Annual Report Fiscal Year 2010 www.habitatvietnam.org
Vietnam has a population of 89 million 2010 Human Development Report, UNDP 28.9% are earning incomes under the national poverty line 2010 Human Development Report, UNDP 30.1% have severely deprived living standards 2010 Human Development Report, UNDP 25% remain without access to improved sanitation services 2010 Human Development Report, UNDP 25,632 people are affected by natural disasters annually 2010 Human Development Report, UNDP 4 5% more of the population could be pushed into poverty in the event of a disaster Vietnam Development Report 2004 31% of the Mekong Delta will be inundated by unmitigated sea level rise by 2100 Climate Change 2007 Synthesis Report, IPCC Our vision is to create a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Habitat for Humanity Vietnam enables vulnerable individuals and households to obtain secure access to safe housing, water and sanitation facilities. We also work in partnership with volunteers from Vietnam and around the world, nurturing understanding between people from diverse cultures and backgrounds to address issues that cause and result from inadequate housing. 17 1681 74 New houses 1527 108 1947 FY2008 FY2009 FY2010 FY2008 FY2009 FY2010 Renovations & repairs
About us Habitat for Humanity Vietnam (HFH Vietnam) is a nongovernmental organisation operating as a part of Habitat for Humanity International, building simple, decent and affordable homes and water and sanitation facilities in partnership with families in need. HFH Vietnam mobilises resources (construction materials, labour and financing) to build, renovate or repair houses with economically marginalised households who are willing to partner by investing their own labour and paying towards its cost, typically through a microfinance mechanism. Housing loan repayments go into a revolving fund from which additional beneficiary households can access financing to build or improve their home. HFH Vietnam s projects normally include a mix of new houses, renovations, repairs, and water and sanitation facilities, according to need. HFH Vietnam has projects in Hai Duong, Long An, Quang Nam, Tien Giang, Dong Nai and Kien Giang, and this fiscal year completed a project in Vinh Phuc. To date HFH Vietnam has served over 7,400 low income Vietnamese households or over 34,000 people. International network HFH Vietnam operates as part of the Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) global network, which has built, renovated or repaired over 350,000 houses in more than 90 countries. HFHI is a nonprofit, nongovernmental, ecumenical Christian housing organisation which seeks to eliminate inadequate housing and homelessness by making safe shelter a matter of conscience and action. To accomplish this vision, HFHI invites people of all backgrounds, races and religions to build houses together in partnership with households in need. Highlights In response to devastating Typhoon Ketsana in September 2009, HFH Vietnam provided new roofs for 662 homes and delivered technical training to enable 260 local volunteers to provide roof repairs in 49 villages across Quang Nam province. Vietnam hosted the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project (JRCWP) Mekong Build 2009 in November and invited hundreds of local and international volunteers to contribute to 32 new homes in Hai Duong province. HFH Vietnam was awarded the 2010 Golden Cup for Social Development by the Vietnam Government, which honours HFH Vietnam s contributions to the country s development and progress. A Typhoon Ketsana affected family in Quang Nam province. Hundreds of local and international volunteers built 32 homes in Hai Duong province as part of the 2009 Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project. 1
Country Director s report This year we continued our efforts to focus on our core mission, strengthened our local partnerships and expanded our capacity. This has enabled Habitat for Humanity Vietnam to assist a record number of families to access better homes and cleaner water and sanitation facilities. Country Director Robin Shell meets with the head of Dong Xa Village at the 2009 Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project in Hai Duong province. HFH Vietnam partnered with 2,055 families and implemented training initiatives in six provinces during fiscal year 2010, which brings the total number of people served to 34,123 since the organisation started local operations in 2001. Our projects have continued to reflect our focus on improving the socioeconomic security of households and developing and expanding the capacity of local partners. The HFH Vietnam response to devastating Typhoon Ketsana and ongoing commitment to improve the lives of affected families in Quang Nam province demonstrates our own growing capacity and the commitment