(Report in English only)

Overview

This study examines the participation of women in coffee agroforestry value chains in Northwest Vietnam, with a focus on financial training, Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLA), and decision-making within households and communities. The research was conducted under the TEAL – in full, the “Technologically Enhanced Agricultural Livelihoods” project, led by CARE in Vietnam, in collaboration with the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) and the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), and funded by the Australian Government. 

The aim of the study is to explore how participation in VSLAs and related capacity-building efforts can support women in enhancing their decision-making power in both farming and household settings, as well as improve their access to credit, training, and coffee markets. A mixed-method approach was employed, including surveys, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions in project sites in Dien Bien and Son La provinces. 

Findings show that women’s engagement in VSLAs significantly improves their confidence in handling finances and strengthens their role in household decision-making. In particular, when training is provided alongside VSLA participation, there is a notable increase in women’s involvement in managing income and accessing agricultural resources. However, entrenched norms regarding the division of labor and decision-making authority persist, especially concerning higher-value transactions and farm-level investment. 

This study contributes to a growing body of evidence highlighting the need for community-based financial tools and training that consider the distinct responsibilities and challenges faced by women in agriculture. It offers insights for policymakers and development practitioners aiming to support inclusive agricultural value chains in Vietnam. 

 

Key findings 

  • Participation in VSLAs increased women’s confidence in financial decisions. 
  • Training combined with VSLAs enhanced women’s ability to manage income and access agricultural resources. 
  • Joint decision-making in households improved, particularly on small to medium-scale expenditures. 
  • Traditional norms still limited women’s roles in larger financial decisions and control of assets. 
  • VSLAs contributed to women’s access to credit and collective support networks. 
  • Community attitudes began shifting with increased awareness and trust in women’s financial capacity. 

 

Policy recommendations: 

  • Integrate training with savings groups to maximize impact on financial literacy and decision-making. 
  • Promote joint training for men and women to foster more equitable household practices. 
  • Design programs that specifically address constraints in accessing higher-value transactions and farm investments. 
  • Encourage peer learning within and across communities through women’s leadership initiatives. 

 

Globally, in the coffee sector and smallholder agriculture in developing countries, distinct gap in access and opportunity between women and men that enable women’s active participation in and contribution to the coffee value chain and in farm and domestic decisions, such as decisions over credit, agricultural inputs, and training opportunities and division of labor and time. This study is conducted by CARE’s partners, CCAFS and the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), to assess Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLA) impacts and related training on gender equality and women’s access to coffee markets in TEAL project  implemented by CARE with financial support from the Australian Government. 

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