UNESCO and CEMA host a joint consultation workshop for the “Anthropological approach in ethnic minority affairs in Viet Nam” training programme

The Working Group of the School for Ethnic Minority Cadres presented the main contents of three newly developed training materials and the training methodology applied to deliver the modules during the consultation workshop on 28 June. The consultation gathered policy-makers at the provincial level in the area of ethnic minority affairs, representatives of different departments under CEMA, and researchers.

Discussions at the workshop highlighted the importance of communication for development at the grassroots level and suggested that the module on participatory rural appraisal (PRA) should provide further analysis on the adoption of PRA tools in the ethnic minority development context of Viet Nam.

Speaking at the workshop, Deputy Minister Phan Van Hung stated that he was confident that the training modules will contribute to building the capacity of CEMA staff. He also reiterated the importance of mainstreaming the culturally appropriate approach throughout the modules to improve the effectiveness of socio-economic development policies targeting ethnic minorities.

The three additional modules presented during the consultation workshop were developed by the Working Group of the School for Ethnic Minority Cadres, under the auspices of the Council of Ethnic Minority Affairs, on the following topics: (i) behavioural communication in ethnic minority areas; (ii) cultural region and sustainable development; and (iii) participatory rural appraisal.

The Working Group of the School for Ethnic Minority Cadres went through an intensive capacity building process focusing on these topics and worked under the supervision of lead anthropologists, who provided hands-on technical assistance to develop the training materials. The draft training modules were piloted in a training for ethnic minority development officials at the provincial and district level in Bac Giang Province from 31 May to 2 June 2016.

The training programme builds upon prior UNESCO support to CEMA on curriculum development and integrating the anthropological approach. In 2015, UNESCO provided assistance to CEMA to produce four training modules integrating the anthropological and culturally appropriate approach to development. The completed modules equip government officials working in ethnic minority affairs with relevant tools and knowledge to concretize the people-centred approach to development into the different aspects of ethnic minority development.

For further information, contact Ms. Nguyen Thanh Van, National Program Officer in Culture, UNESCO Ha Noi Office, atnt.van@unesco.org