of local volunteers. Local and international volunteers remained a core asset to programming during 2009 and 2010 as they provide labour and monetary contributions and are passionate about promoting issues surrounding inadequate housing. The real impact of our work has been proven through monitoring and evaluation reports throughout the year. For example, during the first quarter of 2010, high percentages of interviewed households of the My Tho City Urban Sanitation and Housing Project reported significantly improved standards of living: 78% claimed to have a better house, 68% have more peace of mind, and 62% more hygienic households. While the Habitat name remains new to some communities, we are pleased with the progress we have made since 2001. Today, HFH Vietnam is one of the leading international nongovernmental providers of simple, affordable housing, water and sanitation facilities for low income families in this country. In 2011 we will celebrate ten years of service in Vietnam. It promises to be an exciting year with expansion of existing projects and a focus on developing programmes in new regions. The Habitat for Humanity Global Village Volunteer programme in Vietnam will see more international volunteers participating in our mission and helping to contribute to our goals. We will also develop fundraising platforms to ensure continued growth of our programmes into the future. This report details initiatives the HFH Vietnam team, and its loyal volunteers, have been undertaking over the past year and highlights our considerable contributions in housing, water and sanitation. I look forward to supporting even more low income families in Vietnam over the next year. We can only do this important work thanks to the generous support of our partners, donors, and passionate and dedicated staff. Robin Shell Country Director 2
Partners supporting our vision Donors play an essential role in Habitat for Humanity Vietnam s quest to create a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Building capacity through local partnerships The organisation continues to develop relationships with donors and partners as our housing, water and sanitation programmes expand across the country. Thank you for your support in fiscal year 2010: Multilateral UNDP Bilateral Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development Department for International Development (UK) Engineers without Borders (Australia) Korea International Cooperation Agency Corporate Ascendas Chevron ConocoPhillips Dow ExxonMobil Holcim Lafarge Schneider Electric Swire Cold Storage Unilever Nonprofit Catalyst Foundation Communities for Communities Sozo Water Charity Habitat for Humanity affiliates HFH Asheville Area HFH Augusta / CRSA HFH Australia HFH Canada HFH China Hong Kong Office HFH Deutschland HFH Great Britain HFH Greater San Francisco HFH Hartford Area HFH Japan HFH Korea HFH Las Vegas HFH Lincoln County HFH New Zealand HFH Omaha HFH Singapore HFH Wexford Education Academic Colleges Group (ACG) International School Vietnam Australian International School Saigon International School of Ho Chi Minh City Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University Vietnam Saigon South International School United Nations International School Hanoi HFH Vietnam Country Director Robin Shell (centre) with home partners and local government partners during a follow up visit for the 2009 JRCWP. Habitat for Humanity Vietnam provides capacity building for its local partners, including government departments, nongovernmental organisations, communities and families, in order to promote sustainability and good relationships. We work closely with local government bodies in all the regions where we have projects, developing capacities of committees so they will be able to transfer knowledge and skills to their communities. Partnerships with local bodies ensure HFH Vietnam s services are delivered and maintained for the long term. HFH Vietnam s capacity building focuses on training and skills development relating to geographically, culturally and environmentally appropriate construction techniques, household maintenance, financial management, sanitation and hygiene awareness and disaster risk management. We also partner with other nongovernmental organisations to mobilise expertise in other areas including education, health and anti-trafficking. 3
