BLOOM

The BLOOM project focuses on biodiversity conservation, empowerment of ethnic minority (EM) women in Vietnam, and climate change adaptation. The Project will (1) restore and/or conserve high conservation value forests (HCVF) in Ha Giang and Dak Lak provinces via the adoption by EM women and their communities of gender-sensitive nature-based solutions (NbS) supporting the ecological integrity of these HCVFs; (2) promote sustainability of the use of biodiversity by offering vulnerable EMs profitable, biodiversity-friendly and climate-smart alternatives through Farmers’ Organisations (FO)/Cooperatives that allow them to secure their means of living (food security and revenue generation) therefore changing natural resource use practices that threaten biodiversity, and (3) improve the influence of EM women on biodiversity and climate change adaptation programs and policies. Accordingly, the Project will conduct research and deliver capacity building programs to EM women and communities to support their adoption of nature-based solutions (NbS) to enhance biodiversity conservation. Technical support will be provided to cooperatives, enterprises, and women organizations to strengthen EM women’s access to financial services and trainings that promotes biodiversity-friendly and climate-smart entrepreneurial and income generating activities in the project’s area. The Project will also support the capacities of public actors to implement biodiversity conservation policies and programs supporting EM women’s rights and their climate change adaptation (CCA).

BLOOM targets the sustainable conservation of at least 10,000 hectares of forest. The project will also strengthen women’s influence in biodiversity-related governance, develop biodiversity-friendly enterprises, and improve access to climate-resilient financial services.