Capacity-strengthening efforts in Viet Nam equipped 300+ stakeholders to lead local food systems transformation toward sustainable healthy diets.
With support from CGIAR’s Research Initiative on Sustainable Healthy Diets, Viet Nam launched a multisectoral food systems partnership and operationalized national goals in two provinces. More than 300 trained stakeholders are now driving evidence-based change, ensuring food systems deliver sustainable healthy diets through inclusive policies, coordinated efforts, and long-term capacity strengthening.
Faced with rapid urbanization, environmental pressures, and shifting dietary patterns, the government of Viet Nam has recognized the need to reshape the way its food is produced, distributed, and consumed. Following the 2021 United Nations Food Systems Summit, the government developed the National Action Plan for Food Systems Transformation towards Transparency, Responsibility and Sustainability by 2030 (NAP-FST). However, implementing this national vision for food systems transformation requires strong coordination, investment, technical capacity, and a shared approach across sectors and governance levels.
To advance Viet Nam’s ambitious agenda, the CGIAR Research Initiative on Sustainable Healthy Diets formalized partnerships with National Food System Convenors, including the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and the National Institute of Nutrition. Together, they are accelerating Viet Nam’s progress toward sustainable healthy diets by strengthening stakeholder collaboration, supporting provincial-level policy translation, and building long-term capacity for food systems transformation.
In 2024, MARD partnered with three other ministries to launch the Partnership Agreement for Transparent, Responsible, and Sustainable Food Systems Transformation in Viet Nam (FST Partnership). With more than 40 national and international partners, the agreement created a platform for policy alignment, knowledge sharing, and resource mobilization. Sustainable Healthy Diets was instrumental in designing the partnership and continues to contribute evidence through technical working groups.
Recognizing the need for coordinated action at the subnational level, MARD identified Dong Thap and Son La as pilot provinces to operationalize the NAP-FST. Sustainable Healthy Diets, together with its Strategic Partners, participated in a national intersectoral working group assigned by MARD to support each province in identifying priority areas, developing provincial NAP-FST implementation plans, and establishing a framework for monitoring and evaluation. Throughout this process, stakeholder consultations ensured local ownership and alignment with Viet Nam’s sustainability and nutrition goals.
To sustain this momentum, a Training of Trainers (ToT) program was co-designed by Sustainable Healthy Diets and in-country partners, equipping stakeholders with the tools to address food system challenges. The program was scaled to the provincial level in 2024, enabling more than 300 expert trainers to facilitate learning among government officials, researchers, and other food system actors.
The impact of these activities is far-reaching. At the national level, the FST Partnership filled a critical gap in coordination, providing a structured mechanism for government ministries, departments, and agencies to work together more effectively. At the subnational level, stakeholder consultations introduced food system concepts to local actors, encouraging cross-sector collaboration and evidence-based decision-making.
The ToT program created a sustainable network of trained professionals, enabling capacity sharing across multiple levels of government and academic institutions. The shift to partner-led training ensures expertise remains within national institutions and expands over time.
In collaboration with government partners, Sustainable Healthy Diets played a key role in supporting food systems transformation in Viet Nam. Strengthened partnerships, evidence-based policies, and expanded training opportunities established a strong foundation for continued progress. These efforts empowered national and subnational stakeholders to lead the implementation of the NAP-FST, making strides toward food systems that deliver sustainable healthy diets for all in Viet Nam.
“The Level 1 ToT provided me with essential knowledge and skills for food systems transformation, benefiting my career as Vice Director of CASRAD and my role as a mother feeding my children healthy diets. It enabled me to contribute to the NAP-FST, led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and conduct Level 2 training for local staff in Son La province, promoting food systems transformation for the well-being of people and the planet.”
PHAM Thi Hanh Tho, Vice Director of Centre for Agrarian Systems Research and Development, Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Header photo: Collaborative learning in action at a training of trainers (ToT) workshop in Dong Thap, Viet Nam. This provincial-level training targeted local government officials in Dong Thap and was led by expert trainers from Can Tho University and Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy. The ToT program on food systems was co-developed by Sustainable Healthy Diets and national partners from the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the National Institute of Nutrition, and the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agricultural and Rural Development. Credit: Dinh Minh Triet/CTU Media.