Since 2002, JOICFP has been supporting a small-scale RH/FP project in Gia Binh and Yen Phong Districts, Bac Ninh Province, Vietnam, operated by the Vietnam Family Planning Association (VINAFPA).

From 25th to 30th November 2007, a JOICFP team, headed by Hideyuki Takahashi, Director, Resource Development and Campaign, JOICFP, visited the project sites to monitor progress, meet with VINAFPA, see how donated bicycles and other goods are being used, and discuss a project evaluation report.

Community-based distributors (CBDs) are instrumental in providing services such as delivering information and counseling on RH/FP to improve community health and promote safe motherhood.

36 CBDs in Gia Binh district were trained and given micro-credit funds in 2004, and each CBD covers 178 couples/households.

Discussions with CBDs showed that they were happy to make use of the microcredit scheme. This was after they received training in microcredit from the community organization the Vietnam Women's Union, emphasizing how community organizations play an important role in diffusing information in a way that community people feel comfortable with.

A CBD in Gia Binh explains her activities

One CBD commented that getting a bank loan was very difficult and no training was provided. Bank loans require detailed procedures, authorized guarantee and no training on usage is provided.

On the other hand, micro-credit is user-friendly, easy to use, and the amount of repayment is smaller in frequent installments.

The team saw several examples of successful microcredit usage. For example, one CBD in Gia Binh has raised 13 pigs. She said, "Pigs grow fast, only taking three months to grow up, so pigs are an effective investment. Now, I do not have to pay attention to food management for pigs, so I have more time to help community health as a CBD."

This CBD explains how raising pigs
with micro-credit funds assists her
in her CBD activities

In discussions with VINAFPA, the topic of increasing male involvement arose, and VINAFPA explained that it worked to integrate RH meetings with events men attend such as Farmer's Union meetings.

In addition, other clubs such as Youth Clubs and "pre-marriage" clubs were targeted.

JOICFP has been supporting ten CBDs for its micro-credit project in Yen Phong since 2007. One CBD covers 226 couple/household in promoting safe motherhood.

One CBD stated that she had gained self-confidence as a result of knowing how to generate income, and this independence motivates them in their CBDs work. The motivation of the CBDs is high as they see themselves as being integral to project sustainability.

CBDs have also received bicycles through VINAFPA. The CBDs in Yen Phong, for example, say Japanese bicycles are well made and they greatly appreciate them.

CBDs in Yen Phong riding
bicycles donated from Japan

JOICFP also visited Ha Tinh Province in the south of Vietnam that suffered flooding and landslides after a typhoon in October 2007 and discussed planned donations of relief clothing.