Building secure communities Simple, decent and affordable housing provides stability, improves health, safety and security, and enhances education and livelihoods. Take a look at our programmes for fiscal year 2010. Former US President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn built a house in Hai Duong as part of the 2009 Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project. Former US President Jimmy Carter visited the HFH Vietnam build site in Hai Duong as part of the 2009 Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project (JRCWP). The JRCWP is an annual event which attracts hundreds of volunteers to get involved in intensive house building over a one week period. The 2009 JRCWP included a series of special builds in Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, China and Laos. FISH (For Improved Sanitation and Housing) Project Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project (JRCWP) Build 2009 Hai Duong province / Red River Delta April 2009 to June 2010 Families served: 35 Project value: $405,000 Partners: Ke Sat Town People s Committee, Binh Giang District Fatherland Front, Binh Giang District Women s Union HFH Vietnam has improved living conditions for 32 families in Dong Xa fishing village and an additional three families in the wider province. By moving some families from floating villages to permanent houses, the risks of drowning and illnesses have been significantly reduced. Hundreds of local and international volunteers contributed to the project in November 2009 as part of the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project (JRCWP). New homes and a kindergarten were built, in addition to community centre upgrades, sewer system improvements and landscaping. Cao Thi Sat and her family now live in a secure house that was built during the 2009 Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project in Hai Duong. Cao Van Binh, his wife Cao Thi Sat (pictured) and their family moved from a small fishing boat into a new Habitat house that was built during the 2009 JRCWP Mekong Build. The Cao family experienced harsh conditions living on the water. Binh s one-year-old grandson was at risk of drowning, the family was exposed to illnesses related to the polluted river, electricity was very expensive and it was difficult to access clean drinking water. Now the Cao family has a new secure home in Hai Duong, with access to affordable electricity and a piped water pump, which could not have been possible without the efforts of JRCWP volunteers. 4
We came here thinking we were helping a poor family. In fact we didn t help a poor family; we helped a family in need of a house. Mike, Global Village volunteer Housing, Water and Sanitation Improvement, Credit Project Vinh Phuc province / Red River Delta May 2008 to August 2010 Families served: 165 (to date: 495) Project value: US$350,000 Partners: TYM Fund, Chevron, United Nations International School Hanoi HFH Vietnam provided housing renovations and water and sanitation facilities for families in Vinh Phuc province at the edge of the Red River Delta in northern Vietnam. The project also hosted a Global Village volunteer team in January from the United States who built a full house. April and June saw the arrival of two youth volunteer teams who built three full houses. My Tho City Urban Sanitation and Housing Upgrading via Microfinance Partnership Project My Tho city, Tien Giang province / Mekong Delta November 2006 to December 2012 Families served: 537 (to date: 2,834) Project value: US$340,000 Partners: Tien Giang Union of Friendship Organizations, My Tho Red Cross, My Tho Fatherland Front, Jersey Overseas Aid Commission, KOICA, Dow Chemical, Swire, ConocoPhillips HFH Vietnam is targeting 6,500 low income families living in 17 wards of My Tho city in the Mekong Delta. Families have been living in substandard housing with dirt floors, thatched walls and palm leaf roofs. HFH Vietnam has already provided over 2,800 families with access to secure housing, water and sanitation facilities which provides protection from common illnesses in the region, including malaria, tuberculosis and pneumonia. Pilot Project Fund and Provision of Technical Assistance for Housing and Sanitation Improvement Dong Nai province February 2007 to February 2010 Families served: 59 (to date: 289) Project value: US$25,000 Partners: Dong Nai Women s Union, Dong Nai Foreign Affairs, Dong Nai Fatherland Front, Nike HFH Vietnam is enhancing the quality of housing, water and sanitation for disadvantaged families living in Dong Nai province, northeast of Ho Chi Minh City. The organisation focuses on building long term improvements for the community by developing financial management skills for individuals, in order for them to repay their microloan in a timely manner, and creating awareness about sustainable shelter. Global Village volunteers build a new home in My Tho in the Mekong Delta. A new Habitat home at My Tho in the Mekong Delta provides protection from common illnesses in the region, including malaria and pneumonia. 5
