(VNF) - On December 5^th, in Hanoi, the Union of Friendship Organisations of Thai Nguyen province in coordination with the People's Aid Coordinating Committee (PACCOM) under the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) organised a meeting with international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating in the province.

At the meeting on December 5^th. (Photo: Thuy Linh/VNF)

Attending the meeting were Le Van Tuan, Head of the provincial Party Committee Propaganda Department, President of provincial Union of Friendship Organisations; Pham Anh Dao, Deputy Head of PACCOM; representatives from VUFO, agencies and branches and foreign NGOs operating in Thai Nguyen province.

Thai Nguyen is an economic, cultural and educational center of the northern midland and mountainous region and serves as a gateway for socio-economic exchanges between the midland and mountainous region and the northern plain region.

NGO aid mobilisation and promotion play an important role in mobilising resources, contributing to sustainable socio-economic development, environmental protection and defence security. Up to now, Thai Nguyen has had 80 foreign NGOs licensed, of which 35 are still valid.

Le Van Tuan, Head of the provincial Party Committee Propaganda Department cum President of provincial Union of Friendship Organisations. (Photo: Thuy Linh/VNF)

Speaking at the meeting, Le Van Tuan said that in the five years of the national program on aid mobilised for the period 2013-2017 in the locality, Thai Nguyen province has mobilised, facilitated and extended for many organisations to survey, expand and develop plans to deploy new projects in the province. The main projects targeted the poor, disadvantaged communes, children, women, disadvantaged people, people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, etc. In particular, in 2017, the disbursement value of NGO projects reached USD 2.5 million, a significant increase from USD 1.8 million in 2016.

Apart from economic efficiency, NGOs aid also brings great effect in building and developing human resources for the province. Through participation in NGOs programs and projects, provincial, district and commune officials as well as people have gained more knowledge and experience in socio-economic development of the area .

In the coming time, Thai Nguyen province also plans to mobilise more foreign NGOs. In 2018 and the following years, with the provincial plan and the support of the VUFO, the province will continue to call for mobilising and attracting investors; on the areas of education, people's healthcare, rural development, sustainable poverty reduction, together with disaster prevention and adaptation to climate change, etc.; in order to foster friendly partnership of people in Thai Nguyen with organisations and inpiduals in Vietnam and abroad, serving as a bridge which consolidate people-to-people ties.

On this occasion, Tuan expressed his wish in the future, VUFO and PACCOM will keep close coordination with Thai Nguyen and create the best possible conditions for foreign NGOs to carry out programmes and projects in the province.

Pham Anh Dao, Deputy Head of PACCOM. (Photo: Thuy Linh/VNF)

Pham Anh Dao stressed that the purpose of the talks was to allow participants to review and evaluate advantages and disadvantages during implementing programs and projects in localities as well as solutions for the coming time. This is also an opportunity for NGOs to share and advise on how to foster cooperation between them and Thai Nguyen province and to mobilise aid for more effective implementation in the future.

Appreciate the positive support and cooperation from local agencies, said Chu Duc Manh, representative of Germany’s Alliance Mission. Thanks to that support, survey activities becomes more convenient. From there, the organisations are able to know the real needs of people's lives and present the most appropriate support.

Sharing her views with Manh, representative of U.S.’s Habitat also highly appreciated the mechanism for receiving aid and facilitation for international organisations, NGOs and foreign donors in Thai Nguyen, adding that Habitat always identified Thai Nguyen as one of the central provinces in the north. At present, Habitat's activities focus on housing, clean water, sanitation, etc. and the province's needs are in line with Habitat's orientation and strategy.

At the discussion, representatives of some foreign NGOs operating in the province also shared and discussed to measures to promote and strengthen aid mobilisation in the province. They said that Thai Nguyen should promote its information exchange mechanism; organising information sharing sessions among organisations operating in the area together to exchange information and experiences; and simplifying a number of related legal documents, etc. to improve the effectiveness of aid use as well as to promote and strengthen aid mobilisation.

Delegates of related ministries agencies and localities having projects supported by foreign NGOs in the area also pledged to work and coordinate with international organisations, NGOs and foreign donors so that the implementation of their projects will gain best results./.

Translated by Chau Pham