Ms Pham Thi To Hang - KAS Program Manager delivered opening speech

Day 1 - Poster session

Day 1 - Poster session

Day 2 - workshop session

Day 2 - consultation session

Day 3 - Field trip in Hoi An

Day 3 - Field trip in Hoi An

Day 4 - Oral Defense session

Day 4 - Oral Defense session

Day 4 - Oral Defense session

In the context of Vietnam, during COVID-19 pandemic, many people especially vulnerable and marginalized ones such as people working in informal sector, young people and migrants, have been facing with loss or reduction of subsistence activities income. So, what is needed is an impulse to make livelihood security better known, not only through persuasive communication, but also through innovative pilot projects. These should be conceived and implemented firstly by students, who are important future actors and disseminators.

In the past two years, Vietnam has been deeply affected by the COVID-19 pandemic; the tourism sector was especially hard hit. This holds true in particular for the tourism activities in Da Nang and Hoi An – the two most attractive destinations in central Vietnam. So, the IFNSP 2022 organizers decided to choose Da Nang and Hoi An as venue for the 4-day-final round of the competition. The structure of the final round was Poster session – Workshop – Consultation session – Field trip – Oral Defense.

The poster session brought opportunities to 8 teams presenting their projects including concepts, ideas and implementation plan in front of the juries. Each team brought forward innovative solutions in terms of proactively combating the aftermath of the Corona crisis in Vietnam.

In the workshop of the following day, leading experts cum juries Prof. Dr. Nguyen Tuan Anh - Executive Editor of VNU-Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, Lecturer of Faculty of Sociology, USSH and Mrs. Ha Thu Hang - Head of Social Issues Division of VTV's News Department provided background knowledge about livelihood security in fragile contexts and responsive strategies, and shared the situation of livelihood security in Vietnam and responses of different stake-holders during and after COVID-19. Then, in the afternoon, each team had chance to discuss and consult with juries in the consultation session in order to improve their projects.

The third day of the competition was spent in Hoi An where the contestants had chance to visit the Ancient Town and Thanh Ha Pottery Village to learn about the effects of Covid-19 on local people’s livelihood. Besides, in the meeting with the Head of Hoi An Department of Culture and Information, the contestants got many information about the tourism recovery plan of Hoi An, and livelihood strategies for more sustainable development.

After 3 hard working days, all the teams equipped themselves with background knowledge as well as practical experience to enter the final session. And, it really turned to be a big blast where 8 excellent teams officially presented their improved projects. All the presentations were very well prepared upon the advice and encouragement of the juries. The grand prize went to the team from University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City with project “Se Sẻ - Health and Livelihood of Young Vulnerable Female Migrants”.

The competition was wrapped up successfully by encouraging the young generation to further promote their creativity in coming up with effective solutions to a contemporary security issue – livelihood security in the context of COVID-19 crisis in Vietnam.