1. VIETNAM
Enabling poor rural people
to overcome poverty
Tam Nong Support Project (TNSP)
Tuyen Quang
Tuyen Quang province: Women producing bamboo products for export.
Project Rationale
Tuyen Quang province has very limited agricultural land areas. It’s a key factor that drives
poverty, and a problem shared by all ethnic groups in Tuyen Quang. Almost 90% of poor Kinh
households have less than 0.5 ha of annual crop-land, and negligible areas of other land. The
province has 22 different ethnic groups, including Kinh (52%), Tay (26%), Dao (11%) and 20
remaining groups (11%). Most labourers are unskilled. The province poverty rate was 14%
in 2008. This figure was 73% among ethnic minorities. The Government chose Tuyen Quang
based on its location within a poor region of the country, and on having large populations of
ethnic minority households with high rates of poverty.
Project Objectives
The project’s goal is to increase the quality of life for rural people, especially those who live
in the most disadvantaged areas. The development objective is the sustained and profitable
economic participation of ethnic minority and rural poor households living in five districts of
Tuyen Quang province.
International
Fund for
Agricultural
Development IFAD VIETNAM >> TNSP Tuyen Quang >> 1

2. Project Area and Target Group
Enabling poor rural people The project will cover all five rural districts, focusing on targeting 64 communes with high
to overcome poverty poverty levels. Within each selected commune, all villages will be included for the allocation of
community development funds.
The targeted beneficiaries are poor, ethnic minority, smallholder farmers and young (landless)
households. Many of these young families have migrated elsewhere in the country to find
employment. Those who remain, generally work for other farmers or obtain jobs in construction
or elsewhere. There is no significant land market in Tuyen Quang because few land holders sell
the rights to their land, making it difficult for young households to acquire any. The TNSP will
tailor support specifically for these households.
Gender Mainstreaming
TNSP will seek gender balance in all supported groups, boards and committees to ensure the
views of both men and women enter discussions and planning.
Project Strategy
The Government of Vietnam’s development policy, “Agriculture, Farmers, and Rural Areas”
(Tam Nong) specifically targets the needs of ethnic minorities and the rural poor. Rather than
promoting subsistence farming, the TNSP approach would be to improve market opportunities
in value chains. This requires linking supply with demand, resulting in a win-win scenario for
farmers and buyers. Production and marketing of higher value, differentiated products will help
promote economic growth and alleviate rural poverty.
Project Components
• Institutional Strengthening for Implementation of Pro-Poor Initiatives in Tam Nong
• Promotion of Pro-Poor Value Chains
• Commune Market-Oriented Socio-Economic Development Planning and Implementation
Project Cost and Financing
Total costs for the programme are around USD $32.5 million.
74% of the costs will be financed by an IFAD loan, which will contribute to each of the three
project components. The Government of Vietnam will finance 17% of costs and Private Sector/
Beneficiaries will finance the remaining 9%.
Benefits and Impact
About 20,000 poor households and 40,000 ethnic minority households would benefit from the
project. Among the beneficiaries, ethnic minorities and women will experience increased yields,
greater incomes and enhancement of their household and public sphere roles. All project
interventions would ensure that women and ethnic people are not marginalized. Women would
participate in more community initiatives and have better access to services, information and
markets. They would initiate inclusive community development and participate more actively in
decision-making processes at both family and community levels.
Contact details
Atsuko Toda
Country Programme Manager
Asia and Pacific Division
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
Unit 304, UN Apartment Building
2E Van Phuc, Kim Ma Str, Ha Noi, Vietnam
Tel: 0084- (4) 3823 7231; Fax: + 84 (4) 3823 3819
Email: at.toda@ifad.org
Skype: atsuko.toda
Website: www.ifad.org.vn
International
Fund for
Agricultural
Development IFAD VIETNAM >> TNSP Tuyen Quang >> 2