacy (DUMTP) speaks at the graduation ceremony.
The project was implemented by MCNV with technical support from Trinh Foundation Australia (TFA), aimingtolay a solid foundation for the development of an official education system for the SALT profession in Vietnam. The Project was concluded with a closing meeting held on September 27th to review the implementation of the Project as well as drawing lessons learned.
Ms. Ritu Tariyal – Director of the Reconciliation and Inclusive Development Office, USAID.
Earlier, on September 26th, a hybrid Thematic Workshop on SALT was held by MCNV and partners, bringing together around 120 in-person and online participants from Vietnam and abroad. The MSALT graduates, BSALT students and international academics from different universities in Australia presented their research in SALT.
MSc.MD.Pham Dung (left) and TFA Director Ms.Bronwyn Coop at the Thematic Workshop.
In over the past five years, SALT project has successfully achieved its key goals, with the completion of Vietnam’s first Masters and Bachelors of SALT, conducted in coordination with HCM University of Medicine and Pharmacy (UMP HCM) and Da Nang University of Medical Technology and Pharmacy (DUMPT) respectively.
The two MSALT and BSALT courses cover all the SALT scopes following international education in SALT, including assessment, diagnosis, habilitation, rehabilitation, counseling, and prevention services for individuals from birth through old age who have some type of speech, voice, language, fluency, cognitive-communicative, or swallowing problems due to delayed development or as a result of an injury, cancer, stroke or progressive neurological disease. The MSALT was for 2 years and the BSALT was for 4 years. Due to the shortage of qualified Vietnamese SALT trainers, most of the trainers are from overseas (Australia, the UK, US, New Zealand).
With the completion of the MSALT and BSALT courses, the Project has supported four Medical Universities which are UMP HCMC, DUMPT, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy (Hue UMP) and Hai Duong Medical Technical University (HMTU) on capacity building for SALT trainers and BSALT, MSALT curriculum development.
A/Prof.Ngo Quoc Dat – Vice Rector of HCMC University of Medicine and Pharmacy (UMP) gives his speech at the event.
As a part of the Project, a network of national and international SALT academics, practitioners and clinical sites were established to support the development of SALT in Vietnam in terms of education and services.
Concurrently, the awareness of SALT among rehabilitation professionals and the public has been vastly improved, thanks to the frequent maintenance and updates of a SALT website (http://speechtherapyvn.net/) and a Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/ngonngutrilieu.mcnv).
Participants at the BSALT Graduation ceremony and SALT Education Project Closing Workshop
Overall, despite half of the journey was covered with COVID-19 pandemic challenges, SALT project celebrated its conclusion with the accomplishment of all goals. This achievement could not have been made without the strong commitments by MCNV and the unwavering support from the project sponsor – USAID, related governmental authorities, national and international academics and clinical educators, service providers in rehabilitation in HCMC, Da Nang, and Hai Duong, and many others./.
Infographic:
*More photos:
The first Batch of BSATL receive congratulatory bouquets from MCNV, USAID and TFAThe first Batch of BSATL receive congratulatory bouquets from MCNV, USAID and TFAIn-person participant of the Thematic WorkshopMs. Bronwyn Coop (Director of TFA) (left), Ms.Sarah Day (center) and Ms.Megan Nevel (TFA)
MCNV is looking for a short-term consultant for Disability Program In general, this position is responsible for the implementation of the Project coaching rehabilitation workers in provinces of Tay Ninh, Binh Phuoc and Dong Nai. The Consultant will be requested to report directly to the Project Manager based in Vietnam.
Location: Ha Noi City. Domestic travel is requested (about 30% of working time). Duration: from 15 October 2022 to 31 December 2022, with a possible extension
For more information, please refer to the Job Description in this following file: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mV9iPp7gUOmeM69mr-i8XKwClqlwcDB6/view?usp=sharing
Following the first ever Masters in Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) graduation ceremony held in April this year at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in HCMC, we are going to celebrate the graduation of the first ever Bachelors in SALT at the Da Nang University of Medical Technology and Pharmacy on September 27th, 2022. On this special ocassion, MCNV in coordination with fellow partners jointly organize a series of event, including a hybrid Thematic Workshop on SALT. Time: 13.30 – 17.30 Vietnam time, 26th September, 2022. Venue: Webinar on Zoom. Language: Vietnamese and English Link for registration: https://us06web.zoom.us/…/reg…/WN_bp-hce-gQju_H8iVG40lFg Kindly register before September 22nd, 2022. We look forward to seeing you at the event! *The project ‘Speech and Language Therapy Development’ funded by the USAID through VietHealth is implemented by MCNV with the technical support of Trinh Foundation Australia.
