Nhan Dan newspaper’s reporter spoke with Dr Tran Cong Thang, Director of the Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Policy and Strategy (under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), about the implementation of sustainable poverty reduction policies in recent years.
Nearly 10,600 poverty reduction models and projects
Q: Could you share your assessment of the implementation of sustainable poverty reduction policies in recent years, particularly regarding the National Target Programme on Sustainable Poverty Reduction for the 2021–2025 period? How do you evaluate its results so far?
A: In my opinion, over the past years, the work of sustainable poverty reduction has continued to receive strong attention and guidance from the Party, the State, and all levels and sectors. Many policies, programmes, and projects have been implemented synchronously toward the goal of “leaving no one behind.” It can be said that Viet Nam’s poverty eradication efforts have been highly successful, with poverty rates dropping rapidly — achievements that have also been widely recognised internationally.
The National Target Programme on Sustainable Poverty Reduction for 2021–2025 carries deep political and social significance. It has been designed to be more multidimensional, inclusive, and sustainable, focusing on livelihood development, capacity building, and access to basic services for the poor — rather than merely providing income support as before.
Many livelihood support policies — including vocational training, job creation, preferential credit, housing, healthcare, and education — have been implemented effectively. Coordination mechanisms among the national target programmes (new-style rural development, socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for 2021–2030, phase I: 2021–2025) have improved, initially producing synergistic results.
The programme has achieved and even surpassed its annual poverty reduction targets set by the National Assembly and the Government. The multidimensional poverty rate fell from 9.35% in 2022 to 4.06% in 2024; the rate of multidimensionally poor households decreased from 4.03% in 2022 to 1.93% in 2024; and the poverty rate among ethnic minorities dropped by an average of about 4.3% per year, from 21.29% in 2022 to 12.55% in 2024.
By 2025, the national poverty rate is expected to decline to around 3%, surpassing the target of an average reduction of 1–1.5% per year set by the National Assembly.
To date, the National Target Programme on Sustainable Poverty Reduction (2021–2025) has implemented 10,587 models and projects, engaging 205,585 households (including poor, near-poor, and recently non-poor households).
These models have not only created sustainable livelihoods and increased income but also promoted economic and labour structure transformation in poor localities — shifting from small-scale to concentrated production linked to value chains. 6,174 agricultural production support projects have helped 99,159 households improve production methods, apply advanced technologies, and increase productivity and product quality.
To date, the National Target Programme on Sustainable Poverty Reduction (2021–2025) has implemented 10,587 models and projects, engaging 205,585 households (including poor, near-poor, and recently non-poor households).
However, challenges remain. Poverty rates in some regions are still high; the risk of falling back into poverty and the emergence of new poor households persist, especially among ethnic minorities and in mountainous areas, where families are more vulnerable to life shocks. Investment resources are still scattered and were slowly allocated in the initial phase (2021–2022). Some localities face difficulties integrating and coordinating funding sources and policies, while monitoring and evaluating multidimensional poverty reduction results remain inconsistent.
Overall, it can be affirmed that the National Target Programme on Sustainable Poverty Reduction (2021–2025) has achieved positive results, strengthening social welfare, maintaining political and social stability, and promoting inclusive development. Nevertheless, mechanisms and policies must continue to be improved, and resources enhanced, to ensure sustainability in the next phase (2026–2030).
Sustainable poverty reduction models: renewed thinking and innovative approaches
Q: How would you assess the sustainable poverty reduction models implemented in recent years?
A: Over the past years, sustainable poverty reduction models have seen significant innovation — both in thinking and in approach. The focus has gradually shifted from direct aid to empowering people with “fishing rods” rather than “fish,” encouraging the poor to take initiative and linking poverty reduction with production development, vocational training, livelihood transformation, and new rural construction.
I highly appreciate the diversity and flexibility of the models tailored to the conditions of each region and target group, especially in remote, mountainous, and ethnic minority areas.
Localities have designed diverse poverty reduction models based on their own conditions and local resources, tapping into indigenous advantages. These models go deep into addressing the root causes of poverty, connecting production with markets, building value chains, and increasing participation of poor households.
Policies have become more flexible — not merely limited to subsidies or production support, but also including training, capacity building, networking, community development, and effective production, credit, and market support mechanisms. These policies aim towards sustainable production and poverty reduction. Poor households have also been reorganised, guided, and encouraged to work together to escape poverty and prosper.
I highly appreciate the diversity and flexibility of the models tailored to the conditions of each region and target group, especially in remote, mountainous, and ethnic minority areas.
Dr Tran Cong Thang
Projects under the National Target Programme on Sustainable Poverty Reduction are practical and responsive to the actual needs of poor households and localities. The mechanism empowering localities to design their own projects according to their specific conditions has made implementation more effective.
Some localities have opened vocational training courses for the poor and low-income workers. After graduation, most trainees are either introduced to jobs or start their own businesses locally, helping them earn stable incomes and gradually escape poverty. Many others have restructured their crop patterns to better leverage local strengths, improving living conditions markedly — particularly in mountainous provinces.
In general, the most remarkable achievement is that today’s poverty reduction models not only increase income but also transform mindsets, enhance capacity, and inspire self-reliance. These models and stories prove that when policies are well-designed, supported by the State, accompanied by enterprises, and driven by people’s determination, poverty reduction is no longer just about escaping income poverty — it is about building capacity, awakening internal strength, and spreading sustainable values within communities.
Q: In the context of the current two-tier local government system, what challenges have emerged in implementing sustainable poverty reduction policies?
A: The two-tier local government model helps strengthen the connection between leadership and citizens, improving management efficiency and the effectiveness of investment and development programmes — including poverty reduction initiatives.
However, during this initial stage, several challenges have emerged. At the grassroots level, particularly in remote and mountainous communes, poverty reduction officers often hold multiple positions, and their planning, monitoring, and reporting capacity is uneven. Staff turnover and the need for time to train new personnel have also affected programme continuity. In many localities, large geographical areas, sparse populations, poor transport infrastructure, and increasing natural disasters and climate change have driven up programme implementation costs.
In addition, coordination mechanisms, decentralisation, and organisational capacity at the local level must be further improved to meet the new context. These are issues that need to be addressed in the coming period to ensure that poverty reduction policies truly take root — effectively and sustainably.
