In an effort to enhance collaborative partnership between the Quang Tri Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Agency (IPA Quang Tri) and the North Central Vietnam Forestry Science Center (the Center) in supporting agroforestry projects for local households and organizations across Quang Tri province, IPA Quang Tri held a working session with the Center on April 14, 2025.
Attending the meeting on behalf of the Center were Dr. Nguyen Thi Lieu, Deputy Director of the North Central Forestry Science Center; Dr. Sinan Hagenah, Chief Project Advisor; and Dr. Bjoern Wode, Independent Evaluation Specialist.
The North Central Vietnam Forestry Science Center functions as a specialized research institution engaged in scientific research, technology transfer, international cooperation, consultancy, and training within the forestry sector across the North Central region. The Center is currently implementing the project ‘’ Helping Forestry Companies and Small Forest Owners in Vietnam Learn and Use Better Ways to Manage Forests’’, jointly supported by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture and Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, spanning from January 2021 to June 2025.
After nearly five years of implementation, the project is undergoing a final impact evaluation to assess its effectiveness and outcomes against the predefined results framework. This process aims to extract practical lessons and actionable insights to enhance future project efficiency, while also providing a robust evidence base for the donor to review, assess, and make informed decisions regarding the project’s direction in the next phase.
At the meeting
At the working session, Mr. Nguyễn Đức Tân provided an overview of the collaborative efforts among IPA Quảng Trị, PUM Netherlands Senior Experts, and the North Central Vietnam Forestry Science Center. He noted that IPA Quảng Trị recently facilitated legal procedures and created favorable conditions for PUM to deploy senior Dutch experts to deliver a consultancy program on enterprise development and management. This initiative supported the establishment and operationalization of the Sustainable Forest Management Training and Forest Certification Center under the North Central Forestry Science Center in February 2025.
During the meeting, Dr. Nguyễn Thị Liệu, Deputy Director of the Center, shared that a key challenge in the implementation of the project lies in the expectation of free training programs among forest owners and forestry households. However, to design and implement high-quality, impactful training, financial contributions from beneficiaries—forest owners and local households—are essential. The Center is therefore actively exploring sustainable financing solutions to ensure the continued effectiveness of the project in the upcoming period.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Lieu, Deputy Director of the North Central Coastal Science and Technology Center, discussing at the meeting
At the meeting, Mr. Nguyễn Đức Tân, Director of IPA Quang Tri, also emphasized that Quang Tri holds significant potential for expanding forestry-related projects. However, appropriate mechanisms must be in place to ensure the project's continued growth and scalability. In the current phase, the Center could collaborate with the Department of Agriculture and Environment, IPA Quang Tri, as well as localities involved in the project, to coordinate training and capacity-building activities. These efforts could help mobilize funding through existing public resources and government programs—particularly the National Target Program on New Rural Development.
In addition, the Center may support linkages with educational institutions and international organizations to implement environmental education and sustainable development programs. At the policy level, it is important to consider unified policy recommendations for beneficiaries to ensure long-term impact and sustainability of the cooperation framework.
