26 May 2011 marked a new phase of development partnership between Vietnam and the UK, with the signing of an amendment to the Development Partnership Arrangement (DPA). The signing took place during a four-day visit to Vietnam of Mr Alan Duncan, Minister of State for International Development of the UK. The UK agreed to provide Vietnam with up to £70 million in grant aid until 2015.
This funding is to support Vietnam in meeting the Millennium Development Goals; achieving strong growth that is inclusive, low-carbon and led by the private sector; and strengthening efforts to tackle corruption and enhance accountability. This signing came only a few months after the two governments launched the Strategic Partnership in September 2010. At the same time, the UK grew to be lead donor on anti-corruption. This role entailed coordinating development partners to engage with, and supporting the Government in its efforts to tackle corruption.
In an address at the signing ceremony, Mr Alan Duncan said: “I am delighted to be making my second visit to Vietnam within one year, and very pleased to see for myself again a vibrant, emerging Vietnam. Since my last visit, the UK and Vietnam signed a Strategic Partnership, elevating our relationship to the highest level. Today, I am pleased to have agreed on the next five years of our development partnership. The aid commitment enshrined in the DPA Amendment today, together with our new role as lead donor on anti-corruption in Vietnam, shows the great importance that the UK attaches to the bilateral relationship with Vietnam. We look forward to working more closely with the Vietnamese Government to take forward these priorities.”
The UK and Vietnam entered into a ten year DPA in 2006. By 2011, the UK, through the Department for International Development (DFID), has provided over £380 million grant aid to Vietnam through the bilateral programme. In addition, since 2006 nearly £19 million in debt relief has been granted to Vietnam through the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative for humanitarian efforts. grant aid to Vietnam through the bilateral programme. In addition, since 2006 nearly £19 million in debt relief has been granted to Vietnam through the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative for humanitarian efforts.
Some typical DFID funded programmes in Vietnam include: (1) Transport Sector Support/Rural Transport 3 to reduce travel costs and improve access to markets; (2) Primary Education for Disadvantaged Childrento improve access to and quality of primary education for disadvantaged girls and boys; (3) Targeted Budget Support for the National Education for All Programme to improve the delivery of the Government’s Education National Targeted Program; (4); Rural Sanitation Programme in Vietnam toimprove delivery of rural sanitation and water supply within the Government of Vietnam sector approach; (6) Vietnam: One United Nations Initiativeto implement the ''Five-Ones'' - leader, plan, budget, set of management systems and house - for One United Nations reform in Vietnam; and (7) HIV/AIDS Prevention Programmeto halt transmission of HIV/AIDS among vulnerable population (people living with HIV/AIDS, injecting drug users, commercial sex workers and their clients and sexual partners) and between these populations and the general populations as part of a comprehensive national response to HIV.
In March 2011, as the outcome of the Bilateral Aid Review, the UK confirmed that its aid to Vietnam would come to an end by 2016, at the same time when the DPA concluded. Until then, the UK commits to continue supporting Vietnam to meet MDG (multilateral Aid Review) targets in primary education, sanitation, and HIV/AIDS, and plans to increase our focus on emerging issues like climate change, governance, and trade/investment to ensure the sustainability of interventions, beyond the UK’s aid presence. The announcement of the end of UK aid is being made 5 years before aid will end, in recognition of the respect and trust between the two Governments, and the UK will hold further Ministerial level meetings soon to finalise the details of UK development cooperation over the next five years.
Duy Khang
Vietnamese
