EU empowers women to lead community in green transition

Through a capacity-building project funded by the EU, many women are becoming pioneering forces in developing livelihoods and protecting the environment at the local level.

The central role of the green transition

In the context of sustainable development, women are increasingly affirming their role as an important force capable of creating positive changes in everyday life. To realize this potential, the project “Creating opportunities for women in Central Viet Nam to improve livelihoods and protect the environment and natural resources through the application of green and circular economy,” funded by the European Union (EU), has focused on a key objective: strengthening women’s capacity through in-depth training programs.

According to Ms. Duong Thi My Hanh, Deputy Director of the Ba Tu Agricultural and Construction Cooperative, when participating in circular economy projects, women are provided with knowledge, technical support, and training. As a result, all processes, from processing and production to business operations and product consumption, are optimized and become more efficient.

In addition to knowledge transfer, the project also helps women identify and leverage local resources to develop sustainable livelihoods. Through training activities on the green economy and circular economy, along with the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) approach, women are encouraged to proactively harness local strengths, thereby building livelihood models that are aligned with real needs and local conditions.

Building sustainable livelihoods from community strengths

In Hai Van ward (Da Nang), a group of local women has developed a bio dishwashing liquid production model using orange peels, making use of organic by-products to create an environmentally friendly product while also helping reduce household waste.

Meanwhile, in areas where the Co Tu ethnic community lives, local women are gradually developing vine tea products from indigenous medicinal plants. This model not only helps enhance the value of local natural resources but also creates additional livelihood opportunities linked to the preservation of traditional knowledge.

The distinctive feature of the project does not lie in supporting a specific model, but in its approach to empowering the community. Through activities implemented by the Green Viet Biodiversity Conservation Centre (GreenViet) together with local partners, many women have become key actors connecting and driving development activities within their communities.

“In the four-year duration of the project, we place top priority on strengthening women’s capacity. Capacity-building is essentially giving the community a ‘fishing rod’ so they can actively ‘go fishing’ on their own, thereby creating sustainable, long-term livelihoods. If we only focus on supporting small, superficial models, it is difficult to ensure sustainability. Internal capacity is the true driving force, the core foundation that enables communities to independently operate models and develop their economy,” emphasized Mr. Tran Huu Vy, Director of GreenViet.

In the project implementation areas, women are not only involved in developing green livelihood models but also actively share experiences and mobilize local people to participate in environmental protection and sustainable economic development activities. Through this, the project aims to increase incomes by 30% through production and business activities, as well as ensure that 70% of local residents understand green economy and circular economy concepts.

An EU representative expressed confidence that when given opportunities, women are not only beneficiaries but can also become a driving force for positive change in their communities. On the journey toward a green future, sustainable changes can begin from very familiar elements: shared knowledge, connected resources, and women being empowered to become agents of change.

Phuong Linh