Planting trees in an area of landslide due to the 2020 historic floods
MCNV in cooperation with the Deutsche Forstservice GmbH (DFS), Forest Science Center for North of Central Vietnam (FSCV), and Dong Ha High School organized an “Eduction on Nature and Environment” tour to MCNV’s project site in Huong Hoa district of Quang Tri province, Vietnam on the 30th of July 2022.
Tour group at Chenh Venh Eco-tourism Village
Thirty nine students of Dong Ha High School, accommpanied with their teachers and parents in Dong Ha city were the targets of the education tour. The program’s aim was to provide deep understanding of the value of nature including ecosystems and forests, evoking awareness of climate change, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development, and enable the students opportunities to take actions.
Planting trees in an area of landslide due to the 2020 historic floods
“Things in here were quite totally new and strange to me”, Tran Nguyen Phi Uyen – a 17-year-old school girl confessed. “At the time I entered into the forest, I felt anxious and a bit scared of leeches and so [coyly smiling], just like many friends of mine joining in the tour. However, beside the learnt lessons of the nature and environment, I think those were good moments for us to learn to face fears and overcome obstacles.”
Tran Nguyen Phi Uyen on a farm of coffee and passion fruit treesIntroducing indigenous culture and income generation from eco-tourism and non-timber forest products
“I am really impressive of this education tour,” said Hoang Van Minh – Vice Principal of Dong Ha High School. “All the students live in Dong Ha city and hadn’t known about forests and life and culture of indigenous communities. Now they’ve got great experiences. As far as I know, this kind of education tour has first been organized in Quang Tri province, and we expect many more tours of this would serve a greater number of students in the coming time.”
Vice Principal in front of groupwork’s presentation of participating students
Article on the Vietnam Investment Review. Author: Nguyen Dinh Dai, MCNV Chief of Central Vietnam Office
The government has recently approved a project worth $3.55 billion to develop the forestry sector in a sustainable manner in the 2021-2025 period. This legal framework aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to the implementation of Vietnam’s net-zero commitments. To achieve the targets, the forestry sector and local government require strategic implementation and good practices in the field. This will be carried out through partnerships with donors such as the EU, the US Agency for International Development (USAID), WWF Vietnam, and MCNV.
Nguyen Dinh Dai – Central Vietnam chief MCNV Office
The province of Quang Tri has created strategic results in sustainable forestry development thanks to the support from international organisations, and there are already many interesting stories regarding this.
One regards promoting market links on non-timber forest products (NTFPs) between smallholders and enterprises. Nhien Thao is a local enterprise in Quang Tri province that produces natural-based products such as shampoo, floor cleaning liquids, and dishwashing liquid. NTFPs including soap, black locust seeds, and essential oils are key raw materials for the production of the enterprise.
Currently, Nhien Thao is collaborating with about 150 smallholder forest owners in supplying NTFPs with a value of about $75,000 annually. These smallholders are managing hundreds of hectares of natural forest where they can harvest different kinds of NTFP such as soap nuts, black locust seeds, pomelo, and limes. The enterprise is planning to expand its business and network with smallholders.
In April 2022, the enterprise was awarded the prize of best natural business solutions by the New Generation Plantation and WWF Vietnam. This is a win-win business model for the smallholders and enterprises in contributing to sustainable forest management.
Another example is the long-rotation plantation for tung oil production. It is estimated about 1,500 tonnes of dry tung oil seeds are harvested annually with a value of $650,000 in Quang Tri province. Since 2020, the PROSPER project (on promoting sustainable partnerships between civil organisations and enterprises for sustainable forest management in the context of climate change), co-funded by the EU and MCNV, has supported smallholders in planting about 300ha of tung oil plantation mixed with indigenous species in Quang Tri province.
Tung oil plantation has contributed to forest protection and annual income for smallholder forest owners from harvesting tung oil seed.
With the support of the USAID, the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is planning a 5-year strategy for tung oil plantations. This model will contribute directly to annual income for smallholders, increasing forestry cover ratio and carbon capture from the long-rotation of tung oil plantations.
Within the PROSPER project, for the first time in Vietnam, two natural forests of smallholders in Huong Hoa district have earned FSC certification on sustainable forest management, in which three bamboo species are certified FSC. In 2022, the project targets to achieve certification for carbon capture, bio-diversity, and rattan.
