Page 80 - STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTUR AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE PERIOD 2021-2030 AND VISION TO 2050

40. What is the meaning
of taking “community
development as the
foundation for rural
development”?
role of rural communities in the development
process. It is necessary to create conditions for

Rural development aims to transform rural everyone and every community in society to have
areas in terms of economy, society, culture, equal opportunities to develop, access shared
environment and institutions, with comprehensive resources, participate, contribute and benefit,
attention to the welfare of the poor and rural creating foundations of materials, knowledge
communities, including education, health, and good culture for future generations.
social services and technical infrastructure. In For rural development in Viet Nam in the
other words, modern conceptions emphasize coming period, the community is the foundation
improving rural residents’ economic and social expressed in the following contents: well-
living standards, especially the poor, and implementing the regulations on democracy
environmental sustainability, people-centred at the grassroots (openness, transparency,
and multi sectors development. accountability); rationally exploiting and using
Rural development is a participatory process the value of customary law and local knowledge
emphasizing the empowerment of rural residents in rural social management, combining the state
so that they can control the development administrative management mechanism with
process according to the priorities chosen by the community’s self-governance mechanism
the people. Rural development is linked to the in association with promoting the role of village
poverty reduction goals of countries based on elders, village chiefs, people of prestige;
the approach to sustainable livelihood theory. consolidating and replicating good grassroots
Poverty reduction becomes a central issue of community organization models (associations,
rural development. Accordingly, community- clubs, etc.), cultural institutions in the villages,
based rural development is a reasonably combining political activities with sharing of
practical approach to poverty reduction by community management experience, business
creating collective action in the community and experience, cultural activities. Branches, unions
allowing people to check policies or changes, and clubs of socio-political organizations
taking advantage of community organizations (Youth Union, Women’s Union, Farmers’ Union,
as a driving force for development. Veteran’s Union) in rural areas need to operate
The principle of sustainability requires that according to the community mechanism,
rural development must have economic growth, ensuring a deep community feature, attractive
but growth achievements must be shared enough to union members to solve urgent
harmoniously and equitably among all members problems emerged in the community, such as
of the rural community. Whilst the exploitation poverty reduction, legitimate enrichment, and
and use of resources for development must be livelihood transformation, vocational training,
reasonable, protect the natural environment promotion of gender equality, parenting,
and ensure future generations’ ability to use prevention and combat of social evils, elimination
resources. The principle of taking people as the of bad customs, building a new cultural life,
centre requires a correct awareness of the subject maintaining security and order in villages, etc.

80 Guidelines for the Strategy for sustainable agriculture and rural development
in the period 2021-2030, and vision to 2050