Cargill and CARE International signed a Memorandum of Understanding for ‘She Thrives’, a programme to improve sustainable agriculture for rural communities in the central highland province of Dak Lak in Ha Noi on November 8.

The two-year programme aims to improve sustainable livelihoods among rural smallholders, particularly women and ethnic minorities from Dak Lak Province in Viet Nam, by connecting farmers and producers to the tools and resources they need to enhance their livelihoods sustainably.

Over the next two years, it will impact over 15,000 people, including over 7,000 women from the province’s Buon Ho District.

The ‘She Thrives’ programme in Viet Nam will focus on two key areas of change to make a sustainable difference in the lives of rural agricultural producers in the villages of Dak Lak. First, by enhancing access to inclusive markets, and second, by increasing access to productive agricultural resources and strengthening women's capabilities, confidence and skills to pursue the economic opportunities that work best for their families.

"This is an important programme for Cargill as we continue investing in building resilient and sustainable supply chains in partnership with critical partners like CARE. By working side-by-side with smallholder farmers, particularly women, in communities such as Dak Lak, we are able to implement tailored programs that connect farmers to markets and, ultimately, improve their livelihoods,” said Michelle Grogg, Vice President, Cargill Corporate Responsibility and Executive Director Cargill Foundation.

“Through creating an enabling environment and factors, CARE will work with local people and partners to strengthen women’s capacity and access to economic opportunities and resources, which benefit not only themselves but their whole families and communities. Our cooperation with Cargill will help build not only the farmers’ capacity but increase women’s voice and leadership in decisions related to them,” said Le Kim Dung, Country Director of CARE International in Viet Nam.

The programme has set a goal to increase the productive capacity of rural smallholders, particularly women and ethnic minorities, to pursue sustainable livelihoods. It aims to improve access to finance and financial management capacity for rural smallholder women and ethnic minorities through the development of Village Saving and Loan Associations and the delivery of financial literacy training to group members. It also aims to enhance access to input and output markets for smallholders by improving their operational efficiencies and supporting bulk buying, selling, and marketing.

Cargill's partnership with CARE goes back more than sixty years and has always focused on taking long-term and sustainable approaches to tackling some of the world's most challenging issues across our food system, such as low agricultural productivity, poor nutritional status, lack of access to formal markets, and limited economic opportunities. The launch of ‘She Thrives’ in Viet Nam represents the first programme led by the two organisations in the country. — VNS