HFH Vietnam is enabling vulnerable families living on a dump site to move into permanent, secure homes in Rainbow Village. Eighty-seven child labourers were amongst a community of 74 families living and working on a dump site in Rach Gia. New permanent, secure homes in Rainbow Village provide families with water and sanitary toilets. Rainbow Village Phase 1 Housing, Water, Sanitation, and Vocational Training Rach Gia city, Kien Giang province / Mekong Delta November 2007 to November 2010 Families served: 22 (to date: 34) Project value: US$870,000 Partners: Catalyst Foundation, Kien Giang Union of Friendship Organizations, Rach Gia City People s Committee, Rach Gia City Women s Union, International Crane Foundation, Habitat for Humanity Australia, Communities for Communities, Colmar Brunton, CapitaLand (via HFH Singapore), Habitat for Humanity Deutschland, Holcim (Vietnam) Ltd. HFH Vietnam is enabling vulnerable families living on a dump site to move into permanent, secure homes in Rach Gia city on the Gulf of Thailand. A community of 74 extended families, including 87 child labourers, were living and working on the city s garbage dump. With very limited access to water and sanitation, and exposure to harsh weather including high temperatures and flooding, individuals experienced poor health and were subject to serious safety and security issues including trafficking. To integrate Rainbow Village families into the wider Rach Gia city community and to greatly reduce risks of child labour and trafficking in the future, HFH Vietnam has been providing low cost houses, sanitation facilities, vocational training and scholarships, in addition to facilitating legal assistance to ensure individuals obtain legal identification. To date, 34 families have moved into new houses in Rainbow Village, 52 families have obtained legal papers, 107 scholarships have been provided and five adult saving groups have been formed. Like little drops of water, if we work together, we can change many lives. Thanh, JRCWP volunteer 6
Credit Housing, Water and Sanitation Improvement Project Kien Giang province / Mekong Delta October 2005 to January 2012 Families served: 518 (to date: 3,117) Project value: Original fund US$512,082 Partners: Kien Giang Union of Friendship Organizations, Kien Giang Women s Union, Chevron HFH Vietnam has provided technical support and implemented a revolving community loan fund to enable over 3,100 families in seven districts of Kien Giang access to improved housing, water and sanitation facilities. The project model also focuses on promoting the roles of women in the community, engaging women in microfinance loan management, construction work and group activities in the region. Applying environmentally appropriate materials In 2009, Habitat for Humanity Vietnam started using concrete masonry units (CMU) as a more environmentally appropriate alternative to fired clay bricks. CMUs are lower density and produced using gravel and cement which provides structure, insulation and fire resistance. CMUs became integral construction materials during the 2009 Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project and a CMU pilot project was funded by Holcim in May 2010. HFH Vietnam and Holcim built two houses using CMUs as part of the pilot and HFH Vietnam plans to expand their use in its 2011 programmes, including phase two of Rainbow Village. Global Village volunteers build a new home in Kien Giang province in south Vietnam. CMUs are a more environmentally appropriate alternative to fired clay bricks. This new house will significantly change their lives as it helps to shorten the years it takes them to establish a new life on land before they can start building a future for their children. - Nga, JRCWP volunteer Two houses were built using CMUs in Kien Giang province as a pilot project. 7
Building healthy water and sanitation facilities Sustainable access to water and basic sanitation is crucial for health, decent living standards and proper engagement in society. HFH Vietnam integrates water and sanitation initiatives in all its core projects. Environmentally sound construction technologies are adopted where appropriate to install clean water supply pipelines, small scale sewerage systems and simple hygiene facilities that result in improved health and wellbeing for families and communities. Rural Water and Sanitation Capacity Building for Households Affected by Poverty Project Kien Giang province / Mekong Delta April 2009 to June 2012 Families served: 5,021 (to date: 5,200) Project value: US$710,790 Partners: Kien Giang Union of Friendship Organizations, Kien Giang Women s Union, Centre of Rural Water Supply and Environmental Sanitation, Kien Giang Department of Natural Resources and Environment, The Department for International Development (UK), Unilever HFH Vietnam is aiming to improve the health and wellbeing of approximately 184,000 people in Kien Giang by increasing awareness about the link between inadequate water and sanitation and poor hygiene and increased disease prevalence. In 2009, we formed commune water and sanitation committees to