Continuously improve indicators of administrative reform.

Review and simplify administrative procedures.

In order to reform and shorten the time for handling administrative procedures, the People's Committee of Quynh Luu district is implementing a pilot model for administrative reform. This involves receiving applications and returning results through public postal services for some administrative procedures in the field of land management;online applicationRegarding the 5 procedures related to the establishment and operation of household businesses.

Handling administrative procedures at the one-stop service center of Quynh Hung commune (Quynh Luu district). Photo: Thanh Le.

Quynh Luu District is also simultaneously implementing the "Resolving administrative procedures within one day" model for applications related to the registration of mortgages on land use rights and assets attached to land; changes to mortgage content and cancellation of mortgages on land use rights and assets attached to land; and procedures for establishing and operating household businesses.

“The district directs relevant units to review and reduce administrative procedures, and proposes the abolition of unnecessary administrative procedures. The processing time for some administrative procedures for citizens and businesses will be reduced, such as business license registration; removal of mortgages on land-attached assets; and administrative procedures related to civil registration and household registration.”

Mr. Nguyen Huu Bo - Head of the Internal Affairs Department of Quynh Luu District

At the People's Committee of Dien Chau District, thanks to efforts in administrative reform in 2021, the district's administrative reform ranking index rose from 4th in 2020 to 2nd in the province. To further improve the administrative reform index, the district has focused on directing the implementation of integrated administrative procedures for birth registration, death registration, permanent residence removal, death benefit entitlement, and funeral expenses; maintaining integrated registration of births, permanent residence registration, and issuance of health insurance cards for children under 6 years old. At the same time, the district has directed and guided communes and towns to promptly implement the process of certifying electronic copies from original documents as stipulated in Government Decree 45.

A view of Dien Chau town. Photo: Sach Nguyen

Dien Chau District is also directing a continued review to reduce the processing time for some procedures under its jurisdiction, creating favorable conditions for people and businesses to resolve administrative procedures within its authority as quickly and efficiently as possible.

For provincial-level departments and agencies, the focus is currently on reviewing, simplifying, and shortening the processing time for a number of administrative procedures and groups of procedures. Specifically, in implementing Plan 247 of the Provincial People's Committee, several departments have reviewed and simplified 15 administrative procedures and groups of procedures in the fields of construction; land; domestic goods circulation; criminal records and civil registration; emulation and commendation; and road transport.

Enhancing public service ethics

According to the announcement by the Government's Steering Committee for Administrative Reform,Administrative Reform IndexNghe An's 2021 Public Satisfaction Index (PAR Index) ranked 17th out of 63 provinces and cities, an increase of 1 position compared to 2020. The Satisfaction Index of citizens and organizations with the services of state administrative agencies (SIPASP) ranked 35th out of 63 provinces and cities, an increase of 13 positions compared to 2020.

Handling administrative procedures for citizens at the Public Administrative Service Center. Photo: Thanh Le

According to the 2021 report by the United Nations Development Programme in Vietnam, Nghe An ranked 15th out of 63 provinces and cities in the Provincial Public Administration and Governance Performance Index (PAPI). These results demonstrate the strong determination of the Party committees and authorities from the provincial to the grassroots level, as well as of the departments, agencies, localities, and units.

However, according to the 2021 assessment by the People's Committee of Nghe An province, some component indicators of the PAR INDEX in several areas—including administrative reform leadership and management; administrative procedure reform; public finance reform; and building and improving the quality of cadres and civil servants—ranked 13th out of 63 provinces and cities (11th out of 63 in 2020), a drop of 2 positions; the administrative modernization index did not achieve the maximum score; and there were not many new initiatives on administrative reform, especially breakthrough initiatives. The ranking and component indicators of the SIPAS index were still low compared to other localities. For PAPI, the public service index and the public service delivery index were in the lower-average group. Some component areas in the scoring axes were also low.

Nghe An province's PAPI indicators for 2021.

To improve these indicators, the Provincial People's Committee has directed agencies, localities, and units to focus on...improving the quality of the staff and civil servants.Perform duties at positions related to processing and resolving applications for businesses and investors, ensuring both professional expertise and ethical conduct. Simultaneously, strengthen supervision, inspection, and auditing of public service to limit the practice of "hoarding" or "returning" applications, which causes difficulties and inconvenience for businesses. Resolutely handle cases of officials and civil servants causing harassment, imposing strict penalties as a deterrent. Promptly, fully, and seriously apologize to individuals and organizations for administrative procedures that exceed the processing deadline.

Along with that, we need to promote the application of information technology in directing, managing, and implementing public services at levels 3 and 4 to facilitate and minimize contact, inconvenience, and difficulties for citizens and businesses. On the other hand, we need to strengthen measures to gather feedback from citizens and businesses regarding the service attitude of officials and civil servants.

“Reforming administrative procedures and improving the attitudes and responsibilities of officials and civil servants are key aspects of administrative reform. Therefore, the decisive efforts of departments, agencies, and localities in reviewing and simplifying application requirements and procedures, and promptly resolving administrative procedures for organizations and individuals, along with enhancing the public service ethics of officials and civil servants, will significantly contribute to improving the PAR INDEX, SIPAS, and PAPI indicators in the province.”

Comrade Nguyen Viet Hung - Director of the Department of Internal Affairs of Nghe An Province

Inspecting administrative reform work at the Department of Planning and Investment; Inspecting compliance with administrative discipline and order in Hung Tay commune (Hung Nguyen district); Officials of the Provincial People's Committee Office performing their professional duties. Photo: Thanh Le