Vietnam Challenge Fund Awards its First Grants to 12 Innovative Pro-Poor Projects

After the first ‘call’ for submissions to the Vietnam Challenge Fund (VCF) in December 2009, VCF has selected 12 projects for funding assistance.  Three challenges were set, with the aim of supporting innovative projects implemented by companies and organizations that aim to improve poor people’s participation in -- and returns from -- agricultural value chains.  The intention is to award grants that encourage investments at different points along agricultural value chains that matter to the poor, from the production stage, through to increasing penetration of products in domestic and international food retail systems.

In the first round, VCF received a very strong response from businesses nationwide, which made the funding decisions very competitive. Over 200 concept notes were submitted for the first set of challenges, all of which focused on the agricultural sector. VCF’s Independent Appraisal Panel (IAP) met in February 2010 to select a short-list of projects that were invited to submit a more detailed project proposal.  The IAP then met again in May 2010 to review these proposals, and selected 12 projects to receive grant assistance.  

The 12 winning projects span many locations in Vietnam, from Cao Bang in the North, to Tien Giang in the South, from the highlands of Dak Lak to the coast of Ben Tre. They also span a wide variety of agricultural products, including fruit, coffee, tea, vegetables, meat and seafood. At the moment, VCF grantee projects are in the initial phase of implementation.