Australia supports women empowerment in Vietnam

The Australia Awards Program has increased women’s participation in higher education and their voice in decision making and leadership. More than 50% of the annual 250 Australian scholarships in Vietnam have been granted to women.

In the Cao Lanh Bridge Project, Australia is working with the Vietnam Women’s Union in Dong Thap province and Can Tho city to help local women address the socio-economic impact of the project.

The women are also provided with advice on how best to use compensation received for land acquisition, and on vocational training options to support alternative employment.

“We would encourage the Government of Vietnam to place a greater priority to address issues such as women’s economic empowerment and leadership, gender violence and the marginalisation of vulnerable groups, including those with disabilities in the next Socio-Economic Development Plan and the subsequent Plan of Action for Gender Equality by 2020,” said Australian Ambassador to Vietnam, Hugh Borrowman.

As part of Australia’s commitment to support Vietnamese women’s empowerment, during her official visit to Vietnam in February 2014, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop announced a total of AUD4.2 million for two projects to be delivered in partnership with the Vietnam Women’s Union.

“In Vietnam, we will invest over $2 million in a new agricultural research partnership project to be delivered through the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research,” Bishop said. “This program will support more than 2,000 women from ethnic, minority and poor, smallholder farming families in Lao Cai province enabling them to increase vegetable production by around $3.4 million annually.”

Australia is now Vietnam’s fourth largest bilateral development cooperation partners, providing around AUD136.3 million in ODA for the 2013 - 2014 financial year.