The first phase of Making Markets Work Better for the Poor project (M4P) was officially completed on December 31st 2007. The proposed second phase of the project (M4P2) is expected to commence implementation in March-April 2008. During the period between the first and second phases of M4P, an interim project coordination unit will be operating in the ADB Vietnam Resident Mission. The interim unit will have the responsibility of undertaking all necessary preparations for the implementation of M4P2 and acting as the focal point for enquiries and activities related to M4P.

Supermarkets are playing an increasingly important role in food retailing systems, and exerting a significant impact upon food production and distribution systems as Viet Nam’s economy grows rapidly and, becomes increasingly urbanized and integrates further into the global economy.

As the majority of the poor are concentrated in rural areas, and rely on agriculture for the majority of their earnings, it is inevitable that changes to food production, distribution and retailing systems will have an impact on their livelihoods.

The poor also represent a major consumer bloc in Viet Nam. They spend a significantly higher proportion of their income on food than any other income group. Changes to distribution and retail systems for food have a strong potential to impact on them as consumers.

This book reports the results of the first large scale research into the impact of supermarkets in Viet Nam on the poor as consumers, traders and producers. The research has been conducted as a cooperative venture between the MALICA (Markets and Livelihoods for Cities in Asia) consortium and the Making Markets Work Better for the Poor (M4P) project.

Click here to download the book: Chapter 1-2-3: English (4.6MB) | Vietnamese (3.1MB), Chapter 4-5: English (4,6MB) | Vietnamese (763KB), Chaper 6-7: English (6.1MB) | Vietnamese (3.6MB), Chapter 8-9: English (4.7MB) | Vietnamese (629KB), Chapter 10: English (4.7MB) | Vietnamese (2.4MB), Chapter 11: English (4.4MB) | Vietnamese (2.2MB), Chapter 12: English (3.3MB) | Vietnamese (1.6MB), Chapter 13: English (5.3MB) | Vietnamese (1.5MB). The entire volume: Vietnamese (15.6MB)

Among M4P publications, the Markets and Development Bulletin (MDB) series presents information in a different manner to other publications. It is written in direct language, and highlights particular aspects of research results. The MDB is a relatively short publication of only 4 pages, of which 2 pages contain the presentation of results and 2 pages contain “talking heads” – summarized comments from various relating stakeholders. The inclusion of comments from stakeholders gives the MDB an interesting and topical feel, and allows the presentation of a variety of viewpoints on the subject.

A total of more than 180,000 copies of the various MDB have been distributed in hard copy to stakeholders throughout Viet Nam, and feedback received from this wide readership has been utilized in order to improve the MDB and to ensure that topics included in the series are relevant and useful.

This book brings together the full texts of the first 12 MDBs which were produced between 2004 and 2007. We highly recommend this volume to readers who are interested in the operation of markets in the context of Vietnamese integration in general, and the impact of these market operations on the poor in particular. Click here to download it in English (1.8MB)| Vietnamese (2MB).