Since 2002, JOICFP has been supporting the Vietnam Family Planning Association (VINAFPA) in a reproductive health/family planning (RH/FP) and parasite prevention project in Gia Binh district, Bac Ninh province.

Since 2004, the project has integrated microcredit facilities for 36 community-based distributors (CBDs) to increase their income and allow them more time to focus on RH/FP activities such as delivering counseling and services.

Gia Binh is a rural area, and most CBDs use the microcredit loans to invest in farming, sericulture, and raising livestock and fish.

Do Thi Anh, CBD, raises fish at home.
Here, she is feeding fish with rice bran.

The CBDs support each other through exchanging information at monthly meetings, where they also make their loan repayments.

Average CBD income has risen from US$60 to US$360 in three years. This has made a big impact on project sustainability as even when the project ends CBDs will be able to continue to deliver RH/FP services.

In many cases, when project funding dries up, project activities cease. The integration of microcredit into this RH/FP project will help to ensure it continues.

VINAFPA plans to expand the microcredit scheme to other districts.

Pham Thi Hoa, CBD, engages in poultry farming
by which she can make a small income