Vietnam has experienced significant economic growth since the economic reform of the late 1980s. This has lead to Vietnam’s becoming a middle-income country. But despite stronger economic growth, Vietnam still faces major challenges.
Norwegian Church Aid has worked in Vietnam since 1994. We have a long partnership with Diakonia in Sweden and Dan Church Aid, under the name Nordic Assistance to Vietnam (NAV). Although the other two organisations have now withdrawn from this partnership, Norwegian Church Aid has decided to continue working under the name NAV, as this is well-known and we have built up great confidence in the community under this name.
Our work
Gender-based violence: Despite stronger legal protection and greater awareness of the issues, gender-based violence remains a major challenge in Vietnam. A lack of job opportunities and vulnerability to frequent natural disasters force many young women and men to move from rural areas, making them more vulnerable to exploitation and prostitution.
Gender justice: Norwegian Church Aid works to ensure that women and men enjoy the same rights to economic, social and political participation, both in society and in the family.
Social mitigation of HIV and AIDS: Norwegian Church Aid is working to ensure that vulnerable social groups, including women and men living with HIV and AIDS, have access to good health care. Read more about this work here.
Climate change adaption: Norwegian Church Aid is working in Vietnam to reduce poor people's and society's vulnerability to climate change and natural disasters. We do this by strengthening and developing aqua- and agriculture, establishing saving and insurance schemes, establish protection for livestock, as well as establishing preventive measures and strategies that enable people to better cope with natural disasters. In addition, Norwegian Church Aid is working to improve water and sanitation conditions, and we have projects in which families are given the opportunity to produce electricity using biogas.
Norwegian Church Aid cooperates with Vietnamese authorities at local, regional and national levels. In addition, we ensure participation at the grassroots level in that local people can influence how the project is managed, and we establish self-help groups for vulnerable groups. This working method ensures that local conditions are taken into account and that local knowledge and skills are in continuous development.
Coordination through the ACT Alliance
NAV is one of four ACT Alliance members based in Vietnam, in addition to Church World Service USA, Bread for the World and ICCO. ACT members meet regularly to share information and to identify areas for cooperation. Specific areas we hope to cooperate on are relief, climate change adaptation and rights work.