Challenging gender norms: Bringing gender-transformative approaches (GTAs) to livestock communities to the Northwest Highlands of Vietnam

This blog post highlights efforts to challenge restrictive gender norms in livestock communities in Son La province, Vietnam, where Thai and Mong women’s decision-making power remains limited despite increased involvement in production. Under the CGIAR Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods program, gender-transformative approaches (GTAs) were introduced to address the root causes of inequality by reshaping harmful norms. Through community behavior change communication and capacity building for local officials, GTAs promoted women’s empowerment in livestock decision-making and institutional planning. Co-designed by ILRI, CIAT, and the Vietnam Women’s Academy, the initiative fostered community and policy-level change while integrating gender transformation into academic training nationwide.