PAPI Index Announcement: Nghe An Ranks 4th Nationwide

According to the Organizing Committee, since 2018, the Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI) includes 8 content area indexes, 28 component content indexes and more than 120 specific indicators on governance and public administration performance of all 63 provinces/cities. The PAPI index is composed of calculations and synthesis of more than 6,000 variables constituting the indicators, formed from more than 550 questions in the PAPI questionnaire.

PAPI assessment diagram.

More than 14,300 randomly selected citizens from 63 provinces/cities were interviewed in the 2018 PAPI Index study to share their experiences and perceptions through the PAPI study on the performance of local government apparatus. In addition to the 6 content indicators as in previous years, in 2018, PAPI added 2 indicators: environmental governance and e-governance.

According to the general assessment, in 2018, people also recorded some positive changes in the effectiveness of mobilizing people's participation in political and social life at the grassroots level. Survey results showed that the rate of people being forced by local authorities to contribute to new projects/renovations of local public works decreased. About 50% of contributors said they contributed voluntarily in 2017 and 2018, higher than the rate of 45% before 2017.

A corner of Vinh city. Photo: Devi Nguyen

In addition, people are more satisfied with the level of transparency of the government in organizing the list of poor households and sharing information on revenue and expenditure of commune/ward budgets. However, transparency in land use planning/planning is still an aspect that local governments need to improve.

Top 5 provinces and cities in terms of PAPI index score 2018:

1. Ben Tre: 47.05 points

2. Lang Son: 47.05 points

3. Bac Giang: 46.83 points

4. Nghe An: 46.57 points

5. Quang Binh: 46.27 points

Regarding accountability to the people, in 2018, the number of people meeting with village/residential group or commune/ward level officials and civil servants when having concerns about the government or neighbors increased, and the number of people who said that those contacts brought results also increased compared to 2017.

In the 2018 provincial transparency map, Nghe An is among the localities ranked at the highest level.

Regarding the provision of basic public services, the health insurance coverage index has improved, the proportion of people with health insurance continued to increase from 80% in 2017 to 87% in 2018. Basic infrastructure, including services such as roads, waste collection, grid electricity supply and clean water for eating and living, was also evaluated more positively by people in 2018.

5 provinces and cities with the lowest PAPI 2018 index scores:

1. Binh Dinh: 41.04 points

2. Quang Ngai: 41.33 points

3. Binh Thuan: 41.06 points

4. Hau Giang: 42.06 points

5. Khanh Hoa: 42.17 points

Nghe An's Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index has improved significantly in recent years, from 46th place in 2013 to 21st place in the country in 2017 and has grown strongly in 2018, ranking 4th out of 63 provinces and cities. This is the result of the province's efforts in leadership and management, especially in administrative procedure reform.

The increase in PAPI ranking has contributed to creating motivation to improve the effectiveness of local governance and public administration. PAPI contributes to building a civil service for the people and promoting sustainable development in Nghe An.