A number of Vietnamese agencies and non-government organizations are participating in the $5.25 million Market Access for the Rural Poor (MARP) project financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The project, carried out in the 2012-2016 period, aims to reduce poverty among Vietnamese households, especially ethnic minorities, through generating additional income and employment in selected value chains, particularly in agriculture and non-timber forest field, in which the poor can participate. The project will be implemented in 10 provinces with 9 chains for sericulture, tea, bamboo, rattan, anise, cinnamon, seaweed and cardamom. The Vietnam Rural Industries Research and Development Institute (VIRI), the Vietnam Handicraft Exporters Association (Vietcraft), Dutch SNV, Capital Seaweed and Oxfam are among the project participants. These organizations all have experience in value chain and market access interventions and will be able to enable other actors to participate in the chain and stimulate significant pro-poor changes in the market system. (Thoi Bao Kinh Te Viet Nam – Economic Times Aug 1 p11)
