Strengthening Women-Led Climate Solutions in Vietnam: Introducing the AGILE Project

Vietnam is one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world. Increasingly frequent and intense storms, floods, and droughts are threatening livelihoods, food security, and economic stability—placing millions of people at risk.

Women are often hit hardest. Limited access to land, finance, and decision-making power, combined with persistent gender norms, constrains women’s ability to adapt to climate change and recover from climate shocks.

Yet women are also central to the solution.

Across Vietnam, women entrepreneurs are delivering novel solutions that reduce emissions, minimize waste, improve energy efficiency, and strengthen community resilience. Evidence shows that when women lead climate action environmental outcomes improve and communities are better prepared for future shocks.

Accelerating Women-Led Climate Enterprises

To harness this potential, WUSC is launching the Advancing Growth, Innovation, and Leadership for Enterprises (AGILE) Project, funded by Global Affairs Canada. This initiative seeks to strengthen climate resilience in Vietnam by supporting women-led climate enterprises to grow, attract investment, and scale their impact—ensuring women are not left behind in the green transition.

Through AGILE, we will be working with partners to:

• Deliver gender-responsive programs tailored to strengthen climate enterprises
• Improve women entrepreneurs’ access to finance, leadership opportunities, and markets
• Build investor capacity for gender-lens investing – the process of integrating gender analysis into the investment process to achieve better social and financial outcomes

By removing systemic barriers and mobilizing private investment, we are helping women-led climate businesses become investment-ready and scalable.

Partnerships that Drive Change

Lasting impact requires collaboration. AGILE connects Canadian capital and expertise with Vietnam’s growing climate entrepreneurship ecosystem.WUSC is partnering with Sarona Asset Management, Canada’s pioneering impact investment firm, to help unlock and scale investment for gender-responsive climate enterprises.

“AGILE is pioneering a new approach: we are moving beyond traditional support to build Vietnam’s first truly inclusive climate ecosystem. By linking women’s innovation with private capital, we are bringing the ‘Trade-Aid Nexus’ to life—transforming climate resilience into a shared economic opportunity that deepens the partnership between Vietnam and Canada.”— Dr. Teo Dang Do, AGILE Project Director

AGILE Launch Ceremony — joined by the Deputy Minister of Finance of Vietnam and the Ambassador of Canada in Vietnam.

Together, we will:

• Engage investors to support women-led climate businesses
• Establish a fund to provide grants to climate enterprises
• Develop practical tools to strengthen collaboration across the climate finance and gender-lens investing ecosystem

In Vietnam, AGILE also works closely with the Women’s Initiative for Startup and Entrepreneurship (WISE), BK Holdings, and the Ministry of Finance’s Agency for Private Enterprise and Cooperative Development. These partnerships will strengthen Enterprise Support Organizations (ESOs) and expand mentorship and coaching opportunities for women entrepreneurs.

AGILE Launch Ceremony.

Investing in a Greener, More Inclusive Future 

By 2029, AGILE will benefit 136,000 people across Vietnam, including 75,000 women. The project will support 56 climate enterprises through incubation and acceleration services and mobilize at least CAD 3.5 million in investment to scale gender-responsive climate business models.

Women entrepreneurs bring creativity, innovation, and local insight that are essential to building a greener future. through their creativity and innovation. But without intentional investment and collaboration, many risk being excluded from the green economy.

AGILE is a step toward changing that—demonstrating what’s possible when policymakers, investors, civil society, and funders work together to advance women-led climate solutions at scale.

Group photo showcasing full participation at the AGILE launch event.