The document summarizes an IFAD project in Ninh Thuan Province, Vietnam. The province has high levels of poverty and food insecurity due to drought, poor soils, and reliance on forest resources by the ethnic Raglai people. The project aims to increase incomes and quality of life for rural and ethnic minority households by promoting higher-value crop production and linkages to markets. It will target 9,000 poor households across 27 communes. Activities include strengthening local institutions, developing value chains for crops, and supporting commune development planning. The $17.2 million project is funded mainly by an IFAD loan with contributions from the Vietnamese government and beneficiaries.

1. VIETNAM
Enabling poor rural people
to overcome poverty
Tam Nong Support Project (TNSP)
Ninh Thuan
Project needs assessment, Ninh Thuan province.
Project Rationale
Ninh Thuan province is the driest in Vietnam. For those with agriculture-based livelihoods
and un-irrigated lands, life is difficult. Droughts are prolonged and common due to high rainfall
variability. Poor rural households suffer substantial periods of food shortage. The Raglai
people represent 61% of the poor in the project communes, and are marked by poor access
to productive land and a continued reliance on forests (often protected forests) for livelihoods
during periods of food shortage. A mixture of poor soils, sloping lands, poor farming practices,
lack of water, lack of finances and knowledge further add to the problem of low yields and food
insecurity. The Government chose Ninh Thuan based on its location within a poor region of
the country, and on having large populations of ethnic minority households with high rates of
poverty.
Project Objectives
The project’s goal is to increase the quality of life for rural people, especially those who live
in the most disadvantaged areas. The development objective is the sustained and profitable
economic participation of ethnic minority and rural poor households living in six districts of Ninh
Thuan.
International
Fund for
Agricultural
Development IFAD VIETNAM >> TNSP Ninh Thuan >> 1

2. Project Area and Target Group
Enabling poor rural people The project will cover all six of the Province’s rural districts, focusing on 27 communes with
to overcome poverty high poverty levels. Over 80% of the poor Raglai households will be reached, as will over 57%
of all poor households in the province.
The impact groups for TNSP in Ninh Thuan are poor farmers. These comprise: (i) poor Raglai
ethnic minorities in the upland areas; and (ii) poor farmers in lowland areas, mostly Kinh and
Cham, but also Raglai ethnic minority groups. The Raglai with a 49% poverty rate, are the most
vulnerable group in the province. They represent about 10% of the Province’s population and
36% of its poor. However, based on poverty head count, the Kinh account for 54% of the poor
in the Province while their poverty rate is only 8%.
Gender Mainstreaming
TNSP will seek gender balance in all supported groups, boards and committees to ensure the
views of both men and women enter discussions and planning.
Project Strategy
The Government of Vietnam’s development policy, “Agriculture, Farmers, and Rural Areas”
(Tam Nong) specifically targets the needs of ethnic minorities and the rural poor. Rather than
promoting subsistence farming, the TNSP approach would be to improve market opportunities
in value chains. This requires linking supply with demand, resulting in a win-win scenario for
farmers and buyers. Production and marketing of higher value, differentiated products will help
promote economic growth and alleviate rural poverty.
Project Components
• Institutional Strengthening for Implementation of Pro-Poor Initiatives in Tam Nong
• Promotion of Pro-Poor Value Chains
• Commune Market-Oriented Socio-Economic Development Planning and Implementation
Project Cost and Financing
Total costs for the programme are around USD $17.2 million.
74% of the costs will be financed by an IFAD loan, which will contribute to each of the three
project components. The Government of Vietnam will finance 17% of costs and Private Sector/
Beneficiaries will finance the remaining 9%.
Benefits and Impact
About 9,000 poor households and 12,000 ethnic minority households would benefit from the
project. Among the beneficiaries, ethnic minorities and women will experience increased yields,
greater incomes and enhancement of their household and public sphere roles. All project
interventions would ensure that women and ethnic people are not marginalized. Women would
participate in more community initiatives and have better access to services, information and
markets. They would initiate inclusive community development and participate more actively in
decision-making processes at both family and community levels.
Contact details
Atsuko Toda
Country Programme Manager
Asia and Pacific Division
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
Unit 304, UN Apartment Building
2E Van Phuc, Kim Ma Str, Ha Noi, Vietnam
Tel: 0084- (4) 3823 7231; Fax: + 84 (4) 3823 3819
Email: at.toda@ifad.org
Skype: atsuko.toda
Website: www.ifad.org.vn
International
Fund for
Agricultural
Development IFAD VIETNAM >> TNSP Ninh Thuan >> 2