Cargill and CARE celebrate ‘She Thrives' project completion – supporting 16,000 women and community members in Dak Lak to practice sustainable agriculture and improve livelihoods

Đắk Lắk, August 12, 2025 – The ‘She Thrives’ project, a collaboration between Cargill and CARE International in Vietnam in partnership with the Center for Community Development (CDC) and the People’s Committee of Cư Bao and Ea Drong commune, officially concludes after three years (2022–2025), marking notable achievements in improving livelihoods and enhancing economic capacity for women and ethnic minority communities.

Launched in 2022, the project aimed to support more than 15,000 people—primarily women and ethnic minorities — in improving production capacity, financial management, and market access through technical training, financial support, provision of breeding livestock, farming inputs, and the formation of community-based groups. At the end of the project cycle, the program has surpassed this target, directly and indirectly supporting 16,000 people to improve their livelihoods.

On this occasion, Mr. Nguyễn Bá Luân, Country Representative of Cargill Vietnam, shared: “The collaboration between Cargill, CARE Vietnam, and our local partners has delivered highly encouraging results. We are proud that the ‘She Thrives’ project has helped promote sustainable farmer livelihoods and empowered women and ethnic minorities to participate more confidently in household economic development. Throughout Cargill’s 30 years of operations in Vietnam, we have been undertaking community enrichment projects including She Thrives, reflecting our long-term commitment to supporting local communities where we operate and build a more prosperous future.”

“The She Thrives project has shown that when local communities—especially women—are equipped with the right tools and support, they can drive meaningful and lasting change. We’re proud to have partnered with CARE and Cargill to create sustainable pathways for economic growth in Buôn Hồ.” — Mr. Bạch Thanh Tuấn, Director of Center for Community Development (CDC) said.

Over the past three years, the She Thrives project has organized dozens of training courses on livestock farming, poultry raising, coffee processing, and traditional handicrafts, enabling 5,260 people—of which 60% were women—to improve their income. Participating households have invested in expanding their production scale, upgrading facilities, and building market linkages, thereby increasing income and improving their families’ well-being, including paying for school tuition and healthcare for their children.

Ms. Vuong Thai Nga, Program Director of CARE in Vietnam, added: “The ‘She Thrives’ project has fostered economic opportunities for women and vulnerable communities. CARE works closely with local partners and communities to create an enabling environment for women to strengthen their capacity, access productive resources, and participate in income-generating activities. Our partnership with Cargill and CDC not only builds farmers’ skills but also amplifies women’s voices and supports their leadership and decision-making in economic development.”

In the area of microfinance, 31 Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLA) were established, with a total of 366 members—most of them women—who collectively mobilized and rotated over almost 1.4 billion VND to support essential production, business, and household needs.

The project also supported traditional producer groups in strengthening their market access through improved techniques, product diversification, and buyer engagement. The results demonstrate the strong potential for the sustainable development of agriculture and community-based businesses in the region.

“Thanks to the training and support from the She Thrives project, I’ve gained the confidence and knowledge to expand my family’s livestock business. For the first time, I feel like I can truly contribute to our income and make decisions that shape our future.” Ms. T’Lui Niê, project participant from Cư Bao, Đắk Lắk shared.

“She Thrives” is part of Cargill’s broader focus on supporting sustainable agricultural development in Vietnam by enhancing capacity, improving access to finance and markets, and contributing to an inclusive and resilient future for all.

Over the past 30 years in Vietnam, Cargill has continuously supported rural communities, particularly in the Central Highlands. This includes the construction of 121 schools nationwide—including 14 schools in remote areas of the Central Highlands, with 5 located in Đắk Lắk province. The ‘She Thrives’ project builds on this legacy, through sustainable economic development initiatives supporting farmers and ethnic minority communities in Đắk Lắk.