The Participatory Action-Oriented Training (PAOT) is a practical method that fosters grassroots initiatives and bases on self-help voluntary actions that enable local people to implement immediate improvements in occupational health and safety and working conditions by using available local resources (manpower and materials).
Building on the experience of implementing the PAOT method for plastic reduction awareness in the “Mitigating marine plastic debris” project implemented by WWF-Viet Nam in Phu Quoc, the TVA Project adapted and adjusted the PAOT toolkit to suit the practical solid waste management in Hue City. Alongside the research and adjustment of tools, efforts were made to develop human resources for communication activities. The project also collaborated with local partners to advocate for pilot implementation of the models and establish local plastic reduction communication teams.
To protect Phu Quoc’s Marine Protected Area from land-based plastic pollution, the “Fishery and Marine Protected Areas” component in coordination with the city Women’s Union has promoted community participation in waste sorting at sources and Reducing plastic waste by adopting the Participatory Action-Oriented Training approaches (PAOT).
This program has reached 1,671 households (HHs) from 2022 to 2024 and trained 16 key trainers and 60 communication collaborators (CCs) on PAOT methods, tools and story of changes writing. In December 2024, the Project assessed the PAOT communications on the base of the criteria: relevance, effectiveness, impact, and sustainability, examining the possibilities of sustaining the implementation in the existing areas, expanding and replicating, and documenting lessons learned for sharing with the stakeholders or outside the Project.
