The SAFEGRO project piloted a food safety education model focusing on gender-responsive education for preschool and primary school children in order to prevent increasing cases of food poisoning in Vietnam.

According to the Ministry of Health there were 100 food poisoning cases per year in Vietnam from 2019 to 2023. In the first 5 months of 2024, there will be 36 cases, infecting 2,138 people (an increase of 202.8% over the same period in 2023). Of these, 10 were large-scale cases infecting more than 30 people (an increase of 3 cases over the same period).

In this context, raising awareness and promoting change in food safety behavior are considered important issues, particularly food safety practices in and around schools.

From July 2023 to April 2024, the SAFEGRO Project piloted a model of gender-responsible food safety education in Van Duc commune, Gia Lam district, Hanoi. The model focused on three intervention activities: integrating gender-responsive food safety education into preschool and primary school education programs; upgrading the kindergarten collective kitchen; and promoting food safety to change the behavior of students, teachers, and parents.

The school food safety program reached 1,591 people (women accounted for 45%). More than 70% of students from preschool to middle school changed their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors about food hygiene and safety, according to the post-KAP survey. 100% of teachers and kitchen staff are trained in food safety using the learning-through-play method. In addition, SAFEGRO created two practical documents guiding the school and collective kitchen on how to standardize food safety practices.

Based on the lessons learned from the pilot project in Van Duc commune, SAFEGRO has collaborated with governmental agencies in the fields of education, health, and agricultural and rural development to discuss programming in pre-schools, educating pre-school students, and improving food safety in school kitchens.

A strategy to replicate the pilot model in Van Duc commune was also discussed. It is expected that in the period of 2024–2025, the SAFEGRO Project will provide a series of capacity-building trainings for teachers, students, and parents in selected preschools in Hanoi in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Support for upgrading kindergarten collective kitchen equipment will also be considered based on pre-audit results. A large-scale communication campaign in schools about food safety will also be carried out at the beginning of the next school year.

alinea’s whistleblower policy

1.1 Purpose

The following Whistleblower Policy has been established to provide guidance to Alinea International employees and sub-contractors on how to deal with known or suspected improper conduct within the organization. The objectives of this Policy are to:

Create awareness of the Policy and available whistleblower protections
Act as a reference guide to potential whistleblowers wishing to make a disclosure
Define the structure of the whistleblower system, including reporting and investigation procedures, whistleblower protections, and confidentiality, among others
Improve the communication and transparency in the processes associated with whistleblowing and assure protection against derogatory consequences, namely reprisals and detrimental action
Complement the current communication channels between employees, sub-contractors and immediate managers, and hierarchical channels flowing to the President and Senior Management team
Provide guidance to all parties involved in either whistleblowing or whistleblower protection.

1.2 Scope

Alinea requires all employees and sub-contractors to observe high standards of business and personal ethics in the conduct of their duties and responsibilities. All employees and sub-contractors of Alinea are required to comply with applicable laws and regulations of Canada and the countries where we operate. Any allegations of known or suspected improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources will be dealt with in accordance with this Policy, and reasonable steps will be taken to protect those who come forward with allegations. Alinea’s Whistleblower Policy covers both internal and external whistleblowing, and establishes the controls and procedures for dealing with allegations of malpractice, fraud and violations of our code of ethics and/or laws or regulations that govern our operations. This Policy is intended to encourage employees and sub-contractors to report known or suspected improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources and to enable Alinea’s Senior Management team to address and correct inappropriate action. It is the responsibility of all Board of Directors’ members, the Senior Management team, employees and sub-contractors to report concerns about known or suspected malpractice, fraud and violations of our code of ethics and/or laws or regulations that govern our operations. This Policy is applicable to all employees and sub-contractors of Alinea International.

1.3 Reporting Procedures

Alinea recognizes the value of transparency and accountability in its administrative and management practices and supports the making of disclosures that reveal improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources. Our internal controls and operating procedures are intended to detect and prevent malpractice, fraud and violations of our code of ethics and/or laws or regulations that govern our operations. As detailed in Alinea’s Employee Policy and Onboarding manuals, employees and sub-contractors are encouraged to share complaints and/or concerns regarding ethical or legal violations with their immediate managers. If the employee or sub-contractor is not comfortable speaking with their immediate manager or is not satisfied with the response, they are encouraged to speak with the Gatineau or Calgary Office Managers, the Vice Presidents or, as required, the Chief Financial Officer. All members of the Senior Management team are required to report complaints and/or concerns about suspected ethical or legal violations in writing to Alinea’s Ethics Committee who has the responsibility to investigate all reported complaints and/or concerns. In the event that the complaint and/or concern is about the President, it should be raised by the employee or sub-contractor to their immediate manager or the Ethics Committee who will determine how the investigation will proceed. All reports will be promptly investigated and appropriate corrective measures will be taken if warranted by the investigation. Alinea’s Ethics Committee is responsible for acknowledging receipt of the suspected violation and notifying the whistleblower of the outcome of the investigation. Anyone filing a written complaint concerning suspected improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources must be acting in good faith and have reasonable grounds for believing the information disclosed indicates a violation. Personal grievances or complaints related to employment are not covered under Alinea’s Whistleblowing Policy. For cases such as this, employees and sub-contractors are advised to first refer to Alineas Employee Policy and Onboarding manuals when considering a disclosure under the Whistleblowing Policy. Any allegations that prove not to be substantiated and which prove to have been made maliciously or knowingly to be false will be viewed as a serious disciplinary offense.

1.4 Confidentiality

Maintaining confidentiality is crucial to ensure reprisals are not made against the whistleblower. Alinea is committed to safeguarding the identity of the whistleblower and to protecting the whistleblower against detrimental action taken in reprisal for allegations of suspected improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources. The Ethics Committee is responsible for ensuring whistleblowers are protected from direct and indirect detrimental action, and that the culture of the workplace is supportive of suspected allegations being made. Any employee who retaliates against someone who has reported a violation in good faith is subject to discipline up to and including termination of employment.

1.5 Review

Alinea is committed to implementing ‘best practice’ policies and procedures for dealing with allegations of suspected improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources (as defined by this Policy) and the management and protection of whistleblowers making allegation(s). This Policy will be reviewed periodically to ensure it meets the objectives of relevant legislation and remains effective for Alinea, and may be changed at the discretion of the Board of Directors at any time. For allegations of fraud, securities law, or human rights concerns, or when you are not satisfied or uncomfortable with following the Company’s open door policy, individuals should contact the Company’s Ethics Committee directly.

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Promoting Food Safety Practices in Schools in Vietnam

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