Midterm Review on the Community Development Project in the Tam Giang Lagoon

Background:The goal of the community development project is to improve the livelihoods of vulnerable and marginalized groups by empowering them to take care of their own development. The project is implemented in the Tam Giang lagoon area in Thua Thien Hue province in central Vietnam. Target groups are the resetteld sampan (boat) people and those who still live on boats in Phuoc Lap and My On villages of Quang Phuoc and Quang An communes. The livelihood of approx. 90% of the households in the two villages rely exclusively on wild catch fishing. The Tam Giang lagoon is in a situation where the aquatic resources are depleting quickly due to intensification of fishing activities, use of destructive fishing practices, shrinking water surface due to shrimp farming, poorly planned aquaculture development and lack of appropriate enforcement of resource management policies.   Purpose/Objective:The purpose of the evaluation was to examine the achievements so far, weaknesses and strengths, appropriateness and effectiveness of the project, and make recommendations for the second phase of the project. Methodology:The team reviewed amongst others project documents, narrative and financial periodical reports, bylaws of the Fishery Associations, 5-year and annual development plans and reports, national and provincial legal documents regarding management of aquatic resources, and provincial regulation on lagoon management. Data collection from the field was conducted through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, mapping, and observation.Beneficiaries, community groups, group leaders, village, commune and district leaders, district and provincial specializedagencies, and HUAF staff were consulted. Separate discussions with men and women were held, as well as with mixed groups,to ensure that the perspectives of both men and women were fully captured. Key Findings:Different kinds of material support brought significant changes to the lives of the villagers. These included among othersconstruction of an electricity line, housing support, building of latrines, land and housing ground preparation for newly resettledfamilies, and capacity building and activities aiming at diversification of livelihoods. Electricity improved conditions for learningfor pupils as well as giving access to information and entertainment through TV. A solid house added security to the lives ofthose living in a disaster prone area, and also allowed for more savings because the need for annual house repairs due todisasters was reduced. However, the model house was a failure, because nobody in the community followed its design.Installation of latrines and septic tanks improved hygiene and sanitation conditions, which contributed to better health for thehousehold members. New production models proved to be effective in generating income and minimize risk. The pilot on apoly-culture model (shrimp, fish and crab) was successful and will be expanded. The NAV support was combined with community and household contributions, and created a sense of ownership for the localpeople. Except for the construction of the electricity lines, the NAV support was not a driving force, but a stimulus to generatea commitment for change in the communities. Action-based education made a positive change in people’s attitude to the environment. It resulted in many sanitation andenvironmental improvements, ranging from a rubbish hole in the backyard of almost every family to weekly communitycleaning actions by a newly set up community environmental group. These initiatives took place without financial support fromNAV. Many self-help and interest groups were created. The environmental group in My On and the Aquaculture FisheriesAssociation in Quang An function in a dynamic and independent way. However, the general characteristics of the othergroups created by the project is that they are quite passive and dependent upon outside support. The project increased the accountability of local institutions towards the local people. Through the participatory approach, theproject brought local government officials closer to the needs and priorities of the marginalized groups, especially the poor,the sampan people and women. In Quang Phuoc the project was successful with its’ advocacy towards the communeauthorities to provide poor sampan families with land for houses for free. Over time, the Fisheries Associations are thought to play a key role in the Government’s drive to grant fishing rights to thecommunities. So far, a clear commitment from the members not to use destructive fishing methods has drastically reducedthe incidence of this in the two communities.  Recommendations:The project should continue and replicate the positive achievements and strengths, namely good grassroots partnership, aparticipatory approach, action-based education, diversification of income sources, and building the capacity of FisheriesAssociations. The issues to be improved include:- involvement of a local mass organization in action-based education- greater involvement of commune technical specialists in introducing livelihoods models- develop community groups and collective actions in a stronger bottom-up approach- stop expanding the model house (was stopped in December 2006)- greater participation of women in the technical training and capacity building events- continuation of advocacy efforts for replication of the Fisheries Associations and granting fishing rights to localcommunities Comments from Norwegian Church Aid (if any):In 2009 (final project year) the project will (i) strongly focus on enhancing capacity building for key members of the communitygroups, Boards of Management and Fishery Associations, (ii) expand Action Based Education, (iii) finalize the introductionand promotion process of the integrated aquaculture models (“Better practice management”), (iv) involve local specialists in allaquaculture and natural resource management–related activities conducted by NCA/Hue University of Agriculture and Forestry,(v) continue the advocacy project on delegating fishing rights to Fishery Unions in Phong Dien district, (vi) hand over the projectsto the local communities, and (vii) survey new project sites for the following phase.