FIDR is a non-governmental organization working to support children in developing countries and people affected by disasters.

What We Do

Issues the Project Tackles

Vietnam has achieved remarkable economic development, mainly in the coastal areas. The mountainous area in the central region, where many ethnic minority people live, has been left behind, and to minimize the widening gap in income between the rich and the poor is a big problem to resolve.

Background of the Issues

With its rich natural environment and two World Heritage Sites, Quang Nam Province is getting people's attention as a globally popular tourist destination. However, the mountainous area of the province, where 19 ethnic minority groups live, is geographically difficult to access and has scarcely received foreign support.

Because abundant natural resources, traditional technology, unique cultures, and values of the minority groups are still well preserved by the people in this region, there is a high potential for unique regional development by utilizing local resources while protecting them.

Since 2016, FIDR implemented a project called "Project for Rural Development by Local Initiative of the Ethnic Minority Communities in Nam Giang District” in Quang Nam province as a "Grassroots Technical Cooperation Project" of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). During the project, many specialty products have been developed using local resources and sales channels have also been expanded in local and overseas market. Community Based Tourism initiated by local people has also been steadily gaining popularity and has contributed greatly not only on increasing income but also on improving the status of the Catu people and other minority groups.

In recognition of these achievements, Quang Nam Province requested FIDR to promote regional industries centered on ethnic minority people in other districts. Utilizing the experience of the previous project in Nam Giang District, local authority of Quang Nam Province plans to develop specialty products, promote industrial cooperation, and strengthen supporting systems of public and private sectors in nine mountainous districts of the province.

*More information about "Project for Rural Development by Local Initiative of the Ethnic Minority Communities in Nam Giang District"

Project Purpose

The system of fostering human resources, public-private cooperation, marketing and governmental support is functioned in order to promote sustainable development of the rural industry with utilization of various resources and features in Quang Nam province.

Project Site

9 districts in Quang Nam Province, Vietnam
(Tay Giang, Dong Giang, Nam Giang, Nong Son, Phuoc Son, Hiep Duc, Nam Tra My, Bac Tra My, Tien Phuoc)

Beneficiaries

304,381 people in 9 districts of Quang Nam Province (80,850 households)

Main Activities

1. Develop the local resources by various approaches at the grassroots level
2. Establish Community-Based Tourism Sites (CBT sites)
3. Improve distribution system among coastal areas, hilly areas, and mountainous areas in the region
4. Establish a network (industry-classified and region network) to promote industrial partnership in a wide area
5. Establish and strengthen of Governmental support system to promote local vitalization

Project Period

FY 2019 to FY 2023

Our Approach

1. Promote sustainable development with the involvement of local ethnic minority groups in all stages from product development to tourism development, etc. which utilizes the local resources.
2. As the target area of the project is planned to stretch out from one district to nine districts, the project employ the rural development approach designed for a wide area such as standardizing products, conducting campaigns in the broader area, and building the network between producers and traders inside the province.
3. Connect scattered tourism sites by wide-area tourist routes or new routes matching market trend, so that the visitors will become the loyal fans of the area.
4. Take a step by step approach that introduces “Quang Nam province model” or “Model of rural development in hilly and mountainous area” as a good practice to other provinces.

Report from the Field