Alumni UK Grant Programme 2026–27: Selected projects in Viet Nam

Project lead: Nguyen Lan Huong

This project will support 20 to 25 working-age persons with disabilities who earn an income through employment, self-employment or other activities. Participants will help shape and test an accessible six-module programme covering budgeting, saving, emergency planning, responsible credit, safe digital finance and money management for self-employment. Practical exercises, personal financial action plans and follow-up coaching will help participants apply their learning to everyday decisions. The project will also develop a reusable Financial Confidence Resource Package for universities and community organisations. It aims to strengthen participants’ financial knowledge, confidence and independence while creating a model that can be adapted for future delivery. 

Project lead: Ngo Thuy Anh Tuyet

This project will bring persons with disabilities, organisations of persons with disabilities and local authorities together to improve early warning communication in a disaster-prone district of Nghe An Province. Participants will identify barriers in existing warning channels and co-design more accessible formats, including SMS and Zalo messages, loudspeaker scripts, visual materials and Easy Read information. The proposed solutions will then be tested and refined with users. The project aims to produce an Inclusive Early Warning Communication Toolkit and practical recommendations that local authorities can use to make disaster preparedness more inclusive and responsive to different communication needs.

Project lead: Nguyen Thi Phuong 

This project will address barriers faced by autistic adult women in Viet Nam, many of whom may reach adulthood without recognition or appropriate support. Working with an advisory group of autistic women and clinical and academic specialists, the project will map services offering adult autism assessment and develop a plain-language online guide. It will also produce short videos to improve public understanding, organise webinars for mental health practitioners and engage media outlets to promote more accurate information. The project aims to help women identify appropriate next steps while strengthening professional and public awareness of how autism may present differently in adult women.

Project lead: Nguyen Phuong Thao 

This project will support 30 to 50 smallholder pig farmers in Phu Tho Province to adopt practical circular agriculture techniques. Two demonstration Farm Classrooms and three hands-on workshops will introduce approaches for managing livestock waste, producing organic compost and strengthening animal health without the routine preventative use of antibiotics. The project will place particular emphasis on involving women who undertake daily livestock care but may have less access to technical training. It will also develop an open-access handbook and video series and connect participating farmers with responsible buyers. The project aims to reduce local pollution, strengthen green farming skills and improve the resilience of rural livelihoods.

Project lead: Do Duy Phai

This project will demonstrate a practical alternative to burning agricultural residues by helping farmers convert rice straw into organic soil amendments using specialised microbial formulations. Working with agricultural cooperatives and local stakeholders, the project will establish demonstration plots, assess soil conditions and provide hands-on training through Farmer Field Schools. Participating farmers will learn techniques for managing crop residues, improving soil fertility and increasing soil organic carbon. Soil testing and field monitoring will help assess the approach under real farming conditions. The project aims to reduce residue burning and related emissions while building farmers’ capacity to adopt sustainable and climate-smart agricultural practices.