SRD is proud of its model named "Waste-free closed-loop farming system for ecology, health and income generation in Thai Nguyen and Phu Tho provinces" being highly honored as the Excellent Sustainable Development Model of 2016 and was selected to introduce in the 2016 Networking Event for The Cooperation and Development held on December 7th 2016 in Hanoi by the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA). This model is one among a number of initiatives funded by Manos Unidas and implemented by SRD with the aim of improving livelihoods and sustainable forest management of local people, especially the poor and women, through the Participatory Land Use and Management (PLUM) and Value Chain approaches. The most remarkable outcome from this project is that, not only the lives of direct beneficiaries have been significantly improved but also local government authorities at both commune and district levels have recognized the impacts of this model and committed to replicate it to other non-projected communes and mainstreamed into the district's Socio-economic Development Plan of 2017, which "contributing to the process of socio-economic development and economic integration of Vietnam as a nation", emphasized Prof. Dr. Nghiem Vu Khai, Vice President of VUSTA.

Prof. Dang Vu Minh – President of VUSTA and Dr. Phan Tung Mau – Vice President of VUSTA granted Recognition Letters to six STOs having typical sustainable development models.

Leaders of VUSTA took photos with representatives from 12 STOs having typical sustainable development models

SRD's Recognition Letter for "Waste-free closed-loop farming system for ecology, health and income generation in Thai Nguyen and Phu Tho" model

Pro. Dang Vu Minh, President of VUSTA and Dr. Nghiem Vu Khai, Vice President of VUSTA took photos with SRD's leaders and staff

Being the one among four delegates invited to join in the Roundtable organized by VUSTA and Chaired by the Vice President Nghiem Vu Khai, Mrs. Vu Thi Bich Hop, Director of SRD openly shared her strategic thinking for development, in which "people-centered approach must be the core values and beliefs of local NGOs working in community development sector so as to not only improve the living conditions of poor people at grassroots level, but more importantly, help them to raise their voices and bring their concerns to policy makers for positive and sustainable changes". With regard to the organizational development and fundraising work in the new context, she believed that "International cooperation and networking are critical factors for Vietnamese NGOs to be able to anticipate global development trends, seek for technical support and maximize fundraising opportunities from international communities. At the same time, investing in young human resource for long-term leadership development within each organization is also the key for the sustainable organizational development".

Representative leaders of VUSTA and STOs and business sector shared at round-table talk

At the side event organized by VUSTA, SRD's booth with a variety of clean, safe and high-quality agricultural products produced by direct beneficiaries at project sites, including: honey, fish sauce, shrimp sauce, etc attracted the special attention from distinguished guests and participants.

SRD's leaders and staff at the exhibition booth

Distinguished guests and participants at SRD's exhibition booth

SRD's exhibition booth