Vietnam is facing numerous challenges to poverty reduction, including economic slowdown, increasing inequality, and a lack of sustainability in poverty reduction. Households benefit differently from economic growth depending on their geographic and demographic characteristics, causing the speed of poverty reduction to vary across regions and ethnic groups. Factors such as an increase in vulnerability levels, stronger impacts from socio-economic shocks, and climate change all pose threats to sustainable poverty reduction. Poverty reduction among ethnic minority groups in particular is one of the key priorities of the Vietnamese Government and development partners.
Experts at MDRI have completed extensive research focused on poverty reduction, including a recent evaluation of development policies at the national level. Our contribution to data collection on Vietnamese ethnic minority groups in particular is among the most comprehensive available. Our research in this area stands out as we use a multidimensional approach to measure and evaluate the impact of support policies and programs, allowing us to obtain a comprehensive picture of the poverty situation in different locations. With our findings, we are able to recognize and embrace the cultural diversity and uniqueness that have fundamental implications for the socio-economic development of ethnic minority communities.
A significant project that MDRI completed for the World Bank involved generating an original database to analyze living standards, infrastructure, and livelihoods of project localities in households across six provinces. The database will provide a design for activities to reduce poverty and improve livelihood opportunities for poor households, and will serve as baseline data from which the impact of the project will be assessed. Read more about Analysis of the Baseline Survey Data Supporting the Impact Assessment of Central Highlands Poverty Reduction Project.
We also developed a project for the Overseas Development Institute that investigates the association between poverty dynamics and involvement in the private sector, particularly the non-farming sector. Read more about Policy Guide on Private Sector Development and Chronic Poverty.