Gender equality must become central to clean tech deployment

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Thanh Nam emphasized that gender equality must become a cornerstone of clean technology deployment during a meeting of the Steering Committee for the project "Promoting Low-Carbon Circular Economy Through Clean Tech Innovation Towards Sustainable Development in Viet Nam" on Dec 9.

According to Deputy Minister Nam, women are as capable as anyone when granted the opportunity to experiment and innovate. He directed that project activities move beyond generalities, calling for the identification of specific target groups and the establishment of clear support mechanisms.

Reporting at the meeting, Nguyen Dinh Tho, Deputy Director of the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Agriculture and Environment and Project Director, stated that significant procedural milestones were achieved in the 2024–2025 period. These included signing the project implementation agreement with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), establishing the Steering Committee, and approving the master plan.

However, progress has been impacted by major organizational restructuring and policy adjustments following the merger of ministries. Extended technical negotiations with donors meant advance funding was only disbursed in late October 2025, delaying training components, connectivity efforts, and the development of the clean tech innovation network.

The Project Management Board’s report indicated that components regarding policy, clean tech startup ecosystem connectivity, and knowledge management are designed to foster the circular economy, commercialize initiatives, and expand enterprise capacity. Notably, the gender equality component stands as a critical pillar. This involves assessing the needs and opportunities for women in clean tech startups, proposing a dedicated clean tech innovation network for women, implementing mentorship programs, and launching campaigns to raise awareness of their role in the green startup ecosystem.

During the meeting, UNIDO representatives acknowledged the significant potential of clean tech models originating from farmers and local businesses, particularly in bio-packaging utilizing agricultural by-products. However, many initiatives fail to reach market scale due to a lack of commercialization resources, technical support, and investment connections. UNIDO recommended avoiding industry-specific limitations, suggesting instead a focus on demonstrating tangible reductions in water usage, emissions, and waste to identify suitable projects for support.

Following discussions, Deputy Minister Nam instructed the Project Management Board to urgently finalize regulations and establish a clear set of criteria for selecting support models, focusing on priority areas within the agriculture and environment sector. He highlighted policy changes and organizational consolidation as the two primary causes of recent delays. Consequently, the Deputy Minister called for more decisive implementation to ensure that pilot models are not only highly applicable but also demonstrate women's contributions to emission reduction and clean tech innovation.

To generate widespread momentum, the Deputy Minister directed the organization of a large-scale forum in January 2026, alongside the launch of an innovation competition on clean transition for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). A year-end evaluation council will select and support exemplary models, thereby maintaining an annual movement and expanding the network of businesses participating in the clean tech ecosystem.

The UNIDO representative commended this proposal, noting that a national-level initiative would help the project demonstrate concrete results and ensure sustainability. The Deputy Minister specifically emphasized the requirement to integrate gender equality throughout the entire implementation process to guarantee the project's sustainability, inclusivity, and long-term effectiveness as Viet Nam accelerates its green transition and fulfills international climate commitments.

This initiative is part of a broader strategic partnership between the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The project, titled "Promoting Low-Carbon Circular Economy Through Clean Tech Innovation," aims to bridge the gap between technical innovation and commercial viability for Vietnamese startups and SMEs.

Central to this phase is a mandate to integrate gender equality into industrial development, ensuring women-led enterprises gain equitable access to green credit and mentorship. This effort directly supports Vietnam’s national strategy to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2050, shifting the economy toward sustainable, high-value manufacturing while fostering an inclusive innovation ecosystem.