The northern province of Vinh Phuc will simplify administrative procedures, ensure security and order, and provide favourable conditions for foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs), businesses and inpiduals to support its disadvantaged localities and needy people.

Vinh Phuc province receives additional aid from AAF. (Photo: vinhphuc.gov.vn)

Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Le Duy Thanh made the pledge at a conference on foreign aid promotion hosted by the committee on August 22.

He asked foreign NGOs and international organisations to continue and expand their programmes and projects in Vinh Phuc. He also called on them to choose the province to carry out programmes in training and vocational training; environmental protection, anti-climate change; community development, capacity building especially for workers in industrial zones; poverty eradication; emergency aid such as donating wheelchairs, eyeglasses, building gratitude houses for needy people.

According to Thanh, to raise the efficiency of foreign aid mobilisation, local authorities have devised plans and policies to facilitate NGOs’ projects in the province.

Vinh Phuc has also enhanced monitoring and regular assessments to ensure assistance efficiency, while working with other localities in aid mobilisation and management, he added.

At the conference, sponsors vowed to provide more than USD 1.4 million for NGO projects to be carried out in the locality in 2019.

Since 2008, there have been hundreds of programs and projects of foreign NGOs deployed in the province. The total value of projects disbursed over USD 22 million. In particular, there are a number of big projects such as "Helping the children with difficult circumstance live at the Hope Center" in Lap Thach district; "Sao Mai sponsorship center" in Tam Duong district supported by PAMWF; "Free artificial limbs for people with disabilities" provided by Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti; and project supporting for Agent Orange (AO)/Dioxin victims and children.

A total 13 NGOs from many countries and territories are operating in the province, including those from the U.S., the Republic of Korea, France, Japan, the UK and India.

The organisations have launched projects with total assistance exceeding USD 720,000, mostly in social issues, urgent aid, capacity development and improvement, microfinance and environmental protection. Major projects include one to offer prosthetic legs to disabled people and another to support AO/dioxin victims.

In the first seven months of 2018, three more organisations conducted research for their development plans in the province, while six new projects are awaiting approval. They include projects in sustainable agricultural value chain development for small-sized farmer households, support for senior citizens and healthcare solutions./.

Translated by Minh Chau