The Joint Programme on Green Production and Trade to increase Income and Employment Opportunities for the Rural Poor

This joint programme aims to increase income and employment opportunities for growers/collectors of raw materials for crafts, as well as grassroots handicrafts and furniture producers. The programme targets about 4,500 poor farming and crafts-producing households in four northern provinces of Viet Nam: Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Hoa Binh and Phu Tho. These provinces were selected due to: (i) the high incidence of poverty, especially among ethnic minorities; (ii) the concentration of raw materials and local production of crafts; and (iii) the possibility of building synergies with past and ongoing development activities. Within the four targeted provinces, the programme will focus on the following five value chains: (i) bamboo/rattan; (ii) sericulture and weaving; (iii) sea grass; (iv) lacquerware; and (v) handmade paper. The joint programme’s approach is to develop better integrated, pro-poor, and environmentally sustainable “green” value chains, enabling poor growers, collectors and producers to improve their products and link them to more profitable markets.

For more information see:

• The Green Trade Joint Programme Fact Sheet
• The Green Production and Trade Joint Programme Document
• The Joint Programme website
• Watch a video aired on VTV 1 on 25 May 2011 on initial results of the joint programme
• Read the first quarterly newsletter: Crafting out of poverty
• Read the joint programme publication: Craft and Design in Viet Nam