While Vietnam has made great strides in development, cultural attitudes in rural areas mean women from ethnic minorities experience high levels of poverty and exclusion. Despite making up less than 15 per cent of the population, today ethnic minorities account for nearly 50 per cent of the poor. Women from remote ethnic groups in Vietnam are often disadvantaged because of unequal rights, few opportunities and little access to education. Often confined to the household with heavy workloads, they are at high risk of gender-based violence.

CARE Australia's Women's Empowerment project is helping women living in poverty to overcome these barriers and improve their lives. The project helps women find new opportunities so they can participate more fully in society.

CARE is training women in improved farming skills to help them participate in the market economy. Once trained, many go on to teach others in their communities, bringing about positive and lasting change. Across 30 villages in some of the poorest districts in Vietnam, CARE provides vulnerable households with the loans, training and support to begin small businesses. They also support women's groups, which give women the opportunity to save money for their family and assist them to be a part of community decision-making.

This project is led by CARE Australia and is funded through Australian Aid from the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP). It is implemented through CARE's local implementing partners who receive technical support from CARE: Centre for Community Development and Bac Kan Women's Union.