In the mid 1990s, the socio-economic situation of Gia Lai province attained positive changes thanks to the renovation carried out according to the resolution of the 6^th Party Congress. Gia Lai is one of the poorest provinces in the Central Highlands. The percentage of poor households stood at 35.7%. To deal with this situation, the Executive Committee of the provincial Party organization issued the resolution No 09-NQ/TU dated 20^th January 1995 on the campaign of reducing poverty in the province. This policy was geared at both human significance and at the same time at sustainable and sound socio-economic development. After 10 years of implementing this poverty reduction campaign, Gia Lai has attained concrete results:

1/ Having created a concensus ⁽¹⁾ in awareness, political determination and actions of the entire provincial Party organization and people towards the policy of reducing poverty on the basis of propaganda and encouraging associations and members to participate in poverty reduction, and assist each other in production and daily life; incorporating mandated targets of poverty reduction into emulation contents of movements and campaigns held by each organization and association such as “the whole people to build cultural life in the community” or “the youth starts up business” and/or “farmers fare well in production and business” and “women help each other in household economic affairs” etc.

2/ Mobilizing resources to reduce poverty be extending loans to 354,149 poor households to develop economic activities with VND 6,656 billion. Using the funds of programs No 134 and 135 and resettlement etc, provincial authorities also invested VND466.14 billion in essential infrastructure, such as water supply systems in the most difficult to reach communes, hamlets and villages to support people’s life and production. It also invested VND77 billion in training staff who carry out poverty reduction tasks at grassroots level, as well as vocational training and agricultural and forestry support programs. Up to now, about 18,967 individuals, of whom 5,067 are ethnic minority laborers, have received vocational training. In addition, 804 projects in the province have borrowed VN 65.6 billion to invest in cultivating coffee trees and raising cows and pigs which have provided jobs for 22.466 laborers. Enterprises in the province have also provided employment for 42,000 laborers, of whom 6,000 are ethnic minority people.

To accomplish poverty reduction in the province in the years to come, Gia Lai province should concentrate on the following basic measures:

Firstly, making good use of programs on preferential credit, providing cultivated land for ethnic minority people, incentivizing agricultural and forestry production etc to create favorable conditions for poor people to develop their production. Developing infrastructure for production and life of people living in the most difficult to reach hamlets, villages and communes. Supporting poor communes to develop production and achieve sustainable poverty reduction.

Secondly, facilitating poor people to allow them access to social services such as medical, education, culture and art, family planning, legal support etc. Providing support to poor people in housing and water supply in order to help them stabilize their lives and drive back poverty according to Decision No 134/CP of the Government. On the other hand, propagandizing and encouraging households to help each other, especially poor families, to strive forward and develop their production and not to heavily rely on the assistance and support of the community and State.

Thirdly, perfecting and strengthening the machinery and improving the responsibility and capacity of staff who carry out the task of poverty reduction. Improving the people’s awareness on poverty reduction. Promoting the role of the Fatherland Front and other associations in carrying out poverty reduction. Using all available means to make poverty reduction a regular, effective, sustainable and practical movement.