USAID projects have greatly supported craft villages
Increasing Local capacity
The LCD project to be implemented in October will focus on supporting the capacity strengthening and effective coordination between local authorities and organizations, promoting more transparent policy-making and implementation processes, and providing better services to the Vietnamese people.
According to Mr. Nguyen The Hung, Deputy Director of the Academy of Policy and Development, Ministry of Planning and Investment, the project will deploy three main components with the desire to provide a model that proves effectiveness in supporting coordination between the government and the local organizations, as well as related units to address critical local issues.
In particular, component 1 focuses on improving local capacity by implementing cross-sectoral, and field needs assessments of local government agencies and organizations. Besides, it also develops consensus plans on capacity building for agencies and organizations that have been surveyed and evaluated, enhancing the operational ability and coordination efficiency of agencies and organizations. This will improve the capacity of local government agencies to interact, coordinate and represent the needs and benefits of the people.
Component 2 will concentrate on establishing forums and mechanisms for organizations and local governments to discuss their needs and identify options and resources to meet them. Besides, it is necessary to implement solutions in component 3 to provide solutions that meet people's needs. Simultaneously, they also monitor the progress and roles of related units in the implementation process and solve difficulties and challenges through capacity building.
Accompanying the underprivileged
According to Mr. Nguyen Dai Vui, Director of the Department of Planning and Investment, USAID and Thua Thien Hue have had a long-standing relationship. From 2015 to now, USAID has supported Thua Thien Hue with nine projects, with a total committed capital of $19.3 million. These projects have significantly contributed to promoting socio-economic development and improving the lives of most citizens in the province.
In particular, the direct beneficiaries are ethnic minorities in mountainous areas, parts of people living in coastal lagoons, and vulnerable groups such as the poor, women, and children. The success of the projects also helps to form value chains and improve the management capacity of local authorities, organizations, and businesses.
Social enterprises place a lot of expectations when the LCD project is implemented. And they would like it to accompany and support the disadvantaged, especially the rural women, during the survey and implementation of the project.
Ms. Ho Thi Suong Lan, Director of Phong Lan Viet Limited Liability Company, hopes the project can accompany businesses supporting craft villages to restore and develop the market. This not only helps revive traditional craft villages from being extinct or lost but also provides an opportunity for thousands of families to have more jobs and increase their income. This supporting activity will also create a cycle connecting project components, promoting start-up businesses to innovate and develop models bearing Hue cultural values.
Encouraging community enterprises to join the project is also proposed by Mr. Nguyen Van Phuong, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee at the provincial consultation workshop on implementing the LCD project. “Instead of directly supporting the community, the project can support through community businesses. Because they are the people who closely follow the community and understand the thoughts and desires of the residents; they will better accompany and support the disadvantaged," said Mr. Phuong.
The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee expressed his wish that USAID would support Thua Thien Hue province in improving the capacity of local governments at all levels to implement policies and plans effectively, and, at the same time, enhance the interaction among local government, the private sector, and other stakeholders, including disadvantaged groups in society, to improve the quality of socio-economic development in the locality.
Strengthening the local capacity through interaction with social organizations
The project named “Local Capacity Development” (LCD) is funded by the US Government for the Government of Vietnam. This project implementation period is expected from October 2022 to September 2027, with a total estimated cost of 24.9 million USD. In phase 1, the project will pilot in 3 provinces representing three regions, including Dien Bien, Thua Thien Hue, and Can Tho.
Story and photo: Hoang Loan