What we do

The Flemish Association for Development Cooperation and Technical Assistance- VVOB has been working in Vietnam since 1992. The initial approach of sending substitutes was soon replaced with projects in education and agricultural extension. In 2008 a programme in education and a programme in agricultural extension were initiated, complemented with a programme in career guidance in 2011.

Basic education

Our education programme takes place in five provinces in North and Central Vietnam. It aims to improve the quality of education by promoting the use of Active Teaching and Learning (ATL) methods. We are cooperating mainly with three partners: the Teacher Training Institutes (TTIs), Departments of Education and Training (DOET) and Woman’s Union (WU). In each of these institutes we are improving capacity at different levels: management, trainers and implementers (principals, teachers, college lecturers, club leaders and facilitators) and where possible we support the partner to reach the next level target groups (college students, club members being parents).

Career guidance

One of the factors that contribute to the misfit between labor market demands and education output is the lack of proper career guidance and the lack of students choosing for vocational education. This programme targets career guidance in secondary education and the appreciation of the value of vocational education by communities. The aim is also to contribute to the improvement of the quality and relevance of vocational education in general secondary schools. This programme is working in two of the same provinces as the education programme and with the same partners, the Departments of Education and Training (DOETs) and Women’s Union (WU). Also the Provincial People’s Committees (PPC) and Departments of Labor, War
Invalids and Social Affairs (DOLISAs) are closely involved to ensure relevance of the intervention, and coordination and integration with other initiatives.

Agricultural extension

The current PAEX (Participatory Agricultural EXtension) programme in Vietnam started in 2008 as the continuation of two earlier projects in 2001-2007.

In line with the national policy (decree 56, MARD circular 60) PAEX contributes to an extension system that addresses the needs of the farmers. Farmers and extension personnel need skills to be able to play their role in an extension system that is based on real farmers’ needs. To support this development, we collaborate with the Agricultural Extension Centre, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Women’s Unions and Farmers’ Associations in five provinces of South Vietnam.
We will phase out these interventions by the end of 2012 following the strategic decision of VVOB to concentrate on formal education.