On 31st December 2021, the Vietnamese partners of the BRIMOFOT project hosted a part in-person, part-online workshop to disseminate the progress and preliminary results of the project, analysing its strong and weaker points, while helping to make plans to fulfil the project’s aims over the remaining implementation period. Also, the workshop aimed to consult the viewpoints of various actors, including academics, local people, and local government authorities, concerning ways to improve gender and social equity in wetland management practices, strategies and policies at different governance levels.
The half day workshop agenda included four sessions. The first session was an opening ceremony in which participants were welcomed by Kien Giang University’s rector, Dr. Nguyen Tuan Khanh, and Dr. Duong Van Nha, the project manager presented a short introduction of the project.
The second session included presentations by academics, scientists and local officials in Tinh Bien district, An Giang province, such as changes noted in agricultural production under conditions of water resources stress and volatility in Tinh Bien district (Mr. Tran Hieu Thuan, Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Tinh Bien); the impact of upstream activities on water resources for agriculture production in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta (Dr. Dang Kieu Nhan, Director of the Institute for Research and Development of the Mekong Delta); the livelihoods of local people depending on Mekong Delta wetland resources (Dr. Nguyen Tran Nhan Tanh, An Giang University); policies and practices in improving gender equity in water management in An Giang province (Ms Phung Thi Thao, Department of Natural Resources and Environment of An Giang province); and the roles of women in agricultural production and water management in Tinh Bien district (Dr. Thai Huynh Phuong Lan, An Giang University).
The third part started with some remarks and comments by Dr. Nguyen Xuan Niem (Deputy Director of Department of Science and Technology of Kien Giang province). He assumed that weak participation of women in water management as well as wetland management was not so surprising and reflected their general subordinate position in rural Vietnam. Dr Niem maintained that to improve role and participation of women in such institutions, it was necessary to demonstrate clearly the benefits of this goal to local authorities and communities. Nevertheless, he was impressed with the study so far, and hoped that the research group can expand the research site to Kien Giang province in the future.
After Dr. Niem’s feedback, Dr. Trinh Thi Long (WWF) gave advice to the research group that the group should build a “pilot” study to demonstrate the benefits of the women participation in water management and wetland managements. To draw more attention of policy makers and the public to create a change in the future, more benefits of women’s involvement in wetland management should be highlighted. This is because knowledge and information on the importance of gender equity are generally low in Vietnam, while gender prejudices, which tend to lower women’s participation and standing in key institutions, remains a feature of Vietnamese society.
Particularly, in this third session, local farmers, women, minority people had an opportunity to share their viewpoints and experiences of difficulties in water management and participation in wetland management at a local level. Male farmers also admitted that female participation in water management in agriculture production is sub-optimal due to prevailing social norms and prejudices. For example, it is commonly thought that women should stay at home and take care children because they are good at this job, while work on farms is considered heavy and hard that they are poorly suited to. Also, a local officer shared that the participation of female bureaucrats in water management and the agriculture and rural development departments is still low. For example, this rate is only 28.8% in Tinh Bien district. This is because the requirement of a local officer is having a close and frequent interaction and communication with farmers, while most labour on farms is undertaken by men. Hence, male officers are more appropriate than female officers to take this job. He also opined that women's health is not as good as men's to be able to go to the field with farmers regularly.
In the final session, Dr. Duong Van Nha summarized the diverse viewpoints, comments and suggestions of participants, and declared that the research group appreciated the participation and contribution of everyone. The group will take the feedback into account during the study to fulfil the research aims which is enhancing women’s participation and wider social equity goals in wetland management in the Mekong Delta, said Dr. Nha.
The workshop also invited local media agencies to attend. Two Vietnamese articles covering the workshop were published in the local press, including BaoAnGiang (An Giang province) and website of The Department of Science and Technology of Kien Giang province. It can be said that this project activity successfully involved a variety of stakeholders and raised awareness regarding gender and social equity issues in water and wetlands management. This is a small success, and could help contribute towards making changes in women’s and ethnic minorities participation in natural resources management of the Vietnamese Mekong Delta.
By Duong Thanh and David Blake
Vietnamese articles can access at:
The An Giang press: https://baoangiang.com.vn/tang-hieu-qua-su-dung-nuoc-vung-bay-nui-a322496.html?gidzl=6VuK5a2zyZiRuHCHGABpFnRe6njNhlbcMRvC75VrhJLPi4iT1FUeDrEy7azUzlPd1kP463XlSj0SHxxoEG
The Department of Science and Technology of Kien Giang province: https://skhcn.kiengiang.gov.vn/trang/TinTuc/204/2228/Truong-Dai-hoc-Kien-Giang-phoi-hop-Truong-Dai-hoc-An-Giang-to-chuc-thanh-cong-Hoi-thao-giua-ky-thuoc-Du-an-BRIMOFO.html