With support from the "Nestlé accompanying women" programme, women have taken advantages of technologies and benefits from digitalisation. Photo courtesy of the organiser

HÀ NỘI The co-operation agreement between the Việt Nam Women's Union and Nestlé Vietnam helps thousands of women improve their livelihoods and quality of life.

This information was released at a conference to summarise the implementation of the "Nestlé accompanying women" programme in Hà Nội last week. The programme has been implemented by Nestlé Vietnam in co-ordination with the Việt Nam Women's Union since December 2020 in 9 provinces, and expanded in November 2022 to 21 localities nationwide. With many activities and initiatives, the programme has helped thousands of women, especially those in rural areas, improve their knowledge and skills to keep pace with the digital transformation process and create sustainable livelihoods.

Tôn Ngọc Hạnh, Vice President of the Việt Nam Women's Union, said that many localities have excitedly registered and wanted to participate in the programme. It has brought practical value to Vietnamese women.

She hopes Nestlé will have timely regulation and attention based on Việt Nam's proposals, especially supporting and accompanying women in starting businesses and developing services next year.

"The Central Presidium of the Việt Nam Women's Union believes that implementing the co-operation agreement will empower women, building an organisation that will become more professional, effecting the prestige of all parties," she added.

Binu Jacob, General Director of Nestlé Vietnam, highly valued the results of the programme. Photo courtesy of the organiser

Binu Jacob, General Director of Nestlé Vietnam said: “This is the first year in the second phase of the long-term bilateral co-operation between Nestlé Vietnam and the Việt Nam Women's Union, from 2022 to 2027. This co-operation, a continuation and expansion of phase one, is officially implemented by both sides from December 12. We are proud to see thousands of women becoming more confident in taking control of their own lives and contributing to the economic development of their families and localities thanks to the programme "Nestlé accompanying women".

He added that in addition to activities on improving nutritional knowledge, equipping soft skills and creating sustainable livelihood models, one of the program's focus activities in 2023 and in the coming time is to promote digital transformation to contribute to realising the Government's goal that by 2025, Việt Nam's digital economy will account for 20 per cent of GDP and increase to 30 per cent by 2030.

Since 2021, the programme has trained 13,000 women members on nutrition, life knowledge and skills, happiness and health.

Among them, 4,000 members have been trained in communication skills and family financial management, and 5,000 have been trained in digital technology knowledge skills. In training activities on knowledge and use of digital applications, all members participated.

Women, especially in rural areas - the programme's primary beneficiaries - have gradually become confident in taking control of their lives, grasping and exploiting digital technology's strengths.

By the end of September 2023, the programme has created and maintained sustainable livelihood models to promote digital applications in 790 communes, with 1,840 models nationwide.

At the conference, the Việt Nam Women's Union and Nestlé Vietnam commended 19 groups and individuals from provincial to grassroots levels for most effectively implementing the "Nestlé accompanying women" programme.

The "Nestlé accompanying women" programme continues initiatives to empower women at the company, in the community, and throughout the value chain that Nestlé has implemented in Việt Nam for nearly 30 years. In addition, Nestlé is committed to empowering women through the NESCAFÉ Plan programme.

At Nestlé Vietnam, gender equality is expressed through strengthening human resource development policies and strategies, from recruitment, succession planning and promotion. The proportion of women holding leadership positions in the company reached 54 per cent. These commitments are part of the Social pillar of the strategy to implement sustainable initiatives – Environment-Social-Governance (ESG) – implemented by Nestlé Vietnam over the years. VNS