Strengthening the implementation of Project 01

Prior to the "Support for Women-Managed Cooperatives, Creating Jobs for Female Workers by 2030" Project (Project 01), in Hai Duong province, support for women-managed cooperatives was limited and failed to attract the participation of female workers, despite the significant demand for employment among women.

The introduction of Project 01 laid the foundation in terms of policy mechanisms and legal framework for the Hai Duong Provincial People's Committee to develop and issue Plan No. 3474/KH-UBND dated September 18, 2023, on the implementation of Project 01. The plan focuses on six key areas: Raising awareness and promoting development; consolidating and improving the quality of cooperatives; supporting training and capacity building; strengthening inter-sectoral coordination; prioritizing the development of new cooperatives; and supporting market connectivity and trade promotion.

In its implementation, the Plan particularly emphasizes inter-sectoral coordination between the Hai Duong Provincial Women's Union and relevant departments and agencies (Department of Planning and Investment, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, etc.) to provide comprehensive support for cooperatives managed by women, from consulting on establishment and production development to trade promotion and market research. The Hai Duong Provincial People's Committee requests the Provincial Women's Union to strengthen its efforts in consulting and supporting the establishment of new cooperatives and cooperative groups managed by women; setting a target of supporting the establishment of an additional 5 cooperatives and 15 cooperative groups managed by women in the 2023-2025 period.

In line with the implementation of Plan No. 3474/KH-UBND, the People's Committee of Hai Duong province prioritizes funding for the Provincial Women's Union to implement the contents of Project 01, focusing on training activities to improve the capacity of female cadres and members in collective and cooperative economics in the new situation; and providing management, operational, and scientific and technical knowledge to members of the Board of Directors, leadership, and members of cooperatives and cooperative groups managed by women...

Over 600 female members, including women serving on the boards and leadership of cooperatives throughout Hai Duong province, have received training and capacity building from the Association. During these training sessions, the women confidently discussed, exchanged experiences, and learned from each other, while also forming a network through social media platforms such as Zalo and Facebook. The results achieved from these training courses not only helped women confidently engage in economic activities and participate in the establishment and development of cooperatives, but also inspired an entrepreneurial spirit and business ventures.

Ms. Luong Thi Cuc, Head of the VietGap VAC Agricultural Production Cooperative (Lien Mac commune, Thanh Ha district), shared: "Our cultivated land area is about 8 hectares, mainly planted with guava trees. After participating in training courses under Project 01, our production organization has been optimized. Everyone cultivates using the same technical process, and we have the opportunity to help and support each other. The output is also more stable, and we are known to many schools and businesses, receiving orders."

Mr. Tran Van Quan, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Hai Duong province (center); representatives of the Hai Duong Provincial Women's Union and leaders of several departments and agencies of the province attended the Launch Conference of Project 01, March 2023.

The Women's Union at all levels has actively promoted activities to support women in establishing and developing cooperatives and cooperative groups. In nearly two years of implementing Project 01, the Women's Union at all levels in the province has supported 8 cooperatives and 12 cooperative groups managed by women to develop and expand their production scale; and supported the establishment of 7 new cooperatives. These cooperatives and cooperative groups managed by women in the province have created stable jobs for approximately 600 female workers.

"Thanks to participating in the activities of Project 01, the operations of cooperatives managed by women have undergone a significant transformation. Cooperatives managed by women not only play an important role in improving the lives of female members and workers but also contribute to the development of the collective economy of the province," shared Ms. Trinh Ngoc Anh, Vice President of the Hai Duong Provincial Women's Union.

According to Ms. Trinh Ngoc Anh, additional resources are needed to implement the activities of Project 01 as required by the Government. The budget allocated to the Provincial Women's Union for Project 01 is currently limited to training and capacity building through specialized training courses; support for the development and establishment of new cooperatives and cooperative groups is at the level of indirect consultation and support; and policies supporting loan capital for cooperatives to develop production and business have not yet been resolved. Coordination between the Provincial Women's Union and the Provincial Department of Industry and Trade and the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is also necessary to implement Project 01 more closely, going beyond simply reviewing and compiling statistics on cooperatives and cooperative groups managed by women.

"To promote the activities of Project 01, the Hai Duong Provincial Women's Union proposes that the Provincial People's Committee continue to pay more attention to supporting and connecting social resources; and at the same time, provide close guidance to specialized departments and agencies and People's Committees at all levels to coordinate with the Provincial Women's Union in implementing the Project effectively and practically," Ms. Trinh Ngoc Anh expressed.

Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/hai-duong-tang-cuong-trien-khai-de-an-01-20241202163922196.htm