Collaboration for Agriculture and Rural Development (CARD) Program

Objectives: To increase the productivity and competitiveness of Vietnamese smallholder agriculture and related rural enterprises by supporting a competitive funding mechanism for grants for agricultural research and strengthening Vietnam’s capacity to effectively manage its agricultural research programs.

Australian Contribution: A$20 million

Total cost: A$28.6 million

Duration: March 2004 – March 2010

Location: All provinces

Project Components:

Component 1: Implementation of collaborative projects: to implement collaborative projects that develop technologies and educational or knowledge products that address specific constraints in agriculture; and strengthen Vietnam’s human and institutional capacity to develop and apply such products.

Component 2: Program management and governance: to effectively and efficiently manage the CARD program and strengthen the capacity of MARD to manage agricultural technology and knowledge development programs, with a focus on institutional strengthening for Science and Technology governance reform.

Outcomes:

To have implemented 4 rounds of collaboratively conceived agricultural research projects
Through this portfolio of activities, to have developed and applied agricultural technologies and knowledge that has effectively addressed constrains to Vietnamese stakeholder agriculture productivity and competitiveness
To have built a range of effective and sustainable partnerships between Vietnamese and Australian agricultural and development institutions
To have strengthened competencies in Vietnamese research entities in areas such as research methodology and educational curricular development
To have established an effective and sustainable research management information system and M&E system which help increase the efficiency of agricultural knowledge acquisition and dissemination in Vietnam.
To have provided assistance to research institutional strengthening in MARD relating to science and technology governance and management, including the development of its R&D policy and strategy.

Australian Managing Contractor (AMC): Hassall & Associates International

Australian Team Leader (ATL):

Keith Milligan - Technical Coordinator
Room 207-208 - Building A9
2 Ngoc Ha, Hanoi
Tel/fax. 7336539
Mob. 0903 294 613
http://www.card.com.vn

Vietnamese Counterparts:

Ms. Hoang Thi Dung
Deputy Director, International Coordination Department,
Ministry of Agricultural &Rural Development
Tel: 84-4-8437520
Fax: 84-4-7330752
Email: ICDMARD@fpt.vn

AusAID Contact:

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Viet
Senior Program Manager, Rural Development Sector
No. 8 Dao Tan, Ba Dinh, Hanoi
Tel.: 84 4 8317754/ 55 ext 180
Fax: 84 4 8317706
Email: quoc-viet.nguyen@dfat.gov.au

2008