facilitate capacity building for partners in water and sanitation solutions, land management and provided low cost technology and water treatment training. HFH Vietnam is also implementing a piped water supply project that will provide a community with access to water in one of Kien Giang s most impoverished districts. I couldn t be happier knowing we improved someone s way of life [and] more than one person. What an amazing feeling of pride and accomplishment. Emily, Global Village volunteer Engineers Without Borders volunteers Dale and David examine the water supply system in Kien Giang province in south Vietnam. Improving access to affordable finance Beneficiary households are provided with technical consultancy services and a microfinance loan, typically with repayment terms of 3-7 years. The monthly payments are paid back into the project s revolving fund (our implementing partners manage this account) and are designed for the sustainability and growth of the fund. The account movements are monitored and audited regularly by the HFH Vietnam finance department. Volunteer labour reduces construction services and material costs. Build Reinvest Repayments go towards loans for other families in the community. Home partner selection and training Partner families receive training in microfinance and saving. Training Repay Families make monthly sustainable repayments into the project s fund. 8
Responding to disasters Each year, typhoons, severe flooding and mudslides displace thousands of Vietnamese families and destroy incomes as traditional farming and fishing livelihoods are wiped out. HFH Vietnam rebuilds the lives of communities that have been devastated by natural disasters and is committed to expand its disaster management initiatives to reduce risks for disaster prone communities. The organisation meets the immediate challenges of disasters, by providing recovery interventions. Our long term initiatives comprise community-based disaster risk management, including climate change adaptation, which is integrated into most HFH Vietnam projects. In 2009 training was implemented specifically designed to prepare communities living in disaster prone areas. Phan Van Hai and his family moved into a new disaster resilient Habitat house (pictured) as part of the second phase of the Typhoon Ketsana recovery project in 2010. For the last decade, the family was forced to rebuild their house nearly every year after the disaster season. Their thatched bamboo house had no door or windows and was torn apart by extreme winds and heavy rain. Hai believes that with his new disaster resilient house, all he needs to concentrate on now is working hard for his family. I need not worry about the wind, the rain or anything else anymore, he says. Typhoon Ketsana Disaster Recovery Quang Nam province / central Vietnam September 2009 to June 2012 Families served: 667 (to date: 667) Project value: US$345,420 Partners: Tien Phuoc People s Committee, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, ExxonMobil Vietnam, Holcim (Vietnam) Ltd., Schneider Electric, HFH Greater San Francisco Powerful Typhoon Ketsana swept through central Vietnam in September 2009, killing 30 people, injuring 220, collapsing 15,200 houses and damaging the roofs of 155,000 households. HFH Vietnam was quick to respond as Ketsana was the worst typhoon the country had experienced in more than three decades and most affected families were unable to repair their houses without assistance. HFH Vietnam provided secure roofs for 662 households and built five new homes in Quang Nam province between October 2009 and June 2010. The organisation also implemented training for 260 local volunteers which enabled them to repair and securely replace roofs to be more resistant to natural hazards. The second phase of the project now involves a series of information, education and communication (IEC) activities that have been designed to raise awareness about disaster risk management, safe housing construction and reinforcement. Over 600 local construction workers will receive technical training on specialist construction methods and thousands of community members are expected to benefit from mitigation and disaster preparedness interventions. Over the next two years, HFH Vietnam has also committed to build an additional 15 new homes and renovate 184 houses for families affected by natural disasters. 9
