(VNF) - Conference on promoting of foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) cooperation with Tuyen Quang province was held on October 28^th, in headquarters of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO).

Present were representatives of VUFO, People's Aid Coordinating Committee (PACCOM), Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, 19 people organizations, NGOs, community-based organizations (CBOs) and social networks from Tuyen Quang provice working in such fields as women’s rights, children’s rights, climate change, natural resources, the environment, and water resources.

Opening the conference, Mr. Pham Minh Huan, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee has briefed the provincial introduction, the general economic and social situation.

Mr. Pham Minh Huan, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee opened the meeting. (Photo: Hoang Vu/VNF)

Tuyen Quang is mountainous province with an agro-forestry economy and agro-forestry farming systems. Provincial competitiveness index (PCI) 2011 of Tuyen Quang province ranked 56^th over 63 provinces and cities.

Regarding the cooperation with NGOs, Tuyen Quang has concretized mechanisms and policies, ensuring consistent, simple, and easy implementation in order to create favorable conditions for NGOs and local activities, implemented projects in the province.

After first six months of 2016, Tuyen Quang has 10 international organizations, donors, NGOs implemented 13 programs, projects and grants, with a total pledged budget of over USD 6 million. However, the province is still difficult, many sectors need to have the opportunity to cooperate and exchange for the development. The Chairman expressed his hope that delegates at the conference would openly share issues and difficulties to come to the agreement, creating a springboard for future cooperation. Tuyen Quang committed to supporting organizations’ activities in the province.

Ms. Khong Thuong Lan from World Vision International in Vietnam (WVI), spoke at the meeting. (Photo: Hoang Vu/VNF)

Ms. Khong Thuong Lan, representatives from World Vision International in Vietnam (WVI), a non-governmental organization has much greater efficiency projects in Vietnam in general and in particular in Tuyen Quang province, shared that localities should coordinate the inpidual projects of foreign NGOs together into a whole, the implementation process will be consistent and more efficiency.

“Every foreign NGOs normally operates in a specialized field, there are organizations specializing in education and other institutions of social security, on children’s rights, vulnerable people, environmental protection... An organization is hard to do well all the fields, but if we combinate all organization, the effect will be greater. "

To answer this question, Mr. Nguyen Hai Anh, Deputy Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee provided participants with general information about external information dissemination, organization building and development; operation orientations of the province in the coming time. Accordingly, provincial leaders and relevant departments will organize the regular meeting, announcing the results and implementation of projects to local NGOs to create exchange between provincial relevant departments and the organizations, and between organizations together.

Mr. Hai Anh also affirmed that Tuyen Quang will be determined to make the best of cooperation with foreign NGOs in order to increase the effectiveness of aid projects in the locality.

Foreign NGOs’ officials in turn expressed recommendations and opinions concerning their organizations. Delegates from Tuyen Quang province, including leaders of the departments have listened as well as answered questions of each organizations. Besides, representatives of the Department of Education, Department of Health, Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs has also shared information on their respective fields, the difficult issues and characteristics in each district, commune, through which the organization wishes to capture information for research and development projects.

"With these projects have been implemented in Tuyen Quang, in case if the organizations have to move to other places to continue to replicate the model, no longer directly build and manage, will the province have a plan to keep, continue the pobjects?" Ms. Nguyen Tuyet Lan, a representative of Good Neighbors International (GNI) in Vietnam asked at the conference.

Ms. Nguyen Tuyet Lan, a representative of Good Neighbors International (GNI) in Vietnam. (Photo: Hoang Vu/VNF)

Reply to this issue, representatives of Tuyen Quang committed to implementing the on-going projects from the organization in the province. The provincial government will combine with the local authorities to maintain the operation of the projects, ensuring the long-term operational processes and efficiency in the future.

Phan Anh Son, Director General of PACCOM appreciated the effort to organize the meeting of Tuyen Quang, "The participation of the Provincial Chairman and Deputy Chairman with representatives of 19 departments in local communes and districts shows goodwill, thoughtful and proactive in cooperation with foreign NGOs."

"As an aid coordination unit of the People, PACCOM will capture and incorporate the needs, proposals and recommendations of both sides to make the most advantageous embodiment," Mr. Son said.

Memorandum of understanding sighed between Good Neighbors International (GNI) in Vietnam and Tuyen Quang province. (Photo: Hoang Vu/VNF)

About NGOs’ upcoming projects in Tuyen Quang , PACCOM will coordinate a model computer classrooms to the provincial students soon have the opportunity to practice with the computer. In addition, PACCOM will focus on the training program for leadership and management of Tuyen Quang staffs, improving the capacity of the staff of the local foreign affairs.

PACCOM Director General Son suggested foreign NGOs increasing committed support and cooperation with the province to promote the project. He also expressed the hope and belief on the future collaboration between the provinces of Tuyen Quang and foreign NGOs will be raised to a new level. The project will enrich local people’ lives, especially lives of vulnerable groups such as children with disabilities, orphans, the elderly, the lonely and helpless, etc./.

Minh Phuong