FAO Viet Nam Announcement of National Story Competition to Celebrate World Food Day 2014
Topic: The Role of Vietnamese Women in Family Farming

1. Background: As part of this year’s celebrations for World Food Day on 16 October 2014, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and UN Women in Viet Nam are launching a national story competition to shine a spotlight on the important role that women play in family farming in Viet Nam. The Competition is part of the year-long UN Campaign “Empowering Women – Empowering Humanity” that celebrates 20 years of advancing women's rights and the International Year of Family Farming 2014.

2. Eligibility:  The Competition is open to national and international entrants living in Viet Nam, with journalists, writers, students and teachers especially encouraged to enter.

3. Objectives of the Competition: The Competition seeks to increase awareness and understandings of the challenges faced by Vietnamese smallholder farmers, especially women, and help identify effective ways to support women and family farmers.

4. Rules and Regulations:
a. Content of Stories:
- One entry per writer
- 1,500 words maximum in Vietnamese or English language
- Content: The content of each story must be original and based on real life experiences. Each story should highlight the important role of family and smallholder farming in Viet Nam by focusing the public, government and international community’s attention on the significant role of Vietnamese women in family farming and Viet Nam’s socio-economic development.  In particular, stories should focus on family farming’s ability to provide food security and nutrition, improve livelihoods, manage natural resources effectively, protect the environment, eradicate poverty to achieve sustainable development as well as women’s important role in these endeavors.
- All sources of information/statistics should be identified as a footnote at the end of the story (such footnotes are not included in the overall word count of the story).
b. Regulations:
- In order to receive the award, correct contact information including: full name, phone number, occupation, contact address must be submitted with each entry. Incorrect or incomplete contact information may lead to disqualification.
- Any copyright violations will result in immediate disqualification of the entry.
- Entries must reach FAO in Viet Nam’s office by 5pm, 20 September, 2014.
Participants should submit the story and contact information (full name, phone number, occupation, address) via email to Ms. Vu Thi Ngoc Diep at [email protected] or postage mail to: Ms. Vu Thi Ngoc Diep, FAO Representation in Viet Nam,
3 Nguyen Gia Thieu Street, Hoan Kiem District, Ha Noi, Viet Nam with “Story Competition” highlighted on the envelop.

5. Prizes:
- 01 first prize:  USD 300 and one study tour to an FAO Project in the field together with a Medal and Certificate from FAO Viet Nam
- 01 second prize: USD 200 with Medal and Certificate from FAO Viet Nam
- 01 third prize: USD 100 with Medal and Certificate from FAO Viet Nam
- 03 merit prizes: Medal and Certificate from FAO Viet Nam.

Please note:
- The Winners will be invited to FAO Viet Nam’s Office in Ha Noi for free travel to attend the World Food Day Ceremony on 16 October 2014 in Quang Ninh province, co-organized by FAO and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, to receive their prizes.
- The top three winning stories will be selected for publishing in a national newspaper and receive international exposure via FAO and the United Nations communication channels.
- Prize Winners must submit a copy of photo identification prior to the awards ceremony.
- If Winners are from outside of Ha Noi, a return ticket to Ha Noi and one night’s accommodation will be paid by FAO Viet Nam for the 1st prize Winner only.
- If Winners cannot attend the awards ceremony, prizes will be sent by post and to personal bank accounts.
More Information: Please contact Ms. Vu Thi Ngoc Diep at [email protected] or Tel. 04 39424208/ext 16