The Asia Foundation

Training on safe migration, women’s legal rights, and labor rights for local educators at
the provincial level; Local training at district and commune levels in An Giang province;
Setting up community theatre groups, providing training to build their skills, and support
for rehearsals and performances; Support media to produce and air selected performances; Convene a series of discussions between Vietnam and Cambodia that will facilitate exchange of information for effective cross-border cooperation.

Setting up community theatre groups, providing training to build their skills and support for rehearsals and performances; Support media to produce and air selected performances; Convene a series of discussions between Vietnam and Cambodia that will facilitate the exchange of information for effective cross-border cooperation.

Enhance capacity for the An Giang Vocational Training Center to provide necessary skills trainings on household services to disadvantaged girls and women in An Giang.

Five Korean development practitioners from government and NGO agencies were awarded fellowships to work in projects in developing Asian countries (Thailand, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam) for up to three months.

A sociological research and assessment of emerging issues related to “Giving and Fund Raising in Vietnam.”

Panel discussion featuring Dr. Bruce Tolentino, The Asia Foundation's Director, Economic Reform and Development; Dr. Veronique Salze-Lozac'h, The Asia Foundation's Regional Economic Director in Cambodia; Dr. Eddy Malesky, Harvard Academy Fellow at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs; and Dr. Neil McCulloch, The Asia Foundation's Director for Economic Programs in Indonesia. The panel discussed the Economic Governance Index, a tool pioneered and designed by the Foundation and used by local governments to determine how best to encourage private sector development in Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia.

Under the EcoAsia project, ncrease cooperation between Bac Ninh water supply and drainage company and Ranhill Water Utility Behard of Malaysia to encourage cross sharing of information and client services; training courses and regional technical exchange over non-revenue water.

Increase cooperation between Bac Ninh water supply and drainage company and Ranhill Water Utility Behard of Malaysia; Training courses and regional technical exchange on non-revenue water.

Three-year Memorandum of Understanding with the National Library covering donation and
distribution of 120,000 books. In 2007, this included approximately 40,000 books that were provided to provincial public libraries, universities, research organizations, and the
National Library.

In partnership with the National Library of Vietnam, acquisition and distribution of 24,139 books and journals to 117 institutions including schools, universities, NGOs, government bodies, libraries, and medical institutions.

Setting up community theatre groups, providing training to build performance and operating
skills for members, and support for rehearsals and performances; Support media to produce and air selected performances.

Setting up community theatre groups, providing training to build performance and operating skills for members, and support for rehearsals and performances; Support media to produce and air selected performances.

Develop training materials on how to migrate safely for women and workers recruited by labor export companies in An Giang, Quang Ninh, and Can Tho; Training for local trainers and communities on migration issues and labor rights; Training materials and pilot activities to increase women’s and community participation in the budgeting process in Thai Nguyen province; Training local authorities and people on gender issues, budget processes, and democracy exercises at the commune level; Workshops to discuss results of pilot activities.

Introduce safe migration education to the school system; Conduct school surveys in Nghe An, Thanh Hoa, and An Giang on school student awareness and understanding of safe migration issues; Set up local peer educator networks in each province; Train selected local peer educators; Support school programs and activities; Develop guide on how to conduct safe migration education activities/programs at school; Workshops to share lessons and experiences among schools in each province; Publications of sample modules on promoting safe migration in schools.

Introduce safe migration education to the school system; School surveys in Nghe An, Thanh Hoa, An Giang on school student awareness and understanding of safe migration issues; Set up local peer educator networks in each province and provide training for them on how to organize safe migration education campaigns in schools; Support school programs and activities; Develop a guide on how to conduct safe migration education activities and programs at school; Workshops to share lessons and experiences among schools in each province; Publications of sample modules on promoting safe migration in schools.

Scholarships for 140 disadvantaged girls in three provinces of Nam Dinh, An Giang, and Can Tho to complete primary and secondary education.

Study of the current mechanism for handling administrative complaints in Vietnam; Inputs  to the draft Law on Petition; Dissemination of findings to a wide range of government
authorities involved in the drafting process to serve as a basis for policy debate and
consideration through workshops; Raising public awareness about the topic.

Study of the current mechanism for handling administrative complaints in Vietnam; Inputs to the draft Law on Petition; Dissemination of findings to a wide range of government authorities involved in the drafting process to serve as a basis for policy debate and consideration through workshops; Raising public awareness about administrative complaints.

Pilot community-based environment management project to reduce pollution and restore quality of To Lich river, the stretch in Buoi ward, Tay Ho district, Hanoi.

Support under the Vietnam Environment Protection Agency to build capacity for an
Environmental and Health Impact Assessment of local development plans in selected sectors in Da Nang City.

Second trilateral conference on the relationship between China, the United States and
Vietnam.

Community-based social network education and information-sharing; Provision of information, counseling, and referral services for migrants; Enhance legal education and legal aid for migrant women and children.

National research grant competition for Vietnamese scholars under the age of 45 working on issues related to the U.S. The call for proposals was widely advertised in universities and research institutes. The five winning scholars were selected by a distinguished selection committee.

Luncheon featuring The Asia Foundation’s Country Representative in Vietnam, Dr. Kim Ninh. 
The focus of the discussion centered on achievements and challenges in the political,
economic, and social arenas in Vietnam.

A seven-year ECO-Asia program in Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam that aims to increase access to clean water and sanitation for Asia's urban poor; to strengthen national- and local-level environmental governance capacity; and improve transboundary conflict in the lower watersheds of the Greater Mekong Subregion.

The regional ECO-Asia program in Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam aims to increase access to clean water and sanitation for Asia's urban poor; to strengthen national- and local-level environmental governance capacity; and improve transboundary conflict in the lower watersheds of the Greater Mekong Subregion.

Vocational training assessment in An Giang province to make recommendations for policy and implementation changes to offer better vocational training assistance and work opportunities for young people in An Giang province.

Improving the current legal framework and building capacity for people’s inspection boards (PIBs) at the grassroots level: Consulting stakeholders on the drafting of regulations on PIBs; Improving PIB capacity through training on operational skills and techniques; Developing a model PIB at the commune level for later replication; Raising public awareness about PIBs via publication and dissemination of a guide book on how PIBs should be organized and operated.

Study to examine the current legal framework and practices in handling of land-related complaints and petitions; A review of legal documents relating to handling of land petitions since the Land Law 2003 came into effect; Assessment of actual law implementation in nine provinces; Three provincial round-table discussions to present findings and discuss best practices models and mechanisms to resolve land-related petitions.

Under the EcoAsia project, customer outreach development including customer-service training, development of customer strategies and pilot customer campaigns; Sanitation pilot project with Halong City Peoples Committee and Halong Urban Environmental Management Company; Training courses with technical assistance from international experts and trainers; Regional exchanges for Quang Ninh staff.

Customer outreach development including customer service training, development of customer strategies and pilot customer campaigns; Sanitation pilot project with Halong City Peoples Committee and Halong Urban Environmental Management Company; Training courses with technical assistance from international experts and trainers; Regional exchanges for Quang Ninh staff.

Under the EcoAsia project, assist water supply companies to efficiently and effectively address concerns of citizens and other technical assistance.

Customer outreach development and other technical assistance.

East Asia Community Building workshop; Support to further the establishment of a new Master of Arts program in American Studies.

Increase allocations of public resources for women’s needs at the local level; Survey on the budget allocation process at the local level to identify ways to enhance women’s and community participation in that process; Training on the budget allocation process, gender equality, and democracy exercises for women’s and community groups as well as local staff; Support to raise public officials’ awareness of the need to include the community and women in the budget allocation process; Raise awareness among local communities and women’s groups of the benefits of participation in the budget allocation process.

Development of social development website to enable information sharing and networking between civil society organizations and NGOs in Vietnam; Establishment of a comprehensive civil society database of local NGOs; Assessment of non-profit sector training needs for follow-on training interventions and organizational capacity development.

