Vietnam’s poverty reduction policies for ethnic minorities: the Raglai in Bac Ai, Ninh Thuan, Vietnam

Abstract

ABSTRACT Research conducted among the Raglai ethnic minority in the mountains of the South of Vietnam suggests that development projects supported by both government and international agencies that aim to benefit women are actually an impediment to sustainable poverty reduction because they do not take into account the ways matriarchal practices actively demotivate male members of the community. The consequence is that these policies aimed at reducing poverty are unequal, unstable, and ineffective. Such policies need to be reviewed to focus on encouraging men’s involvement in the family economy. They must be suitable to the cultural context and customs of the matriarchy in order to develop the Raglai ethnic community. To address this policy shortfall, it is necessary to gain a better understanding of the culture of the Raglai people in practice.