Bac Giang is mountainous province in the north of Vietnam with natural area of 3,843.9 square kilometers and population of 1.6 million including around 12% of ethnic minorities and 10% of poor households. The programs and policies on poverty reduction have been implemented; however, living standards of poor and near poor households, ethnic minorities, people in resettlement areas and workers in industrial zones are facing many difficulties especially in specially difficult communes of Son Dong, Luc Ngan, Yen The and Luc Nam districts. In that context, foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs)’ aids provide meaningful supports for poverty reduction and sustainable development, improving people’s living standard, agricultural and rural development, education and training, healthcare, clean water and environmental protection. 

Inauguration and handing-over ceremony of the  work namely “improving facilities for Hoa Hong kindergarten and Nam Hong Primary school, Bac Giang city” (Photo: DOFA)

In 2013-2017 period, there have been more than 20 foreign NGOs and donors per year implementing program, projects and aid packages in the province. The NGOs are from different countries including Italy, the US, Switzerland, France, Japan and Brazil working in such fields as healthcare, education, general rural development and poverty reduction. The province has received and implemented more than 200 aid packages (including both projects and non-projects) with total committed capital of over 12.6 million US dollars. The disbursement value reached 9.2 million US dollars, comprising 73% of the total committed value. The programs and projects have been implemented in all ten districts and city of the province with priority in remote, rural and mountainous areas. Especially, the aid packages prioritized to vulnerable groups including women, children facing difficulties, disadvantaged people, poor households, people in rural and mountainous areas and ethnic minorities which contributed to improving environment and quality of life of the beneficiaries. Hence, NGOs’ aid have made positive contributions to poverty reduction and implementation of socio-economic development targets of the localities.

A household received cows under the aid program of YWAM organization (Photo: DOFA)

In coming years, Bac Giang province needs to continue paying attention to effective implementation of foreign NGO affair with a focus on mobilizing and attracting NGOs’aids conforming to socio-economic development orientation of the province and development priority of each sector and locality contributing to poverty reduction and sustainable agricultural and rural development. It is necessary to combine NGOs’ aids with other financial resources for development investment to ensure socio-economic development and political security and social order of the province. Foster cooperative relationship between the province and NGOs which have been operating in the province at the same time improve relationship with new NGOs. Create favorable legal framework for supporting activities of NGOs. Improve aid utilization of NGOs and strengthen supervision and assessment and collaborative capacity of the provincial authorities with NGOs. Take initiative to build aid mobilization projects and strengthen contact with NGOs to call for support in prioritized sectors and areas. Build a program on promotion of NGOs’aid mobilization of the province for the next period conforming to prioritize sectors of the province and scales of NGOs. Provide comprehensive information of the needs for support from donors and NGOs to mobilize and call for aids to help them have basis to consider and decide to support. Strengthen collaboration with related ministries and agencies in introducing and allocating NGOs’ programs and projects to the province. Pay attention to training personnel in foreign affairs to meet demands on political quality, knowledge of international laws, foreign language skills and professions. Allocate funds for the agency in charge of NGO affair to better aid mobilization. Strengthen coherent collaboration among management agencies of the province in receiving, managing and utilizing aids. Manage performance of NGOs and promptly prevent agencies or localities from receiving aids violating regulations.

Nguy Thi Thu

Ngoc Quyen (translated)