CSRD 

About Us

CSRD is based in Hue, Vietnam. It is a self-funded non-government organisation (NGO) working to seek justice for vulnerable communities threatened by external change. CSRD has retained a geographical focus in Thua Thien Hue and adjacent provinces in the Central Region of Vietnam but has also undertaken projects throughout the lower Mekong.

The Founder of CSRD,
Ms Lam Thi Thu Suu 

Ms Lam Thi Thu Suu was the founder of CSRD and is a passionate campaigner for social justice and environmental protection. She was a Fulbright Visiting Scholar and won awards including the Bellagio Centre Residency Award (Rockefeller Foundation) and the Endeavour Executive Award (Australian Government).

We work to make a difference in people’s lives and to create communities that can adjust and succeed in moving towards a better future.

The Director,
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trinh Thi Dinh

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trinh Thi Dinh is a researcher and former university lecturer. She is an expert in World History, with an outstanding academic background from the early years of her career: a bachelor’s degree from the Moscow State Institute of Archival Studies and History (1975–1981), a master’s degree from the University of Melbourne, Australia (1995–1998), and a Ph.D. from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi (2001). She was conferred the title of Associate Professor in 2006.

Before taking on the role of Director of the Center for Social Research and Development (CSRD), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trinh Thi Dinh taught at the Faculty of History, University of Sciences, Hue University (1983–2019), and held various administrative roles including Deputy Head of the Department of Science – International Cooperation – Postgraduate Training (2005–2006) at Hue University of Sciences, Deputy Head of the Quality Assurance Unit – Higher Education Project, and Deputy Head of the Examination and Quality Assurance Board of Hue University (2006–2012).

She has led and participated in several community development research projects, such as:

“The socio-economic and cultural conditions of women who participated in the resistance wars in Quang Binh, Quang Tri, and Thua Thien Hue provinces” (2006–2007),

“The impact of the new Ho Chi Minh Highway on the livelihoods of communities living along the Truong Son mountain range” (2007–2009),

and projects on labor migration from Central Vietnam to FDI enterprises in southern industrial zones, and on free labor migration from Central Vietnam to Laos and Cambodia.

Although she officially retired in 2019, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trinh Thi Dinh has remained passionate about her work and continues to engage in professional and community activities. In November 2023, she was appointed Director of the Center for Social Research and Development (CSRD) by the Union of Science and Technology Associations of Thua Thien Hue Province.

With the motto, “As long as I have strength, I will keep working — finding joy in aging through work,” Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trinh Thi Dinh, together with the CSRD team, has achieved impressive results, successfully completed major projects, secured funding for new initiatives, and made meaningful contributions to the community, particularly vulnerable groups in Central and Central Highland Vietnam. For her, work is not only about fulfilling responsibilities and supporting the community, but also a way to maintain her health — especially her mental sharpness.

Our Mission

We work

To protect the natural environment and its complex eco-systems which are essential for the continuing health and well-being of our country and our people.

To seek justice for the poor and vulnerable people in Vietnam threatened by external change, helping create community resilience to threats resulting from industrial development, climate change, hydropower construction, agribusiness and gender inequality

Our Advisory Board

CSRD has an Advisory Board which exists to provide support and advice to the CSRD Director with a focus on strategic planning and the well-being and growth of the organisation.

The Advisory Board members are:
Chair: Nguyen Phuc Hoa, Disaster Management
Board Members: Nguyen Quy Hanh, Knowledge Management Le Hien, Sociology Pham Thi Duyen Anh, Social Planning

The CSRD difference

We achieve our results through four key activities:

We research the real issues at the grass roots level and maintain grass roots buy-in at all stages of project implementation.

We act as change agents and raise awareness by training and advocacy.

We empower the disadvantaged, particularly women, helping them realize their rights and how to make their voices heard.

We empower the disadvantaged, particularly women, helping them realize their rights and how to make their voices heard.

Our Teams

Our Optimistic Team Member

Assoc.Prof., PhD Trinh Thi Dinh
The Director
Hoang Thi Hoai Tam
Accountant Officer
Tran Thi Thanh Tam
Project Officer
Ngo Thi Kim Truc
Project Officer
Phan Thi Hong Phuc
Project Officer
View All

CSRD Network

CSRD has been fortunate to work with a supportive team of affiliate organisations and project partners.

Our Local Community

Our local community partners includes the people of Nam Dong, Phu Loc, Quang Dien, A Luoi, Phong Dien, Phu Vang and the townships of Huong Tra and Huong Thuy, of the Thua Thien Hue Province. We also work in other provinces in the Central and Central Highland Regions of Vietnam and Mekong Sub-region Countries. Our local NGO partners include Vietnam Rivers Network (VRN), the Centre for Water Resources Conservation and Development (WARECOD) and the Forest Land Network (Forland), and the Consultative and Research Centre on Natural Resource Management (CORENARM).

The International Community

We work with International NGOs which include Nordic Church Aid (NCA), Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung SE Asia (RLS), ICCO Foundation (ICCO), Thailand Environment Institute (TEI), Oxfam, Asia Pacific Forum on Women Law and Development (APWLD), Irish Aid, Australian Volunteers International (AVI), Planet Wheeler, the Environment Study Institute (IVM), UNWTO STEP Foundation, and Both ENDS as well as international corporations including the PM Group and the Takagi Corporation.

Government Departments and Agencies

CSRD maintains positive relationships with the local authorities in the provinces we work with, including the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DONRE), the Department of Planning and Investment (DPI), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DOFA), the Department of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs (DOLISA), the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism (DOCST), the Division of Environment Protection, the Division of Aquatic Resources and the Division of Irrigation and Flood Management. We also work cooperatively with the Union of Science and Technology Associations, the Women’s Union and the Fatherland Front Committee in these provinces.

CSRD Values

CSRD has been fortunate to work with a supportive team of affiliate organisations and project partners.

We aim to work to protect the environment and its complex eco-systems which are essential for the continuing health and well-being of our country and our people.

We strive to establish mutually respectful partnerships with our stakeholders. We believe in ourselves and our capacity to introduce change peacefully in accordance with laws and regulations.

We will work to support poor and vulnerable people in Vietnam to live a better life by addressing the issues which produce negative impacts on them such as industrial development, climate change, rapid social change and gender inequality.