Strengthening inspection and supervision of Project 8 implementation

Project 8 on “Implementing gender equality and solving urgent issues for women and children” under the National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas, during the implementation period, the Standing Committee of the Provincial Women's Union has strengthened supervision in localities implementing the project. Through supervision in Dakrong and Huong Hoa districts, it shows that the implementation of Project 8 has initially achieved positive results.

The Provincial Women's Union gives gifts to poor women during a training session on establishing a community media team in A Doi commune, Huong Hoa - Photo: TAM

The People's Committees of the beneficiary districts have paid attention to directing the implementation of Project 8, assigning tasks and allocating funds to units and localities for implementation. The activities of Project 8 are basically carried out according to the requirements and orientations of the Provincial Women's Union. The Women's Unions of the districts have issued plans on propaganda and mobilization activities to change thinking and working methods to contribute to eliminating gender prejudices and stereotypes such as: ensuring the voice and real participation of women and children (W&C) in the socio-economic development activities of the community, monitoring and criticizing; supporting women to participate in leadership in the political system.

The Women's Unions of the districts have focused on implementing activities such as: guiding the organization of activities and making communication plans for full-time and part-time officials of the Women's Unions at all levels at the grassroots level. Up to now, the two districts of Huong Hoa and Dakrong have established 90 community communication teams; implemented communication campaigns on gender equality (GEM) and prevention and control of domestic violence; organized 2 forums "Exchange and experience sharing", 10 policy dialogues; established 13 "Leaders of Change" club models in 13 schools; evaluated the results after the end of the communication campaign; trained to build and establish "trusted addresses"; surveyed the need for support in applying science and technology of livelihood groups and teams; organized training courses on applying science and technology; actively monitored the organization of activities of project models...

Assessing the effectiveness of Project 8, Vice President of the Quang Tri Provincial Women's Union Tran Thi Thuy Nga said: Project 8's activities have received the coordination and support of local Party committees, authorities, departments and branches, and the acceptance and participation of the people. Initially, the models have been put into effective operation, contributing to raising awareness, thinking and working methods of cadres, members and people in ethnic minority areas in preventing and combating domestic violence; preventing and combating gender-based violence, in gender equality work and participating in solving urgent issues related to women and children.

However, after a period of implementation of Project 8, difficulties and limitations have been revealed, such as: the system of legal documents is completely new and incomplete, so the access and application of documents by units and localities is still confusing. Some bad customs in funerals, weddings, early marriages... still exist in some residential areas. Gender inequality still exists in some villages and families. A part of ethnic minorities have not proactively risen up to escape poverty. Domestic violence, drug abuse, and cases of abuse against women and children still occur, and new types of crimes have increased. Some commune-level Party committees and authorities have not really stepped in to implement the project.

The grassroots Women's Union cadres do not have much experience, so it is difficult to implement the project. The capacity of Women's Union cadres in some communes is still limited, and they have not carefully studied the guidance documents of higher levels, so the consultation and implementation of project activities at the local level is still slow.

The maintenance of established models is not regular due to lack of funding. The livelihood groups are small and fragmented, so the base does not have the need to support cooperatives and cooperatives owned/co-owned by women to apply science and technology to achieve the set goals.

Many communes have not yet collected data reports as instructed, and have not seriously implemented periodic reporting to the higher-level association. Coordination with some departments and offices is not tight and synchronous. The situation of early marriage, illegal migration, and unregistered marriage is still common...

The funding was provided late in the year, so the implementation activities were slow. The progress and disbursement rate were low, the budget allocation was not based on the implementation instructions in the area, so some contents could not be implemented.

The budget allocation for the implementation of Project 8 for beneficiary communes has not been based on the content and implementation targets, so some communes do not know how to implement and spend. As a locality that benefits from many Fatherland Front programs, agencies, departments and branches at all levels simultaneously deploy programs and projects, so the organization and implementation of some activities is difficult, especially training activities, and urgent issues directly related to PN&TE in each locality have not been identified to develop appropriate action plans to guide activities for communes...

Therefore, in the coming time, the People's Committees of districts will have documents adjusting the assignment of implementation of Project 8, assigning specific tasks to the District Women's Union to preside over to unify direction and management throughout the union system.

Direct departments and offices to closely coordinate with the District Women's Union in implementing Project 8. Direct units implementing component projects in the program to seriously implement gender mainstreaming and monitor and evaluate the implementation of gender equality in projects and local socio-economic development policies.

Pay attention to directing the removal of obstacles of the Women's Union and sectors and levels in the implementation process. Regarding the budget allocated to implement Project 8, the District People's Committee directs the People's Committees of communes to deploy activities based on the plan and targets to ensure compliance with the content and financial regulations.

Inspect, monitor, summarize, evaluate the results of annual and phased project implementation and propose solutions for the next phase of the project. The District Women's Union advises the District People's Committee to issue a plan to implement Project 8; develop a budget estimate for project implementation in line with the program's guiding documents and circulars and the orientation contents and allocation targets. Maintain and improve the quality of the model...

Identify urgent issues for PN&TE in mountainous areas to find solutions to implement the project on schedule. At the same time, seriously implement periodic reports on Project 8, implement a set of monitoring reporting indicators from the commune level, and pay attention to gender analysis.

Tran Anh Minh

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