Ho Chi Minh City fosters partnership with foreign NGOs
VOV.VN - The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organisations (HUFO) in co-ordination with the southern city's working group for foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs) held an annual conference with foreign NGOs on April 12 in order to discuss co-operation orientations in the near future.
In his speech, Do Viet Ha, president of the HUFO, said the event offered a platform for foreign NGOs and Vietnamese partners to discuss co-operation, difficulties, and challenges, along with the city’s aid mobilisation demand.
It also gave the unions of friendship organisations of other southern localities a chance to present their demands for assistance from foreign NGOs operating in relevant areas, with a view to stepping up collaboration efforts in future projects.
According to HUFO, the partnership between the city and foreign NGOs has been expanded across many fields, including community development, health care, education, and social issues. These projects have remarkably contributed to local socio-economic development and the implementation of target programmes.
Last year saw 127 foreign NGOs licensed to operate in the city, primarily in the fields of health care, education, social protection, and environment. The municipal People's Committee approved 58 applications from foreign agencies, organisations and individuals for providing project and non-project aid for Vietnam, with committed capital totaling roughly VND630 billion, equivalent to US$25.18 million.
At the conference, representatives of Children's Hospital No.2; the HCM City Association for the Support of the Disabled and Orphans; the city's Child Welfare Association; and the friendship organisations' unions of Ben Tre, Ca Mau, Dong Nai, Long An, and Tay Ninh provinces introduced their priority projects needing assistance from foreign individuals and organisations. Those projects focus on areas such as health care, social issues, climate change fight, and education.
Participants were also updated on regulations regarding the management of foreign NGOs’ activities, the management and use of non-refundable aid outside foreign official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam, and other relevant legal provisions.
As part of the occasion, the municipal People's Committee and HUFO presented certificates of merit to 10 foreign NGOs in recognition of their contributions to humanitarian projects.
