Mekong Market Portfolio Program (MMPP) - the Inception Phase

Objectives:

The MMPP implemented by the Prosperity Initiative (PI) seeks to build rural sector portfolio development strategies and capacities to impact poverty at scale in Vietnam, Lao PDR and Cambodia. The Inception Phase focuses on Vietnam National Market Strategy, with the following objectives:

To demonstrate the value of strategic market analysis outputs for driving large scale poverty impact;
To establish the National Strategy Project Team;
To establish key partner and institutional agreements, linkages and structures; and
To agree final design and resourcing for roll-out of Phase 2

Total Funding:

Australian contribution: $495,000
Total Cost: A$1,208,640

Duration: March 2008 February 2009

Location: Hanoi and some selected provinces

Project Activities:

Screening of 10 sectors whose improvement may offer the potential to impact poverty through systematic selection, planning and delivery of a series of small-scale and selective larger-scale market analysis projects undertaken with key institutional partners.
Establishing relationships and co-ordination mechanisms with key partners, initially at national level, who are in a position to directly influence longer-term sector development through the formulation and implementation of sectoral policy.
Finalising design and resourcing of Phase 2 of the MMPP which involves rolling out the approach to a wider range of sectors drawing on accumulated experience, and starting pilot studies and other implementation activities supported by the necessary agreements with donors and other partners.

Expected Results:

Establishment of strong working relationships with strategic national government partners, including IPSARD.
Demonstration of government buy-in at national level
Skills development of IPSARD staff
Screening assessment completed of 10 sectors, which includes 2 larger studies
Baseline surveys of households and businesses for the 2 larger study sectors
National Market Strategy team established with full involvement of staff from key partner agencies
Program management and coordination mechanisms established
Design and resourcing for Phase 2 (2009 and beyond).

Funding Donors: AusAID, Irish Aid, SDC, Oxfam Hong Kong, Oxfam America

Vietnamese Counterparts:
Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development (IPSARD) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD)

Contact Officer:
Dr Dang Kim Son, Director of IPSARD
Tel. 84 4 9723390 Fax. 84 4 8230381
Mob. 0913 270672
Email: ipsard@fpt.vn

PI Contact:
Mr John D. M. Marsh, Executive Director
2nd Floor, 16 Mai Hac De Street, Hanoi
Tel.: 84 4 9454406
Fax: 84 4 9454405
Email: john.marsh@pi-email.org

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