This brief makes recommendations (issued by the United Nations, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, European Union Delegation to Viet Nam, Embassies of Australia, Canada, Finland, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switerland, United Kingdon and United States of America, and Oxfam)  for the revision of the 2003 Land Law. The suggested revisions are designed to ensure that farmers (or rural land use right holders more generally) are treated in ways that are equivalent to other land use right holders. This change will raise rural income and welfare and enable farmers to participate fully in Viet Nam’s modernization.

Lessons learned and policy implications

The Central Coastal region is one of the most vulnerable to disasters and climate change in the country. In the context of the mid-year Consultative Group meeting held in Quang Tri, this paper focuses on the nexus between sustainable poverty reduction and disaster risk management and climate change adaptation, in particular in the Central Coastal region of Viet Nam. The paper highlights main policy messages, drawing on UN experiences providing programme and policy support to the Government in the Central Coastal region, and suggests main policy implications.

The issue:
Viet Nam has achieved impressive economic progress since the doi moi (renovation) process was launched in 1986. Since 1993, real GDP growth has averaged 7.5% per year and the poverty rate has been reduced from 58% in 1993 to 13% in 2008. Growth has been driven by accelerated international integration, market liberalization and job creation in the private sector.

The issue:
While Viet Nam has achieved a significant reduction in malnutrition among under-five children during the last three decades, malnutrition remains a public health priority.  There are important differences in food patterns between the highlands, midlands and mountainous areas, between urban and rural areas, and between ethnic groups. Many maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) core outcomes, such as like maternal mortality, child mortality and child malnutrition rates, are lagging behind in these areas compared to the rest of Viet Nam, especially among poor and disadvantaged groups.

The issue:
Located in the Central Highlands region of the country, Kon Tum is one of the poorest provinces in Viet Nam, where large ethnic minority population reside. Of the total population of 389,745, approximately 53% belongs to various ethnic groups – Bana, Xedang, De, Trieng, G’rai, B’rou and R’mam.