Experts gathered at a seminar in Hanoi on March 31 to share experiencein implementing a project to enhance gender equality and improve water,hygienic and environmental conditions in ethnic minority-inhabited areasin northern Vietnam.

Co-organised by the VietnamRed Cross (VRC) and the Office of the French Red Cross in Vietnam,the event reviewed achievements and challenges in the implementation ofthe project in the three northwest provinces of Dien Bien, Son La andLai Chau.

It also offered a chance for concernedparties to draw lessons and seek to expand the clean water and hygienemodels in other areas, laying a foundation for the effectiveimplementation of subsequent projects in the country.

Speaking at the event, VRC Vice President Tran Thi Hong An said thatthe project, carried out between January 2011 and March 2014, includedthe gender issue in strategic documents and raised the capacity of theVRC, women’s unions and authorities of the targeted communes as well aspublic awareness of gender and clean water.

However,it still saw challenges in participating areas and people, unstablecapacity improvement, and the low feasibility and sustainability ofwater and hygiene models.

The project had a totalinvestment of 19 billion VND (905,,000 USD), 75 percent of which camefrom the European Union (EU) and the remaining provided by the FrenchRed Cross.

Thanks to it, 7,500 locals were providedwith knowledge on gender, hygiene and clean water. About 300 householdsand some agencies and organisations gained access to safe water.

As many as 180 cadres of the VRC, women’s unions, administration andagencies in targeted communes were provided with gender training.-VNA