Overview
The 2021 Annual Report of CARE International in Vietnam (CVN) provides a comprehensive overview of the organization’s actions to advance social equity and economic empowerment for marginalized ethnic minority and urban communities. This report marks the first year under the CVN Strategy 2021–2025, which aligns with CARE’s global 2030 vision and the Government of Vietnam’s relevant development frameworks.
Throughout the year, CARE focused on addressing the root causes of poverty and inequality by collaborating with local communities, civil society, and government actors. Our programming placed special emphasis on supporting women in rural and urban areas by removing structural barriers to participation in decision-making, entrepreneurship, and public life. In particular, efforts were directed toward eliminating domestic and public violence, supporting access to financial and technical resources, and strengthening local leadership models.
The report showcases key programs implemented in 2021, including recovery support post-COVID-19, community-based solutions for safety and livelihoods, and policy contributions to national frameworks such as the National Target Programs. CARE’s work reflected a holistic approach that not only delivered services but also built long-term systems of community resilience and inclusive development.
Key findings
- CARE supported women’s entrepreneurship by offering technical assistance, training, and access to finance.
- Local leadership was strengthened through grassroots models such as EKATA and producer groups.
- Community-based mechanisms were developed to prevent and respond to domestic and public violence.
- CARE contributed to the formulation of a unified regulatory framework for the National Target Programs (NTPs).
- Disaster risk management and climate resilience were addressed through integrated rural and urban initiatives.
- Partnerships were expanded across civil society, government agencies, and the private sector.
Policy Recommendations:
- Ensure marginalized communities, particularly women in remote areas, have a say in local governance and development plans.
- Increase investment in community-based solutions that promote safety, resilience, and economic opportunity.
- Improve implementation of NTPs by ensuring inclusive planning and transparent monitoring frameworks.
The CARE International in Vietnam (CVN) Strategy sets the organization’s direction for the 2021–2025 period in which CVN will work with communities and partners to achieve equality and social justice. We invite you to read our 2021 Annual Report and find out some of our highlights.
This report showcases the many ways in which we support work at the community and country level to turn our strategic goal – poor and marginalized ethnic minority and urban people, particularly women, equitably benefit from development – into concrete results for women and their communities in Vietnam.
At CARE, we believe that overcoming poverty and injustice and making the world more hopeful, tolerant, and fair is not an abstract goal but a real possibility. With over 30 years of experience in Vietnam, we understand that to bring actual lasting change, we must tackle the root causes of poverty and social injustice in all that we do.
In 2021, we continually focused on our impact rather than ‘just’ the numbers we reached. In the report, you will find some of the highlights, including how we have supported women and their communities to address violence against women and girls through community-based systems or promoted women’s entrepreneurship by providing technical and financial support, as well as linking them to entrepreneurial networks.
We have contributed to a unified regulatory framework for the management and implementation of the government-funded National Target Programs, including Social Economic Development for Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Regions, which strengthened further key principles of people participation and equality, decentralization, and community ownership.
Core to our work is our partnerships with community members and leaders, and collaboration with key stakeholders. These networks and relationships enable us to continue learning, reflecting, growing, and delivering more significant impact.