Science and technology program for sustainable development of the north west region achievements and cooperation orientations

230 Science and technology program for sustainable development of the North West region: Achievements and cooperation orientations Mai Trong Nhuan, Truong Vu Bang Giang, Nguyen Thi Hoang

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Science and technology program for sustainable development of the North West region: Achievements and cooperation orientations

Mai Trong Nhuan, Truong Vu Bang Giang, Nguyen Thi Hoang Ha

Affiliation

Vietnam National University

Northern midland and mountainous region (called in short as The North West) is under the direction of the Northwest Steering Committee including 12 provinces (Ha Giang, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Son La, Hoa Binh, Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Lang Son, Phu Tho, Tuyen Quang) and 21 districts in the west of Thanh Hoa and Nghe An, with a total area

of 115,153.4 km2, accounting for 35% of the country’s natural area

The North West has potential and advantages for developing agriculture, forestry, hydropower, minerals, tourism and border economy This is home to more than 11.6 million people of more than 30 ethnic groups, about 63% of which are ethnic minorities Despite its strategic location, great potential and diversity, Tay Bac is still an exceptionally difficult area

in all aspects with the highest rate of poor households in the country, unsynchronous and underdeveloped transport system, and frequently under impact of natural disasters The cause of this situation is due to the fact that the sustainable development resources of the North West has not really been stimulated and promoted properly and effectively, including the resources of science and technology

Based on this reality, in 2012, the Prime Minister approved the proposal of Vietnam National University (VNU) and the Northwest Steering Committee

to implement the Science and Technology Program (S&T) at national level: “Science and Technology for the Sustainable Development of the Northwest Region” (called in short as the Northwest Program), which aims

to carry out integrated and interdisciplinary research to provide scientific arguments and solutions, contributing to directly tackle the current issues toward fast, comprehensive and sustainable development of the North West

By November 2017, the Northwest Program has been implementing

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54 topics and 3 projects for four target groups, towards sustainable

development (SD) in the North West Topics and projects have focused on

the following objectives:

(i) Provide scientific arguments for the development and adjustment

of sustainable development strategies and plans, ensuring defense

and security in the North West;

(ii) Identify scientific foundations for specific socio-economic

development models of subregions and inter-regions, contributing

to the improvement and gradual enhancement of the living

standards of ethnic minority groups in the North West;

(iii) Propose and transfer appropriate scientific and technological

solutions for the rational use of natural resources, environmental

protection, natural disaster prevention and mitigation; transport

infrastructure and information development; promoting and

preserving cultural values, contributing to the defense and security

in the North West;

(iv) Identify needs for training human resources and propose suitable

training solutions for human resource development to meet the

requirements of sustainable development in the North West

The implementation of the topics attracted interest, participation and

promoted contribution of scientists from many research institutions in

and outside VNU Specifically, there were:

• Many organizations and individuals registering to take part in leading

the project are from scientific and technological organizations and

universities, research institutes and enterprises nationwide

• 82 organizations participated in the implementation, including

departments in the Northwest region (Department of Science and

Technology of 14 provinces in the North West region, Department

of Culture, Sports and Tourism Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Phu Tho, Dien

Bien, Tuyen Quang, Ha Giang, Hoa Binh, Department of Planning

and Investment of Ha Giang, Department of Home Affairs of Son La,

Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Son La and

Yen Bai, Department of Industry and Trade of Yen Bai, Cao Bang and

Lao Cai)

The tasks have been carried out research which not only is macro-related

to the problem of the whole region, inter-region and sub-region but also

focuses on specific problems of some localities in the North West

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In the period of 2013-2015, the Program will focus on building scientific arguments, training needs and research, and implementing pilot models

in localities:

• Topics on building inter-branch and inter-regional databases including resources on land, forest, water, mineral, medicine and tourism etc.; reviewing policies (poverty reduction and hunger eradication programs, national target programs on education and training, Decision No 79/2005/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister, etc.); and carrying out research and collecting data of all 14 provinces in the North West, which is highly macroeconomic;

• Topics on proposing policies and measures to improve the quality of training, foster local officials and implement vocational training for sustainable development;

• Topics on developing medicinal plants in one and some localities such

as radix psendo-ginseng, aconitum fortunei hemsl, “Đan sâm” and

coix lacryma-jobi in Ha Giang and Lao Cai; carrying out research on medicine from docynia indica, fallopia multiflora, fallopia japonica

in Lai Chau, Lao Cai, etc.; cultivating ophiocordyceps sinensis in Son

La, Dien Bien, Lai Chau; implementing water treatment pilot for contaminated water at the area of zinc lead mine in Cho Don, Bac Kan province; implementing pilot ecotourism models in Hoa Binh, Lao Cai; establishing the supply chain of agro-forestry products for export in the northwestern provinces

