TTLA: Impact of microfinance activities on sustainable livelihoods under the approach of social work with the community (case study of Duc Trong district, Lam Dong province)

1. Full name of PhD student: Do Van Toan. 2. Gender: Male
3. Date of birth: December 27, 1983. 4. Place of birth: Nam Dinh
5. Decision on recognition of PhD students No. 4618/2016/QD-XHNV, dated February 29, 2016 of the President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
6. Changes in the training process:
Decision No. 4961/QD-XHNV on extending the study period of PhD students of course QH-2016-X, dated December 31, 2019 of the President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
Decision No. 2380/QD-XHNV-DT on extending the study period of PhD students of course QH-2016-X, dated November 27, 2020 of the President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
Decision No. 2919/QD-XHNV-DT on changing and adjusting the doctoral thesis topic of a graduate student, dated December 23, 2021 of the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
7. Thesis title: "Impact of microfinance activities on sustainable livelihoods under the approach of social work with the community (case study of Duc Trong district, Lam Dong province)".
8. Major: Social work. 9. Code: 9760101.01
10. Scientific advisor: Prof. Dr. Dang Canh Khanh
11. Summary of new results of the thesis:
Firstly, the study applies the ABCD approach to community development and the “bottom-up” approach in analyzing the results. These are two important approaches in social work with the community or community development, which are positive, starting from arousing and promoting strengths, positive points, inherent capacities and potentials as well as successes as leverage and starting points for change. The approach in this study is different from conventional approaches, not starting from needs, difficulties, shortcomings or problems to be solved to have solutions, methods of intervention and support.
Second, focus on analyzing the impacts of human capital, social capital and financial capital in sustainable community-based livelihoods from the perspective of a focus on the beneficiaries of social security policies (members of savings and loan groups). Focus on the links of social capital in the context of human capital being the main source in the community-based approach, focusing on the strengths of resources to develop the capacity of members as well as increase community capital towards the benefits for insiders - the beneficiaries of the policy.
Third, focus on researching directions to promote the effectiveness of microfinance operations through savings and loan groups based on the reality of insiders - beneficiaries of social security policies (members of savings and loan groups). These directions of promotion are based on the results of exploration and learning from the findings of strengths, positive points, potentials and favorable results as the basis for promotion rather than looking at the existing problems, weaknesses as well as problems that need to be solved to provide solutions and proposals as some research works have done.
Fourth, the research results show the importance of social work methods with the community as well as the necessity of the role of social workers in the community in organizing and managing the activities of savings and loan groups towards developing community capacity, increasing capital sources, and creating a self-reliant and sustainable community.
12. Practical application:
Firstly, the results show the impacts of microfinance on the development of capital sources in sustainable livelihoods, helping local officials and leaders have practical measures to promote microfinance activities to develop more strongly. At the same time, it helps them have a practical view to promote the quality of life of the poor, improve capacity and promote self-reliance and autonomy of the community.
Second, the findings also help planners and experts see a sustainable livelihood approach in social work of microfinance activities and promote social work in the community as well as develop the microfinance sector in Vietnam.
Third, this study serves as a basis for assessing the impact of microfinance in social aspects in addition to economic aspects, towards sustainable community development.
Fourth, the study shows the role of social workers in organizing and managing microfinance activities as well as the need to promote social work in rural communities today.
Finally, this model can be replicated and deployed to other communities with microfinance activities organized in groups/teams, aiming at self-sufficient and sustainable community development.
13. Further research directions:
The impact of microfinance activities on community capacity development.
Model of community capacity development through microfinance activities.
Model of sustainable livelihood development through microfinance activities.
14. Published works related to the thesis:

1. Full name of PhD student: By Van Toan. 2. Sex: Male
3. Date of birth: December 27, 1983. 4. Birthplace: Nam Dinh province
5. Admission decision number: 4618/QD-XHNV; dated February 29, 2016 by Headmaster of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
6. Changes in academic process:
Decision No. 4961/QD-XHNV on extending the training period for PhD students in the course no. QH-2016-X; dated December 31, 2019 by Headmaster of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
Decision No. 2380/QD-XHNV-DT on extending the training period for PhD students in the course no. QH-2016-X; dated November 27, 2020 by Headmaster of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
Decision No. 2919/QD-XHNV-ĐT on adjusting the PhD students' thesis topics, dated December 23, 2021 by Headmaster of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
7. Official thesis title: “The impact of microfinance activities on sustainable livelihoods applying the approach of social work with community (case study in Duc Trong district, Lam Dong province)”.
8. Major: Social work. 9. Code: 9760101.01
10. Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Dang Canh Khanh
11. Summary of the thesis's new findings:

Firstly, the study applies the "bottom-up" approach and assets-based community development approach in analyzing the results and findings while considering capitals in sustainable livelihoods as a reliable resource to enhance the implementation of community development activities towards sustainable development. That means focusing on eliminating the community's strengths instead of its existing problems; on exploring the impacts rather than assessing them.
Then, the study focuses on analyzing the impacts of human capital, social capital and financial capital on sustainable livelihoods; centered around the beneficiaries of the welfare policies (members of the village savings and loan associations). We explore the linkages of social capitals (with human capital as the main resource) in the approach of social work with the community. With it, we pay attention to how different capitals contribute to the development of groups members's capacity as well as the community's resources towards benefiting for the beneficiaries of the welfare policies.
Next, we in-dept studied the actual directions to promote the effectiveness of microfinance through the Village Savings & Loan Associations, based on the beneficiaries' insights (members of Village Savings & Loan Associations). These directions are drawn from the findings related to the community's strengths and achievements rather its disadvantages, weaknesses or problems.
More importantly, the study results demonstrate the importance of social work with the community approach as well as the need of on-field social workers in organizing and managing the activities of the village savings and loan associations to develop community's capacity, capitals, self-reliance and sustainability.
12. Possibility of practical application:
At first, the results show the impacts of microfinance to the development of capitals in sustainable livelihoods. It has helped local officials and leaders take practical measures to promote microfinance activities growing ever stronger; and provide them with a practical vision on how to improve the life quality of poor people as well as how to promote the community's capacity and self-reliance.
At the same time, the findings also help policy makers and experts to see how a social work approach (sustainable livelihood) can match with microfinance initiatives; then take action to promote social work in the community as well as develop microfinance sector within Vietnam.
Also, this study can serve as a basis to evaluate the impact of a microfinance activity by its social aspects along with its economic aspects and how the acitivy contributes to the community's sustainable development.
Further, the study indicates the role of social workers in the organizing and managing microfinance activities as well as the need to promote social work in rural communities today.
Finally, this model can be replicated and implemented in other communities where there are similar microfinance activities (organized in groups) so that the community can develop toward a self-reliance and sustainable manner.
13. Further study directions:
Impact of microfinance activities on community capacity development.
Model of community capacity developed through microfinance activities.
Model of sustainable livelihood development through microfinance activities.
14. Thesis-related publications: