In 1997, World Vision Vietnam (WVV) introduced its Area Development Program (ADP). An ADP is a 10-15 year community development program that is an integrated approach to community development, emphasizing the process of community participation, ownership and sustainability, while addressing the macro and micro causes of poverty.

ADPs are funded by sponsorship funds, and are a phased approach to development, involving clear and consistent assessment, design, implementing, reporting, monitoring and evaluation and learning phases. An effective phase out strategy, is developed when a program is near closing, ensuring that community members have the capacity to continue to carry out program interventions which have been implemented during the ADPs lifetime. This participatory approach ensures sustainability and creates an open environment for reflection, learning, and long-term transformational development.

Such a holistic approach is in line with World Vision International’s areas of focus, which support and shape continuing improvements in WV relief and development work.

WVV’s ADPs are focused within one administrative district of a province – a manageable area where activities are mainstreamed to the provincial and sometimes to the national level. WVV is committed to working with the poorest of poor, therefore assessing poverty rates forms the basis for ADP selection criteria.

Other factors that are considered include: environmental vulnerability, health status and access to health services; nutrition; socio-economic well-being; population and demography; administrative structure; livelihood and practices; access to infrastructure and communication; education levels and access to facilities; child issues such as the number of children in especially difficult circumstances; gender issues; capacity of community-based organizations and partners; WVV’s experience in the area.

WVV works closely with district and commune local authorities and local partners such as the women’s’ union and farmers’ union to implement program activities. Each ADP is tailored to the needs of a specific community and integrates and addresses priority areas such as:

Livelihood: food security, micro-enterprise development, economic assistance, disaster relief and mitigation.

Social development: education, early childhood care and development (ECCD), health care, assistance to people living with disabilities, gender equality, child rights and child protection.

Community involvement: capacity building of local partners, community participation and child participation. In the northern region, we have started to develop Village Development Boards (VDB) which helps in implementing and monitors development initiatives in the communities.

WVV’s ADP’s are located in diverse geographic locations: from remote mountainous ethnic minority communities, to the Red River Delta and to the urban slums of Ho Chi Minh City. For each ADP there is usually one ADP manager, one project officer, one project assistant/bookkeeper and usually one local collaborator (district engaged staff) for each sector such as education, health, agriculture, microfinance etc. A unique component of WVV’s ADPs is that team members are based in the district where the ADP is located, enabling them to work closely with government partners and communities on a daily basis.

Another innovative element of WVV’s ADPs is the partnership with hamlet facilitators. These are local people, usually farmers who receive training from WVV staff or partner agencies in mobilizing their village, and planning, implementing, and monitoring program activities. Hamlet facilitators act as a development catalyst living and working in their village. WVV has mobilized a network of more than 2,500 hamlet facilitators.

General information (FY11)

Total number of ADPs: 43 (List of our ADPs )
Total people impacted through World Vision Vietnam’s work: approximately 2 million

Annual budget: USD20 million (FY13).

In addition to WVV’s ADPs, WVV also implements grant projects, otherwise known as special funded projects. Foreign governments in the form of grants often fund these projects, which typically last for about 2-3 years. Grant projects are often implemented close to ADPs and compliment existing ADP interventions. Please visit our grant projects for more information.