Hanoi (VNA)– Representatives from the Departments of External Affairs of localitiesnationwide have shared their experience in calling for resources from foreignnon-governmental organisations (NGOs) to serve local socio-economicdevelopment.

At the 19th National Conference on External Affairs hosted by Hanoi on August 12, Mai Thuc,Vice Chairman of the central province of Quang Tri said that the nature ofNGOs’ assistance has changed from “giving-receiving” to developmentcooperation.

He said that QuangTri, facing many difficulties and severe war aftermaths, has received supportfrom NGOs, becoming one of the leading localities in the number of foreignNGO-funded projects.

The province has setup partnership with more than 40 foreign NGOs. In 2016-2017, the provincemanaged to call for 81 projects with total committed capital of 39 million USD.

Thuc held that relationswith foreign NGOs need more attention, as their support provides an importantresource for development. He suggested building full legal framework for thereception and management of the resources, thus creating favourable conditionsfor agencies and organisations to expand international cooperation.

NGOs should be seen aspartners instead of sponsors, he said, pointing to the need for enhancing therole of locals in foreign NGOs-funded projects.

Thuc proposed that theForeign Ministry coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment aswell as other relevant agencies to complete the Government’s Decree 12 on theregistration and management of foreign NGOs’ operations in Vietnam as well asDecree 93 on regulations of managing and using aids from foreign NGOs.

At the same time,Vietnamese representatives abroad should make foreign NGOs affairs one of theirregular tasks, thus increasing the sharing and provision of information withforeign NGOs and supporting the NGOs to connect with localities at home.

At the conference,Nguyen Thuy Anh, Vice Director of Da Nang’s Department of External Affairs saidin 2017, the city drew 134 billion VND in aid from foreign NGOs. One of themajor projects funded by the organisations was the 3.8 million USD “One Sky DaNang,” an international kindergarten for children of workers in localindustrial parks invested by the US’s Half the Sky Foundation.

Anh said that thecity’s leaders have sought ways to attract more support from business based inthe city by calling for their corporate social responsibility.

Municipal agencieshave also worked to approach NGOs and provide them with information of areasneed supporting, she added.

Commenting on foreignNGO affairs over the past years, Vice President and General Secretary of theVietnam Union of Friendship Organisations Don Tuan Phong said that the nationalprogramme on mobilizing support from foreign NGOs has provided clear guidelinesfor foreign NGOs on priorities and needs of Vietnam’s ministries, sectors andlocalities.

In the 1996-2017period, foreign NGOs provided Vietnam with over 4.1 billion USD in capital, helpingthe country cope with socio-economic difficulties, especially in povertyreduction and sustainable development.

Phong said thatalthough Vietnam has become a low middle-income country, Vietnam has stillfaced many difficulties and challenges, including war consequences, diversedisadvantaged groups such as the poor, Agent Orange/dioxin victims, thedisabled, and people from ethnic minority groups and remote areas, along withthe development gaps among regions, climate change and cross-border changes.

The challenges showthat the country continues to need support from foreign NGOs in the role ofpartners, stated Phong.-VNA