Conduct in-depth research of the economic capacity and potential of the Mekong delta region; Formulate recommendations on regional strategies as well as practical local solutions to generate income and employment opportunities for disadvantaged groups in the region;
Disseminate findings to policy makers and the wider public via the Internet and media
outlets. 

Conduct series of demand-driven provincial reform activities in Tay Ninh and Hai Duong
provinces to improve provincial economic governance (i.e. development of a business portal, compilation of tax registration and declaration manuals for SMEs); Capacity building for provincial Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Centers and organization of policy dialogues with provincial leaderships to develop a broader reform agenda.

Demand-driven assistances to Tay Ninh and Hai Duong provinces to improve provincial economic governance including the development of a business portal, compilation of tax registration and declaration manuals for small and medium enterprises to reduce the compliance costs, capacity building for provincial Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Centers, and organization of policy dialogues with provincial leaderships to develop a broader reform agenda.

Development of Manual for Environmental Inspection; Nationwide trainings for environmental inspectorates from 64 provinces in Vietnam; Support for the Vietnam Ministry of Natural
Resources and Environmental in environmental compliance and enforcement.

Development of Manual for Environmental Inspection;Nationwide trainings for environmental inspectors from 64 provinces in Vietnam; Support for the Vietnam Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in environmental compliance and enforcement.

Organization of workshop “Migrants and Social Related Issues” to review and discuss issues
related to labor migration in Vietnam; Publication of workshop proceedings and materials.

Embroidery training and job placement for poor women in Nam Dinh province.

Prevent trafficking in women and children and enhance protection of victims of trafficking
through provision of improved legal aid services to trafficked victims. Increase in-country
coordination among government agencies and mass organizations tasked with victim protection, integration, and investigation.

Essay contest, “Search for Cultural Ambassadors” asking Vietnamese students between the ages of 18-22 to summarize in 1,000 words or less their hopes for the future in Vietnam.

Training on safe migration, women’s legal rights, and labor rights for local educators at
the provincial level; Local training at district and commune levels in Nghe An province;
Setting up community theatre groups, providing training to build their skills, and support
for rehearsals and performances; Support media to produce and air selected performances.

Setting up community theatre groups, providing training to build their skills, and support for rehearsals and performances; Support media to produce and air selected performances.

Development of a nonprofit sector governance guide for civil society organizations and NGOs
in Vietnam; Publish and distribute approximately 1,000 handbooks to local NGOs.

Development of a non-profit sector governance guide for civil society organizations and NGOs in Vietnam; Published and distributed approximately 1,000 handbooks to local NGOs.

Study tour for four offices: the Office of the Government, the Office of the President, the Office of the National Assembly, and the Office of the Party Central Committee, on institutional reform strategy, policy analysis and coordination, and Recruitment and training in similar offices/institutions in Korea and Singapore.

Study assessing the scope and effectiveness of citizen participation over the last two
decades and exploring ways to increase participation; Training manual for legislators
outlining basic concepts of public participation and offering strategies for seeking citizen
input; Web application to allow National Assembly members to solicit citizen opinions about draft legal documents via the Internet.

Conduct a study on policies and incentives of the decentralization process in Vietnam with a
focus on investment law; Research and analysis of the provincial budget structure aimed at
improving understanding of the leadership incentives to undertake reform programs.

Develop Transformation in Governance and Economic Reform (TIGER) program;
Formulate a technical working group consisting of national experts in several areas (e.g.,
general governance, law, land management, public finance, planning, etc.); Develop TIGER diagnostic tools for implementation in pilot provinces taking into account international best practices.

Study on the policy and incentives of the decentralization process in Vietnam with focus on Investment Law. The study, conducted in seven provinces with different demographical features (Vinh Phuc, Ha Tay, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Khanh Hoa, Tien Giang, and Binh Duong) will provide an analysis of provincial budget structure aiming at improved understanding of the leadership incentives to undertake reform programs.

Essay contest, “Search for Cultural Ambassadors” asking Vietnamese students between the ages of 18-22 to summarize in 1,000 words or less their hopes for the future in Vietnam.

Setting up community theatre groups, providing training to build their skills, and support
for rehearsals and performances; Support media to produce and air selected performances.

