Key messages

• The Covid-19 pandemic has had significant impacts on ethnic minority women in Moc Chau district, Son La province. These impacts include reduced incomes, increased family pressures and workloads, limited access to natural resources for agriculture production activities and impacts on mental health.
• PFES is currently being paid to communities, social organizations, households and groups of households. Women benefit from and have access to earnings from PFES payments to communities, groups of households, and households. The impact of PFES and its ability to support women in the context of Covid-19 depends on amounts paid, when they are paid, and the benefit-sharing mechanisms involved.
• Women participating in focus group discussions highlighted problems they face when implementing PFES, including limited earnings from PFES, lower PFES payments due to increased law enforcement, risks associated with accessing and securing forest use rights, and limited access to information and understanding of policies.
• More researches are needed to assess the long-term impacts of Covid-19 and the role of PFES in helping women cope with the pandemic.