ACEP stands for Advancement of Community Empowerment and Partnership, a center operating under direct administration of Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA). The center was established as per VUSTA’s Decision 679/QD-LHH dated 5 August 2004 and was granted Certificate of Science and Technology Operation No.A-301 dated 14 October 2004 by the Ministry of Science and Technology.

 ACEP Mission

 ACEP is established to take a part of mission “developing science and technology; propagating knowledge, improving human resources, promoting initiatives, improving and rationalizing production, applying science and technique in socio-economic development, ensuring national defense and security”

 ACEP Objectives

ACEP targets communities who lack opportunities for development including the poor, ethnic minority and other under-privileged communities in remote and mountainous areas throughout Vietnam. ACEP helps these communities to advance their capacity as well as expand co-operation with other s in terms of poverty alleviation and sustainable development

Operating Areas

As a science and technology center specializing in community development and poverty reduction, ACEP has maintained its focus on the followings areas to completely cope with poverty issues and effectively exploit local advantages.

Agriculture and Food Security – is implemented in the communities where the poverty proportion is rather high. In this filed, ACEP pays its attention to 2 main activities: a) training and enhancing local human resources; improving producing skills; and c) ensuring the basic producing conditions for farmers.

Indigenous Knowledge - is one of ACEP primary concerns when carrying out activities in the communities. Local knowledge and culture maintenance are put parallel with community development. Studying local knowledge, formulating ideas, piloting initiatives and employing local knowledge are major activities of the first phase of development. In line with developing and maintaining community based group, applying local knowledge in economic activities lays solid foundations for the next phase of development when ACEP takes back is intervention activities in the community.

Community Based and Sustainable Tourism – helps the community access sustainable economic development and creates favorable conditions for the community to co-operate with others.

Fair and Free Economics Development – is employed when producing capacity of the community meets their demands. ACEP helps their products access domestic and international markets. Selected community based groups can establish co-operatives that produce or trade goods and services and joint-stock companies for farmers to maintain and advance the community development.

Behavior Change Communication – helps the community have a good behavior and safe pracivice according to the value which is identified and recognized by themselves. Children, youth and women are main objectives of BCC.

ACEP Structure

ACEP Management includes a Director and an Advisory Group who direct ACEP toward its goals and help to enhance ACEP roles and status in the society. A Chain of Command has been adopted by ACEP Management to facilitate the activities of drawing up and carrying out plans and strategies of each group in accordance with ACEP general objective. Local office is operated and responsible by ACEP representative.

Contact ACEP:

Director:                       Dao Tran Phuong

Hanoi Office:                No,1, Plot B, Phuong Liet Housing Project, Phuong Liet street, Thanh Xuan district, Hanoi, Vietnam.

Tel:                               (84-4) 8688590 – ext 200

Fax:                              (84-4) 8688591

Email:                           phuongdt@acep.org.vn or         daotranphuong@hn.vnn.vn

 Central Vietnam Office

Representative:              Nguyen Van Chinh

Office branch:               Tan Son village, Tan Lap commune, Huong Hoa district, Quang Tri province, Vietnam.

Tel:                               (84-53) 880475

Fax:                              (84-53) 780378

Email:                           acepqt@vnn.vn                        or         chinhnv@acep.org.vn

 North-western Vietnam Office.  (On establishment progress)

The projects which done and is implementing

• Project “Piloting cooperative models on cow-raising in Ky Son and Tuong Duong district, Nghe An”
• Improving quality of cow herds in Huong Hoa district through establishment of a Sind cow cooperative.
• Reduction of Poverty and Conservation of Natural Land in Vay village – Huong Hoa district – Quang Tri province
• Community based management  program for the development of Van Kieu community in Huong Hoa district, Quang Tri province
• To improve the living conditions of children in coffee planting area of Huong hoa district, Quang Tri province.