FIDR Foundation for International Development / Relief

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Issues the Project Tackles

Mountainous area in central region, where ethnic minority people reside, still remains in poor conditions despite continued economic growth of Vietnam. It is necessary to develop villages in self-reliant manner to minimize the widening gap between the rich and the poor.

Background of the Issues

We have implemented an integrated community development project from 2001 to 2007 in Nam Giang district, Quang Nam province, which is in mountainous area in central Vietnam. “Catu Traditional Handicraft Assistance Project” derived from that integrated project has been implemented over four years from 2008 and promoted income generation of Catu ethnic group utilizing their traditional woven cloths. These projects brought not only local economic growth but also changes in enhancing a feeling of self-worth and self-confidence among the people.

Further, these projects became a momentum for government officers and local people who have been aspiring for industrialization to begin exploring a possibility of self-reliant tourism development (Community Based Tourism) utilizing abundant local resources such as unique Catu tradition, culture, and society and rich nature.

In today’s Vietnam, “Promotion of Tourism Industry” is recognized as a possible measure for poverty reduction and included in national development plan. Mountainous area in central Vietnam is paid more attention to as a new tourism site, and it is most important not to take the tourism development for commercial benefit, but with local initiatives, take it as a measure for sustainable development by ensuring both the improvement of people’s livelihood and the conservation of local resources.

We consider this project as the final assistance to Nam Giang district where we have been working for over 10 years, and we have conducted scrupulous survey and planning by inviting a Japanese expert.

Project Purpose

Aiming at enhancing values of local resources as well as increasing people’s income and conserving local resources through promoting tourism development by utilizing Catu ethnic minority group’s traditional culture and local natural resources

Project Period

FY2012～FY2015

Project Site

Nam Giang District in Quang Nam Province

Beneficiaries

・ People in Nam Giang District: approx. 22,740 people（approx. 5,670 households）

Main Activities

1.	Establishing project operation system: Setting up of project management teams, training to members, etc
2.	Organizing local resident’s tourism groups and its consolidation: Training and development of local resources, etc
3.	Setting up and consolidation of Tour Operation Group: Training, execution of study tour
4.	Improving local facilities: Upgrading basic facilities including toilets and hand-wash basins

Our Approach

From the integrated community development project (2001-2007) characterized as “Sowing” stage, and through “Catu Ethnic Minority Assistance Project” (2008-2011) aiming at vitalizing local communities through traditional handcraft industrialization taking “selection and concentration” approach, we firmly developed and proceeded to the development of Catu communities. We regard this project as final assistance to realize the self-reliant development of the communities and areas.