(VNF) - The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organization, the People’s Committee of Gia Lai province jointly recently held a conference on promoting the mobilization of foreign NGOs Aid.

The conference was attended by Deputy Chairman of Gia Lai provincial People's Committee, Nguyen Duc Hoang; Head of the People's Aid Coordinating Committee (PACCOM), Phan Anh Son, together with representatives of central agencies, committees; leaders of departments and localities in Gia Lai province and representatives of international organizations and foreign NGOs in Vietnam.

The conference overview.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Chairman of Gia Lai provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Hoang said that the conference was held to brief the delegates on the current situation of Gia Lai province and review foreign NGOs aid mobilization in the period 2007-2017.

The conference also aimed to discuss, exchange experience and provide information on foreign NGOs aid works in the province.

Foreign NGOs has gradually improved the lives of people in Gia Lai

According to Deputy Chairman of the Gia Lai provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Hoang, due to low level of economic development, Gia Lai province is facing resources constraint. Therefore the province attaches great importance to increasing international cooperation relations, introducing the province's potential to prospective partners, in order to attract more investment from abroad, including foreign direct investment, non-refundable official development assistance and foreign NGO aid.

Vice President of Gia Lai province Nguyen Duc Hoang delivered the opening speech.

Particularly in terms of foreign NGOs aid, in 2007-2017, there were 36 projects benefiting the province with the total cost of USD 10.63 million. In the first 6 months of 2018, there are 8 projects with total disbursement value of USD 300,000. Despite the number of projects and disbursement value remain at a modest level, it still partly contributes to solving social problems, supporting the socio-economic of Gia Lai province, helping to take care of people's health, and improve their well-beings.

In order to strengthening partnerships with donors and orient the NGOs' aid mobilization, on August 22, 2018, the People's Committee of Gia Lai province issued Decision No. 395 / QD-UBND which lists out foreign NGOs aid mobilization projects in 2018-2020, including 89 projects with a total value of USD 8 million, focusing on a number of prioritized areas such as addressing social issues, agriculture, forestry, rural development, climate change, health, education, vocational training and career orientation.

Strengthening cooperation between Gia Lai and foreign NGOs

At the conference, foreign NGOs operating in Gia Lai province shared the same view that Gia Lai is one of the provinces which is most open and most quickly responsive in terms of accepting aid from foreign NGOs. NGOs therefore highly appreciated the support and cooperation of the provincial People's Committees and departments as well as the commitment of the local authorities and beneficiaries of Gia Lai province to promptly and effectively implementing programs, project in the province.

Speaking at the conference, Greig Craft - AIP Foundation representative in Vietnam, said: since 2015, AIP Foundation has been working with Gia Lai’s People Committee, provincial Traffic Safety Committee and other partners to deliver many projects, including: Helmets for Kids, Slow Zones – Safe Zones.

The NGO also provides training on road safety skills and knowledge, delivering free helmets to primary school pupils, training for local policemen on the execution of Helmet law on children, improving road conditions around school areas, planing and piloting an e-learning course on road safety in local primary schools.

On the occasion, Craft expressed the appreciation of AIP Foundation for the support and coordination of Gia Lai provincial authorities in delivering road safety programmes in many years.

"We wish to have your continuous support and co-operation in our coming projects, especially the Slow Zone, Safe Zone which has been signed to make the traffic around school areas safer for the school children", he said.

Sharing at the conference, representatives of SOS International said with the increasing number of aid activities and foreign NGOs projects in the province, Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee should assign the tasks to different sectors, departments, ministries to coordinate with ministries to utilize more resources.

At the same time, in order to improve the efficiency of foreign NGOs in the province, Gia Lai Foreign Affairs Service can be the focal point in coordinating NGOs in their respective localities, together fostering these programme, projects.

Speaking at the conference, Head of PACCOM Phan Anh Son said that Gia Lai is still in need for the cooperation, support and assistance of the international community, especially of foreign NGOs in overcoming the challenges in poverty reduction, socio-economic development.

Today's conference, with the participation of provincial leaders, departments and sectors, shows the province's prominent attention to foreign NGOs aid mobilization and the acknowledgement for the significant contributions, support and assistance from foreign NGOs to the socio-economic development of the locality.

Head of PACCOM Phan Anh Son speaks at the conference.

According to Head of PACCOM, Phan Anh Son, the Department of Foreign Affairs of Gia Lai province should provide sufficient information of prioritized areas that are in need for the support and assistance from foreign NGOs. Meanwhile, foreigner NGOs may have plans to deploy the most appropriate and practical programs and projects. VUFO and PACCOM will always cooperate closely with Gia Lai province to carry out more effective foreign NGO aid mobilization and provide information and create favorable conditions for NGOs operating in Gia Lai province.

The province will ensure the most favorable condition for FNGOs

Vice Chairman Gia Lai Nguyen Duc Hoang highly appreciated the comments from representatives of foreign NGOs participating in the conference.

He emphasized that provincial People's Committee always welcomes agencies and organizations coming to the locality on field trips to observe the real situation and commit to direct the functional agencies to coordinate and create the most favorable conditions, in terms of administrative procedures, making sure projects shall be implemented in the shortest time

Gia Lai province awards certificates of merit to organizations actively contributing to the socio-economic development of the province.

Representive of Gia Lai province expects that international organizations, foreign NGOs, inpiduals, agencies and organizations will continue to foster their aid programs in terms of value and aiding fields.

Gia Lai province also expects that foreign agencies, international organizations and foreign NGOs present at the conference will pay more attention to the programs, projects calling for aid of Gia Lai province./.

( Translated by Phi Yen )