Programmes and operations Habitat for Humanity Vietnam employs 39 permanent staff operating out of four resource centres in Hanoi, Quang Nam, Ho Chi Minh City and Rach Gia. Our people are dedicated to the core mission of the organisation and some of our professionals have been with us for nearly ten years. We are committed to achieving tangible results for the betterment of the country and its people. Professional development of staff was a key strategy during fiscal year 2010 to enhance HFH Vietnam s capacity. Custom-designed training was implemented for staff in the following areas: information, education and communication (IEC) facilitation, disaster response and mitigation, community housing, finance, programme management and English skills. Staff listen to a speaker during the annual national conference which is one of HFH Vietnam s capacity-building initiatives. Engaging volunteers in fiscal year 2010 8% Australia 4% China 8% Canada 4% Great Britain 87 houses built and/or repaired by volunteers 25 volunteer teams hosted 235 international volunteers 215 domestic volunteers US$184,000 Global Village volunteer donations (VND3.4billion) 4% Singapore 28% United States of America 44% Vietnam 10
Chief Financial Officer s report This year we served a record number of families as our income increased, capabilities expanded and programmes matured. It gives me great pleasure to share with you the financial overview of fiscal year 2010. HFH Vietnam s funding has been mobilised and sourced from corporate partnerships, institutional grants (including Habitat for Humanity affiliates), counterpart funding (including local government and partner families), and volunteers. HFH Vietnam is pleased to be embedding and reinforcing our commitment to fund accounting and project-based funding management (along with internal control) in order to increase our transparency and accountability to donors and partners. We value the generosity and support of all our donors and partners and are committed to stewardship of these contributions. We are pleased to report that 88 per cent of all monies received go directly to support HFH Vietnam s programmes in housing, water and sanitation, and disaster response and mitigation. The organisation endeavours to control costs and also accepts assistance through donated goods and services. We also rely on the support of our generous local and international volunteers to reduce costs such as administrative or construction labour. The accompanying condensed financial statements are derived from audited financial statements prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in the United States. We were audited by Ernst & Young and a copy of the full audit is available on our website at habitatvietnam.org Financial highlights HFH Vietnam benefitted from nearly US$16,200 in donated goods and services. Administration expenses remained low at 8 per cent of income. Deputy Country Director and Chief Financial Officer Le Cao Minh shares highlights of HFH Vietnam s progress and future projects during the closing ceremony of the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project in Hai Duong. Funding from local companies remained strong at nearly US$138,000. Individual giving totalled US$541,206 (national and international). Fundraising income increased from nearly US$890,000 in fiscal year 2009 to over US$1,660,000 in fiscal year 2010. Looking to the future Local revenue HFHI funding Leveraged funds $31,737 $268,646 FY2011 funding projection FY2010 results $433,330 (21.67%) $882,865 (44.14%) $683,829 (34.19%) $1,335,181.59 Le Cao Minh Deputy Country Director & Chief Financial Officer 11
How you can help Volunteer Build houses in partnership with families in need through the Global Village programme. Donate Consider making a donation that will go towards our projects providing secure housing, water and sanitation. Become a corporate partner Enhance corporate social responsibility and employee engagement by participating in a build. Advocate Raise your voice to support adequate housing and cleaner water for vulnerable households. Go to www.habitatvietnam.org to get involved and find out more. Join our Facebook fan page by searching for Habitat for Humanity Vietnam (Official) Contact us Hanoi (Head Office) Habitat Resource Centre Address: 4th Floor, 62 Yen Phu Street, Yen Phu Ward, District Tay Ho, Hanoi, Vietnam Phone: +84 4 3715 2615 Fax: +84 4 3715 2614 Ho Chi Minh City Habitat Resource Centre Address: 96/11 Vo Thi Sau Street, Tan Dinh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Phone: +84 8 3820 1566 Fax: +84 8 3820 6133 Rach Gia Habitat Resource Centre Address: Le Anh Xuan Street, Vinh Quang Ward, Rach Gia City, Kien Giang Province, Vietnam Phone: +84 77 394 9284 Fax: +84 77 392 3794 Quang Nam Habitat Resource Centre Address: An Dong Quarter, Tan An Town, Hiep Duc, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam Phone: +84 510 368 3174 Fax: +84 510 368 3176 Email: info@habitatvietnam.org
Contact us Habitat for Humanity Vietnam Head Office Address: 4th Floor, 62 Yen Phu Street, Yen Phu Ward, Tay Ho District, Hanoi, Vietnam Phone: +84 4 3715 2615 Fax: +84 4 3715 2614 Email: info@habitatvietnam.org Website: www.habitatvietnam.org Join our Facebook fan page by searching for Habitat for Humanity Vietnam (Official)