IFAD develops new cooperation program with Viet Nam

On October 15, the Independent Office of Evaluation (IOE) of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) held a national meeting on the Country Strategy and Program Evaluation (CSPE). The event marked an important milestone in over 30 years of effective cooperation between IFAD and the Government of Viet Nam and in the implementation of support programs from 2012 to 2024. It also set the stage for a new vision of agricultural and rural cooperation between IFAD and Viet Nam in the years to come.

Representatives from the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, and numerous international and local development organizations that benefit from IFAD projects attended the meeting. This was an opportunity for stakeholders to review the cooperation journey, share practical experiences, and discuss breakthrough solutions to enhance investment efficiency and promote sustainable rural development in the next phase.

USD 500 million invested in sustainable rural development

Dr. Indran A. Naidoo, Director of the Independent Office of Evaluation at IFAD, emphasized that IFAD’s strategies are particularly aligned with the government’s development policies and IFAD’s own priorities, especially in reducing rural poverty, promoting market-based development, and adapting to climate change.

According to the CSPE report, from 2012 to 2024, IFAD committed approximately USD 500 million in ODA and grants to Viet Nam, with implementation across more than 20 provinces, focusing on mountainous, remote, and climate-vulnerable areas.

Independent assessments demonstrate that IFAD’s investments have had a lasting impact on rural livelihoods, enabling smallholder farmers to increase productivity, develop value chains, diversify their incomes, and enhance resilience to climate and market fluctuations.

Notably, many models, such as cooperatives linking agricultural production and consumption, community-based livelihood development, and natural resource management, have proven effective and been replicated locally using domestic resources. These models not only generate stable incomes but also promote gender equality and empower rural women.

Over the past decade, IFAD-supported programs in Viet Nam have reached more than 1.6 million rural residents, nearly half of whom are women and ethnic minorities. The evaluation also highlighted Viet Nam’s growing role as a regional leader in sharing knowledge and experience on rural transformation.

Importantly, the CSPE recognized the effectiveness of decentralization, local empowerment, and the key role of provincial leadership in scaling up initiatives and ensuring sustainable impacts. However, the report also identified areas for improvement, including resource mobilization, knowledge management, and adaptation to evolving policy and institutional contexts.

New direction for IFAD–Viet Nam cooperation

The Country Strategic Opportunities Programme (COSOP) serves as the guiding framework for cooperation between IFAD and Viet Nam for the 2026–2030 period, ensuring that strategic investments align with Viet Nam’s changing rural development needs.

Mr. Paolo Silveri, Lead Evaluation Officer and Chief of Section of the Independent Office of Evaluation of IFAD, stated, “In the next phase, IFAD will focus on scaling up effective models, including climate adaptation, digital transformation, and inclusive value chain development, placing vulnerable groups at the center of the transformation process.” The report from IFAD recommends maintaining a strong focus on local development, prioritizing support for small, poor, and vulnerable farming households, as well as ethnic minorities.

IFAD representatives also proposed enhancing tripartite cooperation among the government, private sector, and farming communities to mobilize more socialized resources for green agricultural development. This approach is considered crucial for helping Viet Nam achieve its goals for reducing emissions and promoting sustainable rural development.

“Building the next phase of the Country Strategic Opportunities Programme (COSOP) should leverage Viet Nam’s leadership in promoting South–South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC), strengthening regional linkages, and contributing actively to global policy dialogue,” said Mr. Ambrosio Barros, IFAD Viet Nam Country Director & Head of Mekong Multi-Country Office.

Deputy Minister of Finance Tran Quoc Phuong reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to continue working with IFAD in developing a new national strategy aligned with national target programs and the Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development Strategy for 2026–2035, in line with Viet Nam’s long-term agricultural and rural development orientation. He also emphasized the importance of effectively mobilizing resources for major “transformations” such as green agriculture, circular economy, digital transition, and climate change adaptation.

From a local perspective, delegates emphasized that coordination, inclusiveness, and community ownership are crucial to sustaining results.

According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dao The Anh, former Deputy Director of the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences (VAAS), COSOP 2026 should continue to deeply assess other critical issues such as nutrition security, promotion of the national action program for food system transformation, and improved poverty reduction and new rural development outcomes.