These provinces were two of the areas most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and are at high risk of natural disasters in the South of Vietnam.
The project aims to enhance the resilience of women as they recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and to boost the capacity of local service providers to respond to women at risk of violence in an emergency setting.
An estimated 8,000 women in Ho Chi Minh City and Tien Giang province who are poor or near poverty, unemployed or have lost their income, including those at higher risk or survivors of violence and abuse will benefit from cash transfers and technical assistance for livelihood recovery.
The project will equip the beneficiaries with knowledge and life skills to cope with gender-based violence and information on how to seek available services and support. By the end of the project in March 2023, it is expected that 5 million people will have increased their awareness of issues related to Gender Equality and Gender-Based Violence.
The project interventions are also designed to enhance the capacity of about 2,000 key service providers to respond effectively 24/7 to women’s needs in an integrated manner, following the guidance of the United Nations’ Essential Services Package (ESP) for victims of violence against women and children.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has slowed progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and has exacerbated pre-existing inequalities and disparities including gender issues in Vietnam,” said Elisa Fernandez Saenz, UN Women Representative in Vietnam at the launch event of the project. “Women’s loss of employment and income and increased unpaid care responsibilities has only served to underscore inequality in gender roles and the increase of women’s economic dependence and vulnerability.” She emphasised that economic stress, disaster-related instability, and limited access to, or knowledge of, services are known to increase the risk of violence against women and children.
“This project addresses the intertwined issues of women at risk of violence and women with insecure incomes. Our goal is to support women to be more resilient, in their incomes and in their ability to access the support they need to be safe and prosperous,” said Australian Ambassador Robyn Mudie. “We expect that this comprehensive support will assist them in this recovery period and that lessons from the programme can be used to improve emergency response and recovery in the future,” she noted.
