Three billion VND to help vulnerable people stricken by Covid-19 and the drought in Viet Nam

This cash delivery activity is a joint effort of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to support vulnerable people, mostly women and girls in Viet Nam to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic and the drought.

The COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing policies have had a great impact on the livelihoods of many people, especially ones who are working in informal sectors. Women and girls are disproportionately affected across various spheres in private and professional life. Economically, as well as regarding their physical and mental health and security, and social protection, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing issues negatively impacting women and girls.

According to the latest report of UN Women and UNDP, the pandemic will push 96 million people worldwide into extreme poverty by 2021, 47 million of whom are women and girls. This will increase the total number of women and girls living in extreme poverty to 435 million, with projections showing that this number will not revert to pre-pandemic levels until 2030. In Viet Nam, the situation is worsened for people who suffered from the pandemic and the most severe drought in more than 60 years in the Mekong Delta, including Ca Mau province.

The cash grant will help to improve the living conditions of around 3,500 people from 800 vulnerable households in Tran Van Thoi district, Ca Mau province who lost their jobs and significantly reduced their income due to the double disasters (COVID-19 and drought). The priority is given to the most vulnerable families such as families with women as main breadwinner, families with pregnant women or women bearing children under 12 months, families with disable people, families with chronic diseases people, and families with elderly above 65.

This activity is under the project on Forecast-based Financing and Early Warning – Early Action for drought that UN Women and FAO has implemented in Ca Mau since 2017. Cash delivery will be processed in coordination with Viet Nam Women’s Union at provincial, district and commune levels. The total funding of 3.150.000.000 VND comes from the generous contribution of the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO).