Doan Thanh Phuc, Deputy Director of the provincial Centre for Disease Control and deputy head of the Project Management Board in the province, shared that the project is being implemented from July 2023 to March 2026 in Lang Cheu, Xim Vang, and Chim Van communes of Bac Yen district; and Muong Va, Sam Kha, and Pung Banh communes of Sop Cop district. These communes are mainly inhabited by Mong, Thai, Kho Mu ethnic groups, with difficult economic conditions. The rate of malnutrition among under-5 children is still high. The project's goal is to improve the livelihoods of ethnic minorities through agricultural production, focus on gender equality, and food security, and improve maternal and child nutrition.

The project consists of two components: agriculture and nutrition. In the agriculture component, 67 training courses on vegetable growing techniques, livestock farming, business negotiation skills, livelihood activities, and nutrition-enhancing agricultural production models were organised, attracting more than 1,200 participants. As many as 343 visits were made to guide households in production practices; while 1,716 monitoring sessions, 25 visits to demonstration models, and one field workshop were held in Sop Cop district.

Participating in the project, Song Thi Mai's family in Xim Vang hamlet, Xim Vang commune, Bac Yen district has received support for breeding chickens, Muscovy ducks, food and vaccines to prevent poultry diseases. Mai said that her family now maintains a flock of more than 100 Muscovy ducks. This is a source of food, helping her take care of her children so that they develop healthy and physically.

Regarding the nutrition component, the project organised 11 training courses to provide knowledge on maternal and child nutrition care for 300 hamlet health workers and women in 60 hamlets implementing the project. It also provided communication materials and necessary tools for counseling and guiding nutrition practices in the community; conducted 246 prenatal examinations at commune health stations and households; organised weighing and measuring for over 10,800 under-2 children; established and operated 35 nutrition rehabilitation education centres in 47 hamlets, benefiting nearly 3,400 malnourished children.

Doctor Hoang Van Hien, head of the Xim Vang commune health station, said “To implement the project, we coordinated with the village chiefs, health workers and women to encourage and mobilise pregnant women to have regular prenatal examinations; instructed households on how to cook porridge and rice flour to ensure adequate nutrition for children; how to identify and use a variety of locally available foods in children's daily meals.”

After two years of implementation, the project has changed people's awareness of improving livelihoods and nutrition, as well as health care behaviour. In the coming time, the Project Management Board will continue to build production groups; call on sponsors; provide seeds, materials, fertilisers, and technical training; and focus on expanding the target group to mothers with children under 24 months old.