GREAT partner CRED recently organised leadership development training courses, including online sessions for 80 leaders of cooperatives, collective groups and businesses working in agricultural and tourism sectors in Lao Cai and Son La, with technical support from IChange Center.

The current COVID-19 outbreak hasn’t stopped GREAT partners working in the #cinnamon sector from sitting together for the eighth cinnamon sector meeting through an online conference.

After 10 months of implementation, an #ecommerce initiative implemented by GREAT partner VietED has developed a partnership network with 20 cooperatives in Son La and 12 cooperatives in Lao Cai.

Nearly 2,000 people have benefited from the women-led business expansion project implemented by Lao Cai Women’s Union with support from GREAT.

To respond to COVID-19, GREAT partners AOP and DCI Moc Chau have been working with tour operators and Vat Village communities in Moc Chau to customise tour products targeting the domestic market to create income for communities given the international travel lock-down.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a negative impact on the local tourism industry, especially with limited international visitors. In response, GREAT tourism partners AOP and DCI Sa Pa are adopting market-boosting solutions.

Recently, Lao Cai Provincial People’s Committee chaired a conference on Policy impact assessments and digital transformation solutions in tourism to respond to COVID-19 with the support of GREAT.

On Gender Month, we honour the Women on the Frontline who have been working tirelessly in response to COVID-19 and towards recovery.

The major topics for discussions were the current challenges brought by COVID-19 pandemic across the sectors, pests and diseases impacting passionfruit growing and a lack of specialised vegetable production areas.