Promoting gender equality to create driving force for sustainable socio-economic development – vietnamnews.vn

Report on Gender Equality as a Catalyst for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Việt Nam

Introduction: The HERASIA 2025 Conference

An international scientific conference, HERASIA 2025, was convened in Hà Nội to address the critical link between gender equality and the role of women in sustainable development. The event served as a forum for scientists and experts to analyze progress and formulate strategies for achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

• Organizers: Việt Nam Women’s Academy and the Journal of Asian Business and Economic Studies.
• Sponsor: German Sparkassenstiftung for International Cooperation (DSIK).
• Objective: To share research and perspectives on how gender equality serves as a foundation for equitable and sustainable development, ensuring vulnerable groups benefit from national progress.

The Centrality of SDG 5 to the Broader 2030 Agenda

The conference underscored that gender equality is not only a fundamental human right but also a prerequisite for a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world. This principle is enshrined in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• SDG 5 as a Keystone: It was affirmed that Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Gender Equality) is both a standalone objective and a critical cross-cutting element essential for the achievement of all 17 SDGs.
• Economic Rationale: Quantitative evidence demonstrates that investing in gender equality is an economic imperative that promotes growth and poverty reduction, directly contributing to SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).
• Inclusive Policy Design: Research indicates that development policies lacking a gender lens can inadvertently reproduce or worsen inequalities, hindering overall progress. Deep gender analysis is necessary for effective policy design, particularly in response to climate change, natural disasters, and conflicts, where women are disproportionately affected.
• Ensuring No One Is Left Behind: The empowerment of women is a fundamental condition for building sustainable institutions and ensuring that development benefits all members of society, in line with the core principle of the 2030 Agenda.

Việt Nam’s Progress and Remaining Challenges in Achieving Gender Equality

Việt Nam has demonstrated significant progress in advancing gender equality, yet structural barriers continue to impede the full realization of women’s potential as agents of sustainable development.

Key Achievements

• Economic Participation: The country has one of Asia’s highest female labor force participation rates, with over 72% of women being economically active, supporting SDG 8.
• Political Representation: Women now hold 30% of the seats in the National Assembly, a historic high that advances SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

Strategic Sectors for Women’s Empowerment and SDG Acceleration

The report identifies three key economic sectors where advancing women’s participation is crucial for achieving multiple SDGs.

1. The Digital Economy: While over 91% of women in Việt Nam use mobile phones, a persistent digital divide in access and literacy limits opportunities. Closing this gap is essential for advancing SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).
2. The Green Economy: Women are uniquely positioned to drive solutions in sustainable agriculture and renewable energy. Recognizing and scaling their leadership in climate resilience is vital for achieving SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy).
3. The Circular Economy: Women’s traditional roles in resource management align with the principles of the circular economy. Formalizing their participation, particularly in the informal waste sector, can unlock economic pathways and support SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). Việt Nam’s National Action Plan for Circular Economy explicitly includes gender inclusion as a key component.

Policy Recommendations for Integrated Action

To fully leverage gender equality as a driver for sustainable development, a series of strategic actions were recommended for policymakers, business leaders, and academic institutions.

1. Develop Inclusive Policies: Design and implement robust policy frameworks, informed by gender-disaggregated data, that empower women economically and socially across all sectors.
2. Enhance Digital Inclusion: Prioritize investment in digital infrastructure and training programs to equip women and girls with digital skills and enhance their information security, directly contributing to SDG 4 and SDG 5.
3. Support Women-Led Enterprises: Integrate women-owned small- and medium-sized enterprises into national and global value chains, particularly in the green and circular economies, through supportive procurement policies. This will advance SDG 8 and SDG 12.
4. Foster a Female Entrepreneurship Ecosystem: Build comprehensive support systems for women entrepreneurs, including access to capital, mentorship, and intellectual property protection, to spur innovation in line with SDG 9.
5. Champion Inclusive Leadership: Encourage business leaders to champion diversity and invest in women-led enterprises, ensuring women are positioned as leaders and innovators, not merely as beneficiaries, in the pursuit of the 2030 Agenda.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article explicitly and implicitly addresses several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The analysis below details the identified SDGs with supporting evidence from the text.

