Public Administration

Goal

To promote a professional, transparent, accountable, service-oriented and non-discriminatory public administration.

Challenge

The public sector in Vietnam suffers from some problems common to many developing countries – a very large public sector, low wages, inappropriate structures, lack of transparency, inadequate skills and equipment, an unclear relationship between the state and the ruling party, an orientation towards control rather than enabling, overly centralized – with the added problems of a former socialist economy – an orientation towards production rather than influencing markets and the limitations of a one-party state.  Corruption has emerged as a major issue, widely discussed, disproportionately hurting the poor, and threatening the legitimacy of the Party.

An effective public sector is generally thought to be a decisive tool in a country’s development, guaranteeing that public resources are sued wisely and enabling the private sector.  As Vietnam moves towards a market economy, the public sector will have an important and partly new role to play in supporting the poor.

Strategy

Unlike many other countries, Vietnam adopted a comprehensive Public Administration Reform Master Plan for 20010–2010. Progress has been slow, a mid-term review confirmed. Sida and other donors work with the Government of Vietnam to formulate good policies and implement them.

Public administration reform encompasses everything from the overall structures – the relationship between the state and the market, the degree of decentralization, the work culture – down to work routines, training and equipment. Sida’s approach is holistic, based on Vietnam’s specific needs and ambitions, and building on existing capacity.

Projects

In virtually every sector where Sida is working, Sida is also working to strengthen the capacity of the public sector in that sector.  In addition, Sida is working with the organizations that have an overall responsibility for the public administration. 

Sida together with a number of other donors led by UNDP has supported the implementation of the Public Administration Reform Master Plan at the Ministry of Home Affairs.  Earlier, Sida has supported an additional bilateral project at the same ministry.  We have also worked in a number of provinces streamlining local government, in particular the way land use certificates are issued.  Earlier support has been evaluated and we are now in the process of planning new support, which will probably include a new project at the Ministry for Home Affairs, training in public management at the prestigious Ho Chi Minh Political Academy and a new local government project in Quang Tri Province.

In a unique cooperation, and on the condition that the report be made public, Sida has supported broad diagnostic study of corruption in Vietnam commissioned by the Communist Party of Vietnam.  That study identified areas particularly affected by corruption as well as institutions most often cited for corruption.  Sida is now leading a group of bilateral donors that will strengthen the public inspectorate system and play a leading role in the fight against corruption.