in Vietnam of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, to provide
grass-roots assistance to the poorest villages of the country as a contribution
towards the National Hunger Eradication and Poverty Alleviation Programme.Following a meeting with the Prime Minister in 1999 (see right), an agreement was concluded with the Vietnamese Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) to facilitate implementation of the programme.
The programme was started in 2000 and consists of financing small, locally-designed projects which can be quickly implemented, with the cooperation of the local authorities, and which can have an immediate impact on the poorest communities.
The Foundation for Microprojects in Vietnam (FMV) was established with its headquarters in Switzerland in order to promote financial support for future projects.
The concept of microprojects has been successfully used in Vietnam by organizations such as the United Nations and others as an effective means to alleviate poverty at the grass-roots level.
Experience has shown that project sustainability is ensured by the fact that their conception and design originates at the local level.
These are the most urgent needs as identified by the communities themselves. In addition, since the local communities contribute scarce funding of their own toward each project, the local authorities and population have the necessary incentive to ensure that the facilities are properly maintained and used over the long term.
