Annual Report Year 1_Green Annamites Project

The project was awarded to ECODIT LLC on September 26, 2016, and has a period of performance from September 26, 2016, to December 16, 2020. The project's primary objective is to support Vietnam's transition to climate-smart, low-emission, and resilient development that protects people, landscapes, and biodiversity in the country's priority forested provinces. To achieve this goal, the project is implementing activities across three tasks: increasing low emission land-use practices, strengthening biodiversity conservation, and increasing resilience of vulnerable populations. The project team is working closely with the Government of Vietnam, other implementing partners, and stakeholders to leverage resources and achieve the best mix of conservation-based livelihoods and landscape management in the target provinces. The project aims to produce multiple, inter-related benefits, protecting the region's globally-significant biodiversity and important carbon sink, while also promoting green growth and increasing the resilience of vulnerable communities. The target beneficiaries of the program are vulnerable rural populations, particularly women, the poor, and ethnic minorities who rely on protected forests for their livelihoods; and provincial and local government officials and stakeholders associated with managing protected areas in Quang Nam and Thua Thien Hue provinces. The project's geographic focus is on Quang Nam and Thua Thien Hue provinces, with a specific emphasis on the following districts: Nam Giang, Phuoc Son, Tay Giang, Bac Tra My, Nam Tra My, Dong Giang, Nong Son, A Luoi, Phu Loc, Phong Dien, Nam Dong, Xe Sap NPA, Song Thanh NR, Phong Dien NR, Dak Rong NR, Bach Ma NP, Ngoc Linh KTum NR, Ba Na Nui Chua NR, Ngoc Linh QNam NR, QNam Elephant SHCA, Bac Hai Van PA, Sao La NR TT.Hue, Saola NR QNam, Nam Hai Van PA, Saola NR QNam, Ban Dao Son Tra NR, and Cu Lao Cham MPA. The project's progress is being monitored and evaluated through various technical and cross-cutting activities, including the implementation of low emission land-use practices, biodiversity conservation, and resilience-building activities. The project's results to date are being tracked through a range of indicators, including the number of hectares of land under low emission land-use practices, the number of species protected, and the number of vulnerable populations benefiting from the project. The project's implementation is being supported by a range of stakeholders, including the Government of Vietnam, other implementing partners, and local communities. The project's management and administration are being overseen by the Chief of Party, Dr. Stacy Crevello, and the Activity Fund Manager, Mr. Tran Chinh Khuong. The project's budget for the reporting period is being managed through the Activity Fund, which is being used to support the implementation of project activities. The project's financial performance is being monitored and reported on a regular basis, with a focus on ensuring that project funds are being used efficiently and effectively to achieve project objectives. Overall, the USAID Green Annamites Activity is a critical component of USAID's strategy in Vietnam, aimed at promoting low-emission land-use practices, strengthening biodiversity conservation, and increasing the resilience of vulnerable populations in Quang Nam and Thua Thien Hue provinces. The project's progress to date is being closely monitored and evaluated, with a focus on ensuring that project activities are being implemented effectively and efficiently to achieve project objectives.