Representatives from central agencies and departments of external affairs of localities nationwide shared information and experience in how to attract resources from NGOs at the 19th National Conference on External Affairs on August 12 in Hanoi.Development cooperation in foreign non-governmental affairs
Mai Thuc, vice chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Tri central province, appreciated foreign NGOs’ aid, noting that they do not only contribute to socio-economic development but also play a political and diplomatic role. The nature of foreign NGOs’ assistance has changed from “give-receive” to development cooperation.
The overview of the 19th National Conference on External Affairs. Photo: Lam Khanh/VNA
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Quang Tri currently has cooperated with more than 40 foreign NGOs. In 2016 - 2017, the province campaigned for 81 projects with a total capital of over US$39 million.
From Quang Tri’s non-governmental aid practice, Mai Thuc said that the government should see relations with NGOs work as external political activity, thereby unifying the whole political system. At the same time, it is necessary to prevent and limit the negative effects that can damage national security and political interests.
Besides, Thuc added that foreign NGOs’ aid should be considered as an important investment source for development, thereby strengthening the legal framework and legal documents for the reception and management of foreign non-governmental aids, facilitating agencies and organizations to expand international cooperation.
Foreign NGOs should be considered partners rather than donors, so as to establish a clearer relationship in the process of calling for aid and coooperating in the implementation of NGO-funded programs and projects.
In the mean time, Vietnamese representatives abroad should make foreign NGO affairs one of their regular tasks, thus increasing the sharing and provision of information with foreign NGOs and supporting foreign NGOs in connecting with Vietnamese localities, Thuc added.
Opportunities to cooperate with foreign NGOs
Assessing the recent work of foreign NGOs, Don Tuan Phong, vice chairman and general secretary of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO), said that the VUFO has made efforts to expand cooperation with foreign NGOs and mobilize financial resources to support socio-economic development.
Evaluating that the national advocacy program for foreign NGOs is a guiding document, giving priority to aid activities of foreign NGOs, Don Tuan Phong said that the program’s contents clearly state Vietnam’s priorities and needs from the ministries, branches and localities. The program, therefore, encourages foreign NGOs to invest and support in these fields to coordinate with Vietnamese government’s resources from central to local levels.
As a result, aid mobilization has achieved encouraging results. From 1996 to 2017, the total value of foreign aid disbursed in Vietnam is estimated at US$4.1 billion. This is a meaningful resource that helps to solve some socio-economic difficulties, especially in the field of poverty reduction, sustainable development.
All these difficulties and challenges show that there are opportunities for foreign NGOs to set up partnerships with Vietnam.
