This Workshop Facilitation Manual is designed for people who are responsible for facilitating groups to learn the concepts, information and strategies contained in the National Committee for the Advancement of Women`s "National Gender Mainstreaming Guidelines".

Gender mainstreaming is believed to be the most effective approach to achieving gender equality. Equality between women and men is not only an important goal on its own but it is also essential in overcoming poverty and achieving sustainable development. Gender inequalities undermine development and harm all members of society. Societies that have large, persistent gender inequalities pay the price of greater poverty, malnutrition, illness and other deprivations.

The Vietnamese Party and State recognize that gender equality is an essential factor in the country`s development. They also recognize that the gender mainstreaming approach is a key aspect of good governance; ensuring that everything that government does responds to the needs and interests of all members of society, and that the benefits of development are distributed equally between men and women.

This Gender Mainstreaming Workshop Facilitation Manual will, therefore, support the gender equality efforts as specified in Decision No.19/2002/QD-TTG dated 21 January 2002 of the Prime Minister approving the National Strategy for the Advancement of Women in Viet Nam by 2010. The Manual will enable facilitators to guide government officials at all levels, and in all sectors, in understanding their roles and responsibilities in relation to gender equality, and to develop the knowledge and skills to work in a gender-responsive manner.    

Key users of this Facilitation Manual are gender facilitators/trainers. The main workshop participants are government officers/officials at the central and provincial levels. However, all of the materials can easily be adapted for any other user and participant groups. It is hoped that the Manual will be useful for all government agencies, international and non-government organizations in their efforts towards the advancement of women and gender equality. It is a tool to ensure that all efforts and interventions are gender-sensitive and gender-responsive so that all Vietnamese people, men, women, girls and boys can participate in and benefit equally from the country`s achievements. 

The Manual consists of three parts. Part I refers to the target group and objectives of the training workshop. Part II introduces the training approach, key principles and some essential facilitation skills. Part III consists of eight modules, each with one or more separate topics, covering key concepts and information about the gender mainstreaming approach.