22 August 2014: The Forest and Farm Facility (FFF) began work in Viet Nam with a launch workshop introducing the FFF and engaging partners and stakeholders. As with the other pilot countries, the FFF in Viet Nam aims to improve the livelihoods and participation of women, smallholders and community groups.

The workshop identified local priorities towards sustainable forest management and explored the role of forests in alleviating rural poverty. The workshop also discussed the basics of a framework for implementation of the FFF for the period 2014-2017, noting that Viet Nam was one of the first countries to fully integrate poverty reduction into forest management. Workshop participants included representatives of government agencies, forest and farm producers, civil society and research institutions.

The FFF is a joint initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). In Viet Nam, the FFF is implemented in partnership with the Farmer’s Union. [UN Viet Nam Press Release] [FFF Website]