Attracting foreign non-governmental aid capital in various fields and localities

Comrade Ha Kim Ngoc - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chairman of the Committee for Foreign Non-Governmental Organizations chaired the conference. Attending were Comrade Phan Anh Son - Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Foreign Non-Governmental Organizations, General Secretary of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations and leaders of relevant ministries, departments and branches.

At Nghe An bridge, there were comrade Tran Khanh Thuc - Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs and representatives of relevant departments, branches and sectors.

National online conference on foreign non-governmental work in 2023 at Nghe An bridge. Photo: Hoang Vinh

More than 338 foreign non-governmental organizations operate in Vietnam

In 2022, there were 338 foreign non-governmental organizations operating in Vietnam. Foreign non-governmental aid was deployed in 63 provinces and cities, in all fields: Health, education, economic development, support to solve social and environmental problems... thereby disbursing a value of 223.7 million USD, in which the aid implemented many projects and the disbursement rate was high in the regions: North Central, Red River Delta, Northern mountainous areas, Southeast...

During the implementation process, relevant ministries and branches always pay attention to and correctly assess the nature of foreign non-governmental work and use aid sources in accordance with regulations and in line with the priority orientations of ministries, branches and localities.

People in Western Nghe An grow bamboo to help protect the environment and develop livelihoods. Photo courtesy

During the implementation process, foreign NGOs have complied with Vietnamese laws, fully implemented their commitments to the government and localities, and contributed to useful programs, projects, and non-projects with humanitarian and development support purposes. At the same time, they have coordinated well with Vietnamese partner agencies, and most of the projects are suitable to the needs and effective... In 2023, foreign NGOs will continue to commit to supporting Vietnam.

More than 4.1 million USD to implement projects and non-projects in Nghe An

Currently, there are 60 foreign non-governmental organizations in Nghe An with operating registration certificates, 3 foreign non-governmental organizations have requested to add operating locations, 9 foreign non-governmental organizations have requested to extend their operating period...

In 2022, there are 19 projects and 7 non-projects being implemented in Nghe An province with a total committed aid capital of 4,169,041 USD, equal to 94.57% compared to the same period in 2021 (total committed aid capital in 2021 is 4,408,273 USD); Actual disbursement in 2022 is 980,334 USD, reaching 87.13% compared to the 2022 plan (2022 budget plan is 1,125,056 USD).

Aid projects and non-projects in the fields of education and training, health, environmental resources, socio-economic development... in which many projects have been implemented very effectively such as the project "Integrating learning activities through play for primary school students in Vietnam - iPLAY Vietnam" sponsored by VVOB; the project "Supporting the implementation of effective and sustainable interventions to prevent and combat child drowning in Vietnam, phase 2" sponsored by CTFK; the SEEDs scholarship program sponsored by PALS; the project "Sharing small love" sponsored by KTCA; the project "Improving sanitation and clean water based on results led by women" sponsored by EMWF; the project "Supporting health care for people under 18 years old in poor households, near-poor households, and those in especially difficult circumstances in Nghe An province" sponsored by GIBTK; Project "Restoring production forest landscapes according to the mechanism of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from efforts to limit deforestation and forest degradation; conserving and enhancing carbon stocks associated with sustainable management of forest resources (REDD+)"...

Foreign non-governmental projects implemented in districts and cities of Nghe An province are concentrated in poor and disadvantaged mountainous areas such as Con Cuong, Que Phong, Thanh Chuong, Anh Son districts... Non-governmental aid sources have contributed to improving the capacity of local authorities and people in environmental protection, livelihood development, and improving the quality of teaching and learning... However, the aid value of the projects is quite small, so the effectiveness is not high.

People participate in protecting and developing sustainable forests. Photo: Archive

To further improve the effectiveness of foreign non-governmental work, in 2023, Nghe An province will continue to promote the mobilization of foreign non-governmental aid in Nghe An province according to the direction in Decision No. 1031/QD-UBND dated April 16, 2021 of the People's Committee of Nghe An province on the Program to strengthen cooperation and mobilize non-refundable aid not belonging to official development assistance of Nghe An province in the period 2021-2025 and the National Program on strengthening cooperation and mobilization of foreign non-governmental aid in the period 2019-2025. Ensure the combination of socio-economic development with national defense stability, political security and social order. Prioritize attracting foreign non-governmental aid capital in various fields and localities...

At the online conference, delegates analyzed the difficulties and predicted that aid from NGOs would be cut due to the general difficult situation in the world. At the same time, they proposed solutions to effectively manage the activities and mobilize aid from foreign NGOs in 2023 while ensuring economic benefits associated with foreign security./.