Multilingual digital communication: Bridging communication gaps between ethnic minority groups in Northern Viet Nam

In 2012 Viet Nam launched the National Target Programme on expanding information outreach to mountainous, deep-lying, remote, border and island regions to improve grassroots information networks and catalyse development.  The programme aims to narrow the gap in information and communication benefits between regions and to boost socio-economic development, enhancing people’s cultural and traditional life and maintaining security and defence in mountainous, remote areas as well as in ethnic minority regions.

UNESCO has supported Viet Nam in implementing the National Target Programme in strengthening communication among ethnic minorities through capacity building of broadcasters of ethnic minority language programs and the development of guidelines on multilingual digital communication and training of ethnic minority media practitioners.

Through the three-day training workshop on 14-16 October, Radio Voice of Viet Nam (VOV) trained participants from the northern mountainous provinces of Son La, Dien Bien, Lao Cai, Cao Bang, Yen Bai, Ha Giang and Hoa Binh on effetive communication with ethnic minorities taking into account distinctive traits such as geography, culture, language, traditional customs and practices. Participants included members of the Women’s Union, Youth’s Union, Agricultural Sector, Cultural Sector, Coordinating Boards of the New Rural Area Program, Traffic Safety Units and Border Guards.

The Guidelines on Multilingual Digital Communication developed by VOV in collaboration with UNESCO was among the key training tools used to equip participants with information and recommendations on the use of media platforms such as interactive ethnic minority language websites, fan pages, and smartphone applications to interact, produce, share and disseminate quality information to ethnic minorities.

During the workshop participants also joined the Network of Ethnic Minority Communicators launched by VOV to promote information, radio programs and videos on various topics including consultancies to ethnic minority groups on maize production, family planning, children education, and many other topics. 



Additionally, a Facebook group and a fan page were established by participants to facilitate the sharing of network member’s communication products and experience. 



In working towards inclusive knowledge societies, UNESCO continues to support such programmes towards developing inclusive policies for empowering indigenous and marginalised communities, minority groups, youth and people with disabilities, to be able to access and actively participate in the spread of multilingual knowledge through traditional medium as well as on the Internet.

For more information, please contact Ms. Hoang Minh Nguyet, Communication and Information Programme Coordinator, athm.nguyet@unesco.org