Pro-poor economic research in six provinces of the Mekong delta region with a focus on women and marginalized groups; Formulate recommendations on regional strategies and practical local solutions to generate income and employment opportunities for the target groups; Regional workshop to disseminate findings and a position paper on new patterns of poverty to the policymakers; Final report to be published and disseminated to the public; Study to develop a comprehensive rural public service index in Vietnam; In-depth research to map out a comprehensive picture of current rural public services; Set of indices and measurement methods for public service quality assessment; Comprehensive rural public service index based on developed indicators and indices and pilot test in three to four provinces.

In-depth study on labor relations and an assessment of the motivations of the labor force leading to strikes in Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong and Dong Nai provinces; Field survey and studies in Binh Duong and Dong Nai provinces; Meetings/workshops to engage policy makers during the research and disseminate research results; Final report including informed recommendations to improve the labor environment in Vietnam and protect workers’ rights.

In-depth study on labor relations and an assessment of the motivations of the labor force leading to strikes in Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, and Dong Nai provinces; Field survey and studies in Binh Duong and Dong Nai provinces; Meetings and workshops to engage policymakers during the research and to disseminate research results; Final report including informed recommendations to improve the labor environment in Vietnam and protect workers’ rights.

Conduct community-based surveys to help identify trafficking survivors and better understand the local nature of the trafficking problem in the province; Provide critical services to trafficking survivors (e.g., healthcare and life skills training); Raise public awareness to
prevent trafficking; Enhance management capacity of local staff to assist their women
members to access local credit sources.

Community-based surveys to help identify trafficking survivors and better understand the local nature of the trafficking problem in the province; Critical services to trafficking survivors (e.g., healthcare and life skills training); Raise public awareness to prevent trafficking; Enhance management capacity of local staff to assist their women members to access local credit sources.

Setting up community theatre groups, providing training to build their skills, and support
for rehearsals and performances; Support media to produce and air selected performances.

Support five regional consultation workshops in Vietnam to review Decision No. 340 governing international NGO operations in Vietnam; Incorporate public opinion in revising the existing regulations to facilitate and support better working environments for international NGOs in Vietnam.

Increase allocations of public resources for women’s needs at the local level; Survey on the budget allocation process at the local level to identify ways to enhance women’s and
community participation in that process; Training on the budget allocation process, gender equality, and democracy exercises for women’s and community groups as well as local staff; Support to raise public officials’ awareness of the need to include the community and women in the budget allocation process; Raise awareness among local communities and women’s groups of the benefits of participation in the budget allocation process.

Guide book to provide a set of essential skills for the functioning of commune People’s Council’s representatives. These include skills to oversee People’s Committee works, to supervise law and policy implementation in the communes, to communicate with local citizens, to handle administrative complaints, and to conduct public hearings.

Second conference in a series that examined regional challenges facing East Asia and constructive ways for the three nations to resolve regional problems such as the environment and transnational crime.

Partial support for USSH/HCMC’s Department of International Relations to organize the two-part project, “Teaching American Studies in Vietnam –Reality and Solutions.” At the end of 2008, a group of young lecturers and upperclassmen visited USSH/Hanoi to observe and discuss that institution’s multidisciplinary program in American Studies. This will be followed by a July 2009 workshop in which lecturers and students from several universities will take part in an intensive experimental course and share the results with the network.

Development of an American Studies program at the university level. Support includes providing faculty consultants, teaching materials, and textbooks (including translations of key texts into Vietnamese); long- and short-term training opportunities in the U.S. for selected faculty; and annual networking workshops to encourage networking and information-sharing among American Studies lecturers and scholars across Vietnam.

Development of an American Studies program at the university level. Support includes
providing faculty consultants, teaching materials and textbooks (including translations of
key texts into Vietnamese); long- and short-term training opportunities in the U.S. for
selected faculty; and annual networking workshops to encourage networking and
information-sharing among American Studies lecturers and scholars across Vietnam.

