Promoting civil society and good local governance

Programme description

Title: Programme on promoting Civil Society and Good Local Governance (CSGLG)
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Socialist Republic of Viet Nam
Lead executing agency: Ministry of Planning and Investment (MoPI)
Overall term: 2007 to 2014

Viet Nam. From the project for land rights in Nhe An. © GIZ

Context

The sustainable and socially inclusive development of a country can only succeed if the population (and in particular disadvantaged segments of the population), civil society and semi-governmental actors – as well as non-governmental organisations, associations and mass organisations – are able to participate in the planning, implementation and monitoring of local development processes. In Viet Nam legal regulations already exist, such as the Grassroots Democracy Ordinance (GDO), that aim to enable participatory development processes with the inclusion of the local population. However, such regulations are not being implemented nationwide. For instance, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities and the victims of domestic violence often face huge difficulties in exercising their rights.

Objective

Civil society and rule of law are strengthened and benefit inclusive and sustainable poverty reduction. The participation of the population, in particular of marginalised groups, in decision-making processes is assured.

Approach

The Vietnamese partners (non-governmental and mass organisations, as well as governmental actors at the district and municipal levels) receive support through:

  • Capacity Development: coaching, training and publications on topics such as planning, monitoring and evaluating, gender, organisational development and good governance
  • Financial support for projects that contribute to the objectives of the programme
  • Distribution and administration of third-party funding for poverty reduction projects through cooperation with the W. P. Schmitz Foundation

The partners are supporting the programme through:

  • education activities and capacity development for target groups and local authorities
  • organising innovative dialogue formats between the local population, the authorities and civil society actors
  • developing and implementing participatory planning processes and implementing and monitoring development processes with a focus on implementation of the Grassroots Democracy Ordinance
  • strengthening competencies and resources, as well as networking in the Vietnamese civil society

Results achieved so far

  • The participation, including political participation, of marginalised groups in local development processes has improved.
  • The target groups in the various projects being supported are more aware of their rights and duties, are able to exercise and safeguard them, and consider themselves active players in local development processes.
  • The programme has strengthened local authorities and target groups in their understanding of the methods involved in decentralised and participatory planning, implementation and monitoring processes, so that they can now play a part in the efficient use of local resources, ownership and inclusive development.
Viet Nam. From the project for women's rights and against domestic violence. © GIZ
  • The programme has strengthened the networking and advocacy skills of the civil society actors through its support of local projects and has contributed to the accountability of political actors.
  • Services and infrastructure reach marginalised segments of the population.

Additional information