In the period of 2016 - 2018, the program focuses on enhancing applied research that puts scientific and technological results into practice with the following priorities:

• Study and develop scientific basis for building criteria, orientations and solutions in adjusting, proposing and deploying strategies, planning and plans for development and implementation of resolutions from congresses of the Communist Party of Vietnam

in provinces, sub-regions and inter-regions in the northwestern region;

• Study, propose and transfer special scientific and technological solutions and products for economic development, transport infrastruture, information, culture and society, rational use of natural resources, environmental protection, prevention and mitigation of natural disasters in the North West;

• Design, test and transfer some models of economic development, community development such as agricultural production,

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forestry, agro-forestry integration, integrated models for

sustainable development (such as model which integrates

economy, environment, ecology, ad migration ) and sustainable

development of agriculture, forestry, fisheries, hydropower,

minerals, environmental security in the North West and at

provincial and district levels; trial production projects which are

jointly-invested by the government and enterprises with an organic

and synchronous combination suitable with the natural conditions,

natural resources, environment, culture and development level of

the localities; and address major scientific and technological issues

mostly for the development of main and prioritized key products

and product groups which have great impacts on the development

of socio-economy

The Program’s research results have followed the proposed objectives

In addition to the research that provided the scientific arguments for

identifying strategies, development plans and breakthroughs of the

region and northwestern provinces, the Program has also achieved

some concrete results, practical application of science and technology

to enhance the value of commodity products and growth models; to

develop education and training and human resources for socio-economic

development; to develop the culture and society, to develop sustainable

livelihoods for the people in ethnic groups and ensure national security

and defense

The Program’s research results were extracted to transfer to the provinces

through the comments in the Political Report of the Party Congress of 14

provinces in the North West; reports in conferences, scientific seminars

and in meetings with local leaders; recommendation reports; pratical

application model in the localities, enterprises, etc

The activities of the Program have contributed to help the local people

gradually change their perception, considering the application of science

and technology as a breakthrough in the socio-economic development of

the locality It is also highly appreciated by the localities and they wish to

cooperate extensively with the Program and VNU, paving the way for the

practical expansion of cooperation between VNU and the localities

The research results of the Science and Technology Program for Sustainable

Development of the Northwest Region are a crucial foundation for

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investment and management, not only for the nation and ministries but also for the provinces It is an urgent need for Vietnam in the current transformation period

During the implementation process, the coordination between VNU, Ministry of Science and Technology, the Northwest Steering Committee and the Program Management Board was very effective VNU also established a network of scientific collaborators to effectively support the Program and made a positive link between the project implementation team and the Program Management Board In addition, due to the common features and objectives, the results of research and transfer are complementary to each other, therefore, the Northwest Program actively coordinated with the Programs in Southwest, Central Highlands and the new rural areas in order to promote efficiently the resources of the Programs for sustainable socio-economic development in general and building new rural areas in association with restructuring the agricultural sector in regional areas in particular

Specific directions for coordination with domestic and foreign programs and projects that are implemented in the Northwest region are:

• Share information, data, research results of each party;

• Organize the implementation of coordinating research tasks between the parties towards the application of science and technology development, proposing policy reforms for sustainable development

in the Northwest, promoting sustainable development of each sector, livelihood and sustainable start-up associated with improving the material and spiritual life for ethnic minority people; and enhancing environmental protection, sustainable use of resources, disaster risk reduction and climate change responses

• Coordinate the organization of conferences, seminars, deployment, dissemination of information, capacity building, transfer of results in the Northwestern localities and related ministries

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Aus4Equality Program

Nguyen Thi Lan Phuong

Affiliation

Australian Embassy

The program summary

Aus4Equality is one of the flagship programs of the Australia-Vietnam Aid

Investment Plan 20152020 The purpose of the Program is to promote

economic empowerment for women in Lao Cai and Son La in the

agricul-ture and tourism sectors Aus4Equality is valued at up to A$33.7 million

and will be delivered over four years from November 2017

Aus4Equality aims to empower local women to better engage in

agricul-ture and tourism markets, enhance women’s voices in decision-making

and leadership, promote partnerships with the private sector, and

sup-port more inclusive government policies and services

The program will complement the Government of Vietnam’s own efforts to

increase the access of poor rural and ethnic minority women to economic

resources and the labour market

Link to ACIAR

Aus4Equality program will build on the research work that ACIAR has

been undertaking in these two provinces for over a decade now It will

support the scale up of successful research to ensure the benefits are

spread more widely