By December 2020, about 20,000ha of natural forest had been allocated to smallholders in Quang Tri province, in which around one-third received the Payment of Forest Environment Service for forest protection. The rest of the forests are protected voluntarily by smallholder forest owners. The piloted model on FSC-certified ecosystem services offers potential for smallholder forest owners in accessing payment mechanisms for forest ecosystem services and the high-value market of NTFPs of FSC-certified rattan and bamboo.
This association of smallholder forest certification was established in 2014, supported by WWF Vietnam. The association is a representative for smallholder forest owners in FSC certification for acacia plantations and has been a link between IKEA suppliers and smallholder forest owners in supplying FSC-certified wood.
In 2020, under the support of PROSPER, for the first time, the association recruited new natural forest owners as members. This achievement brought a new direction in promoting sustainable forest management of smallholders in both plantations but also the natural forest.
Quang Tri province is considered one of the pioneers in sustainable forestry development strategies. The concrete practices in the field are significant to show scaling up in the aspect of implementing the programme on sustainable forestry development until 2025./.
MCNV’s long-standing ties with Quang Tri province were highlighted in the event “Quang Tri, Aspiration of Peace” co-organized by the Vietnam Film Institute, Quang Tri provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Department of Foreign Affairs and several organizations including MCNV.
Guests visiting MCNV’s MuseumIn front of MCNV’s MuseumThe MCNV Vietnam teamMinister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr. Nguyen Van Hung visits the exhibitionThe MCNV Vietnam team
MCNV Country Director Pham Dung speaks at the event
MCNV Country Director Pham Dung and Former Ambassador of Vietnam to the Netherlands (tenure 2017-2020) Madam Ngo Thi Hoa
MCNV Country Director Pham Dung & Former Ambassador of VN to the Netherlands (02-06), Madam Dinh Thi Minh Huyen
MCNV’s former volunteer, former FAO Representative in Vietnam, Mr.Ad Spijker speaks at the dialogue.
The exhibition was attended by Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung; Secretary of the Quang Tri Provincial Party Committee Le Quang Tung and a number of former ambassadors, representatives of the Vietnam Film Institute as well as veterans, war correspondents, cinematographers, historical researchers, and film researchers.
About 200 photographs, panels, and artifacts were featured in the exhibition, reflecting the resilience of local people and international solidarity to Quang Tri during the war as well as the humanitarian assistance from the international community to address the war legacy issues and as the development of Quang Tri nowsaday.
The photos, posters and artifacts are categorized into four themes “Quang Tri recollections”, “International Solidarity for Quang Tri”, “Overcoming the challenge of postwar unexploded ordnances in Quang Tri” and “Quang Tri – A Safe and Friendly Destination.”
Various precious photos capturing MCNV’s assistance for Quang Tri, including the donation of medical supplies from the Netherlands to Vietnam during the war, the building of Dong Ha hospital, capacity building for health workers during the postwar period, were displayed under the theme “International Solidarity for Quang Tri”.
According to MCNV Country Director, Mr.Pham Dung, nowadays, MCNV is honored to be able to link up the support of international friends, including the Dutch, the European and American people with the Vietnamese people in the new context of development and affirmed the commitment of MCNV to the cause of sustainable of Vietnam and Quang Tri in particular in the time to come./.
On a native forest nursery of Son Nguyen Cooperative
On the 18th on June 2022, a delegation from WWF-UK and WWF-Vietnam paid an exposure visit to the sites of the “Promoting Sustainable Partnership between CSOs and Enterprises for Sustainable Forest Management in the Context of Climate Change” (PROSPER) project co-funded by the EU and MCNV in Huong Hoa district of Quang Tri province.
Visiting a material area of black locust with a patrolling group of Trang-Ta Puong village
The visiting program was to reinforce the implementation of the Cooperation Framework Agreement dated the 15th of December 2021 between MCNV and WWF for PROSPER and Projects/Programs under Forest Practice of WWF-Viet Nam in Central Annamites Landscape (CAL).
Stopping over a Tung tree plantation mixed with native species
By synergizing bilateral resources to make greater contributions to sustainable forest management, the Agreement focuses on the following areas: (i) Improving and maintaining the FSC® forest certification system of Association of Quang Tri’s Smallholder Forest Certification Groups (SFCGs); (ii) Promoting market linkages between smallholders and processing companies in relevant supply chains such as FSC certified bamboo and rattan, and other NTFPs; (iii) Supporting in potential business models for developing the bankable projects on bamboo, medica herbs and so, to access to the Dutch Fund for Climate and Development (DFCD) and Landscape Resilience Fund (LRF); and (iv) Developing project proposals on forest restoration by planting native species and non-timber trees for climate resilience while enhancing the livelihood of local people, etc./.
