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Recent prolonged dry periods and lack of irrigation water have severely affected the productivity of coffee farms’ in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. This paper analyzes the efficiency of irrigation water use for Robusta coffee (Coffea canephora) in Lam Dong province, Highlands, Vietnam. A Cobb-Douglas production function was used to determine coffee productivity’s response to the application of irrigation water and other production factors using data collected from 194 farmers while the Technical Efficiency (TE) and Irrigation Water Use Efficiency (IWUE) were analyzed using a Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model. The correlation of different factors to IWUE was determined using the Tobit model. The production function analysis using Cobb-Douglas shows that the volume of irrigation water, amount of working capital, labor and farm size significantly influence coffee productivity. It also shows that indigenous farmers are more efficient in utilizing irrigation water than the (mostly Kinh) migrant farmers. The Tobit result, on the other hand. indicates that farmers’ experience, education level, distance of farm to water source, security of access to water source, extension contact and credit access significantly affect IWUE. The study findings further suggest that mitigating water shortages in coffee farms require sub-regional and national policy support such as better access to credit and extension services, training, land management and household-level effort to improve farming practices, through the application of appropriate technologies and traditional knowledge.

Swidden cultivation practices have been seen as a major driver of deforestation and forest degradation in Southeast Asia. Using two case studies from Vietnam, this paper examines discourses around swidden practices at multiple levels of governance. Our findings show diverse interpretations of swidden resulting in different policy preferences and policy translations when addressing the issue. At national level, swidden is blamed as a principal driver of deforestation and forest degradation, and as such is a practice to be eliminated. As a result of this national stance, provincial level authorities see the existence of swidden as a failure by which their political performance will be judged. Conversely, swidden communities are seen at district level as an innovative solution to help resource-limited police forces ensure national security in border areas. Local commune and village leaders view swidden as a traditional practice to be respected, so as to maintain harmonious relationships amongst social groups, and avoid ethnic groups protesting against the government. Such differences in discourses and political interests have led to swidden becoming an ‘invisible’ issue, with government authorities failing to collect and report on data. Not recognizing swidden also means that swidden actors are practically ‘forgotten’ in the design and implementation of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) and Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES). Their omission from forest conservation and management incentive programmes could lead to further social marginalization, and potentially result in deforestation and forest degradation in the area. Our findings suggest that REDD+ policies should take into account diverging political interests on controversial land uses such as swidden cultivation.

In 2011, Oxfam published a study into the gap between Unilever's high-level policies on labour rights and the reality on the ground for workers in Vietnam. Oxfam has reviewed the progress made since 2011 and found that the company's overall commitment to respecting human and labour rights has been strengthened as a result of effective leadership across the business. In this report, Oxfam identifies three key issues that need to be tackled for Unilever to move to the next level of social impact and responsible sourcing and for the good intentions of their policies to translate into real impact for the lives of workers throughout their supply chain. Unilever's suppliers in Vietnam have not yet bought into the business case for changes in labour rights and improved standards. Further work is needed to improve incomes and gender diversity. The systemic issues covered in this report affect entire sectors. Unilever understands this and has committed to tackle the root causes of negative human rights impacts and to report its progress publicly.

Payment for Environmental Services (PES) is a relatively new concept in Vietnam. The government has recognised its potential to help the rural poor emerge from poverty. This research analyses the feasibility of and challenges to pro-poor PES in Vietnam and provides recommendations for improvement. Data were collected and analysed using participatory and group techniques, qualitative data analysis and case study approaches. Overall, this thesis reveals that organisational barriers (lack of coordination amongst stakeholders, benefit allocation, high transaction costs, top-down planning and control); institutional barriers (lack of specific regulations, inadequate involvement of the poor in PES implementation, low levels of payment, insecure land tenure); and lack of knowledge and capacity among public servants, impede implementation of pro-poor PES in Vietnam. Complex project administration, conflicts among actors and a limited number of buyers of environmental services (ES) affect pro-poor PES outcomes at a local level. Donors currently play a large role in supporting PES schemes. Prices for ES would not be financially viable had transaction costs not been covered by donors. Availability of income and technical assistance to poor households is only possible through donors wanting to fund pro-poor PES projects. Participation by poor households is limited due to political factors, contracts being driven by buyers, and the limited capacity of households to negotiate and manage PES schemes. At most studied sites, intermediaries were instrumental in negotiating PES. However, the work of intermediaries was rarely flawless as self interest could override impartiality resulting in less than optimal PES outcomes. For pro-poor PES to succeed in alleviating poverty in Vietnam, a number of key elements need to be factored into the development and administration of pro-poor PES programs. Programs need to be: participatory so that all players are given fair and ample opportunity to partake in the program (particularly the least well-resourced and most economically disenfranchised); transparent so that all players can be made aware of the way in which the program is administered, including distribution of benefits; well-monitored to ensure that the program is conducted in a manner that meets the program's overarching objectives and guidelines.