Achievements in MDGs

According to Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung, Vietnam needs to focus on two groups of important lessons learned during 15 years of implementing the MDGs include: Nationalising and main-streaming of MDGs in the system of plans, programmes and policies of the country, in accordance with the specific conditions of the country. At the same time, another lesson is to build a comprehensive growth model, combining economic development with social development and environmental protection, development for the poor.

 

Eight MDGs, which Vietnam is committed to, include: Eradicating extreme poverty and hunger; Achieving universal primary education; Reducing child mortality rates; Improving maternal health; Combat HIV / AIDS, malaria and other diseases; Ensure environmental sustainability; and Developing a global partnership for development. Among 8 goals, it is encouraging that Vietnam completed ahead of schedule 3 goals (Eradicating extreme poverty and hunger; Achieving universal primary education; and Promoting gender equality and women empower) and gained much progress, reaching asymptotic remaining targets.

 

Also, according to the report, the ODA to Vietnam has increased significantly by 66 percent in the period from 2000 to 2014. In the past two years, ODA has reached over US$ 130 billion each, exceeding the target set by the United Nations which is taking up 0.7 percent of the average national income of a country.

 

Another striking point is that in the field of export, the export statistics show that the latest access of developing countries to the markets of developed countries has improved significantly, rising from 30.5 percent in 2000 to 43.8 percent in 2014.

 

Recognising and celebrating the achievements that Vietnam has achieved, Dr Pratibha Mehta, United Nations Development Programme Resident Representative and United Nations Resident Coordinator, said, very few countries achieve such results, the main accomplishments are due to the efforts of the country towards implementing the MDGs. Accordingly, to achieve the goal of poverty reduction, Vietnam paid special attention to distribute resources. Results showed that the poverty rate fell from 58.1 percent in 1993 to 19.5 percent in 2004 to help tens of millions of people out of poverty. Vietnam’s experience is drawn to incorporate specific targets into the planning system, programs and socio-economic policy the country, in accordance with the specific conditions of the country; build inclusive growth model, combining economic development with social, environmental protection, because of the poor. According to the poverty line in 2011-2015, the poverty rate has fallen from 14.2 percent in 2010 to 9.8 percent in 2013 and 5, 8 percent in late 2014.

 

Mr Tran Quoc Phuong, Director of MDG Project Management analysed some causes and solutions, such as to achieve the above results, the Government needs the close direction in socio-economic development and environmental protection. In particular, in the implementation of the MDGs, the Government should concentrate on guidance concerned ministries.

 

In addition, Mr Phuong also said that the important achievements were miraculous strides which help Vietnam in the next stage. But surely this way will be more difficult than the previous one. In particular, the objective of sustainable development after 2015 revolves around 3 main pillars: comprehensive economic growth; sustainable social welfare, and particularly poverty reduction is not just a matter of income but needs to extend further out in different directions (multidimensional poverty is expected to be considered and followed for 5 years to come) and the environment.