AI-BCC Staff Honored by Vietnam Government for their Contribution to Agricultural and Rural Development

AED staff received rare and coveted recognition for their superlative contribution to agricultural and rural development in Vietnam. AED AI-BCC Training Officer Hai Le Thanh and Finance Officer Mai Luong, based in AED's Hanoi office, received medals from the Vietnam Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) at a Dec. 18, 2009 Workshop in Hanoi. The workshop marked the end of the three-year Avian Influenza -- Behavior Change and Communication project implemented by AED in Vietnam and funded by USAID.

Initially created to provide emergency communications response to persistent outbreaks of avian influenza in late 2005 in the Greater Mekong Region, Lao PDR, Cambodia, and Vietnam, the AI-BCC project evolved into a longer-term capacity building program, training thousands of animal health workers, health workers, backyard poultry farmers, women's union staff, journalists and government officials on ways to prevent and control outbreaks. In Vietnam, the project tapped into partnerships with private sector organizations and worked with vendors along the poultry industry supply chain to pinpoint high-risk outbreak areas and target activities.

Also receiving the award on Dec. 18 were the USAID Chief Technical Officer for avian influenza Dr. Oanh and USDA Officer Ms. Huong. The honor, accorded by MARD to professionals working on rural development, was bestowed upon AED's AI-BCC Country Coordinator Eleanora de Guzman in 2008, along with John Wade, USDA Counselor in Vietnam, and Jim Sumners, president of the International Poultry Council.