• SDG 5: Gender Equality: This is the central theme of the article. It is explicitly mentioned multiple times, such as when Associate Professor Trần Quang Tiến states, “the United Nations has affirmed gender equality in many documents, including Sustainable Development Goal 5,” and that “Gender equality is both a standalone goal and a cross-cutting element across 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).” The entire article revolves around women’s empowerment, economic participation, and leadership.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The article strongly connects gender equality to economic outcomes. It discusses creating “sustainable livelihoods,” ensuring women have “stable jobs and secure incomes,” and the role of women in creating a “skilled labour force.” It also highlights how investing in gender equality is an “economic benefit that promotes growth and poverty reduction” and that closing gender gaps could “boost gross domestic product (GDP) by trillions of dollars globally.”
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The article addresses the need to reduce inequalities by focusing on women and vulnerable groups. The core message is to “ensure that women and vulnerable groups fairly benefit from development achievements” and that gender equality is a condition for “ensuring no one is left behind.” This directly aligns with the goal of reducing inequality within and among countries.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The article links gender equality to climate resilience. It notes the importance of “enhancing women’s resilience to… climate change, natural disasters” and points out that “women are both disproportionately affected by environmental degradation and uniquely positioned to drive solutions.” It calls for recognizing and scaling women’s “leadership in climate resilience and green innovation.”
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The discussion on the “circular economy, which emphasises re-use, recycling and sustainable production” directly relates to this goal. The article highlights “Việt Nam’s National Action Plan for Circular Economy” and the significant role of women in informal waste sectors, who “make up over 60 per cent of the workforce.”
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The focus on the digital economy and the need for inclusive infrastructure connects to this SDG. The article points out the “digital divides” that persist and argues that “Access to technology and digital literacy must be prioritised” and that “Governments and enterprises must invest in inclusive digital infrastructure and training programmes.”

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the issues discussed, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.
   • Evidence: The article discusses elevating women’s “voice and ability to participate in community decision-making processes” and highlights the statistic that “Women now hold 30 per cent of seats in the National Assembly, the highest in Việt Nam’s history.”
2. Target 5.b: Enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology, to promote the empowerment of women.
   • Evidence: The article emphasizes the need to narrow the “digital gender gap” by “equipping women and girls with digital skills” and prioritizing “Access to technology and digital literacy.” It also notes that “Over 91 per cent of women and girls in Việt Nam use mobile phones.”
3. Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men… and equal pay for work of equal value.
   • Evidence: The article advocates for creating “sustainable livelihoods” and ensuring “stable jobs and secure incomes” for women. It also cites Việt Nam’s high female labor force participation rate of “over 72 per cent of women are economically active” as a key economic driver.
4. Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… sex… or other status.
   • Evidence: The article’s core argument is that development policies must have a “gender lens” to avoid reproducing inequalities and to ensure “no one is left behind.” It calls for inclusive policies that “empower women economically and socially.”
5. Target 13.b: Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management… including focusing on women, youth and local and marginalized communities.
   • Evidence: The article highlights that women are “uniquely positioned to drive solutions” in the green economy and that their “leadership in climate resilience and green innovation must be recognised and scaled.” This points directly to empowering women in climate action planning and management.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions several specific statistics and metrics that can serve as indicators to measure progress towards the identified targets.

• Indicator 5.5.1: Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments and local governments.
  • Mention in Article: The article explicitly states, “Women now hold 30 per cent of seats in the National Assembly, the highest in Việt Nam’s history.” This is a direct measurement for this indicator.
• Indicator related to 8.5 (Labour Force Participation): While not an official SDG indicator title, the rate of female labor force participation is a key metric for Target 8.5.
  • Mention in Article: The article provides the statistic that in Việt Nam, “over 72 per cent of women are economically active,” which is a direct measure of women’s participation in the economy.
• Indicator 5.b.1: Proportion of individuals who own a mobile telephone, by sex.
  • Mention in Article: The article notes that “Over 91 per cent of women and girls in Việt Nam use mobile phones,” providing a clear data point for measuring women’s access to enabling technology.
• Indicator related to 12.5 (Workforce in Recycling): A potential proxy indicator for progress on the circular economy.
  • Mention in Article: The article implies a measurable indicator by stating that “women in informal waste sectors – who make up over 60 per cent of the workforce – are being recognised and supported.” The proportion of the workforce in this sector, particularly women, can be tracked.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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