Continued development of the Third Vietnam Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI), which
measures provincial performance in economic governance; Conduct provincial diagnostics to
analyze the strengths and weaknesses of provinces in order to improve PCI rankings.

Fourth annual development of Vietnam Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) which measures provincial performance in economic governance; Provincial diagnostics to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the province in question, in order to improve its PCI ranking; Development of two additional Infrastructure and ICT sub-indices.

Supported the development of the Vietnamese prviate sector to accelerate the country's transition to a market-based economy. The Foundation provided technical and managerial leadership for the Provincial Policy Reform Portfolio, under which the pioneering Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) was implemented.

Improve the environment in and around To Lich River basin of Hanoi; Research on the current status of To Lich river water and field study in selected villages to gain an improved understanding of pollution loads on the river; Survey on perception and attitudes of communities and citizens living along the river; Suggest appropriate solutions and priorities to restore water resources; Introduce appropriate safe agricultural cultivation methods using water from To Lich river to protect community health; Raise environmental awareness among selected target groups to restore water quality; Strengthen
NGO/community/business partnerships in the restoration and protection of the water resources in Hanoi.

Improve the environment in and around To Lich River basin of Hanoi; Research on the current status of To Lich river water and field study in selected villages to gain an improved understanding of pollution loads on the river; Survey on perception and attitudes of communities and citizens living along the river; Suggest appropriate solutions and priorities to restore water resources; Introduce appropriate safe agricultural cultivation methods using water from To Lich river to protect community health; Raise environmental awareness among selected target groups to restore water quality; Strengthen NGO, community, and business partnerships in the restoration and protection of the water resources in Hanoi.

Support to the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor to assess the current situation of
legal aid providers in Binh Duong and Dong Nai provinces; Enhance the capacity of its legal counseling network and the capacity and services of legal counseling offices in  Hanoi, Binh Duong and Dong Nai provinces; Disseminate experiences and information to other legal counseling centers and offices within its network through publication and distribution of 1000 legal counseling handbooks.

Assessment of the current situation of legal aid providers in Binh Duong and Dong Nai provinces; Enhance the capacity of its legal counseling network and the capacity and services of legal counseling offices in Hanoi, Binh Duong and Dong Nai provinces; Disseminate experiences and information to other legal counseling centers and offices within its network through publication and distribution of 1,000 legal counseling handbooks.

Prevent burn accidents through prevention education and improvement of skills and knowledge for local health workers/practitioners; Raise citizen and community awareness of the danger and consequences of burn accidents; Improve knowledge and skills of local health workers to handle burn cases; Develop and publish a set of training materials on burn prevention education and treatment for communities as well as local health workers.

Prevent burn accidents through prevention education and improvement of skills and knowledge for local health workers and practitioners; Raise citizen and community awareness of the danger and consequences of burn accidents; Improve knowledge and skills of local health workers to handle burn cases; Develop and publish a set of training materials on burn prevention education and treatment for communities as well as local health workers.

A delegation of Vietnamese officials, led by the Office of the National Assembly, visited Korea to study Korea's experience with public administration capacity building and economic and political transition.

A delegation of Vietnamese officials, led by the Office of the National Assembly, visited Korea to study Korea’s experience with public administration capacity building and economic and political transition.

Support a VUFO staff member to participate in an exchange program of the American Council of Young Political Leaders to the United States from July 19-August 1, 2008.

Prevent trafficking in women and children and increase effective women’s participation in
addressing this problem in Vietnam through prevention education and community monitoring support, vocational/technical training, business development and management training for at risk beneficiaries, provision of micro-credit, and strengthening Women’s Union program management capacity; Organize cross-border workshops with Cambodia and China to promote bilateral cooperation; Develop training materials on laws related to trafficking for VWU staff at all levels; Support legal training for VWU staff at the central and grassroots levels to improve their understanding of legal issues and enhance their capacity to participate in the policymaking process.

Provide scholarships for 140 disadvantaged girls in three provinces of Nam Dinh, An Giang and Can Tho to complete primary and secondary education, through Center for Raising the Intellectual Standard of People; Vietnamese Association for Promoting and Supporting Educational Development.