Suswatch Reports

During recent years, when Vietnam gets more involved in international programs and conventions on economic development and environment protection, roles and activities of Non - Governmental Organizations (NGOs) become increasingly important. The Vietnamese government appreciates operations taken by NGOs and social communities. The government also undertakes to support and guarantee their involvement in developing programs: "All organizations and individuals are responsible for participating in environment protection activities"; "Environment protection is a task of all the people, the Army and the Communist Party. For this reason, it's necessary to entrust the right to obtain environment relevant information to NGOs and social communities, as well as to support and enhance the participation of the people and communities in environment protection".

The foundation of NGOs is to respond to the need on ownership right of the people, as well as to the need of individuals, political and professional organizations, social organizations and communities on contributing to consultancy, opponent and social inspection activities as well as on participating in various programs, plans and strategies such as programs on hunger eradication and poverty reduction, clean water and environmental hygiene in rural areas, 5 million hectare reforestation, community health care, socio- economic development, providing community services, etc. NGOs also receive financial support from both international and national organizations within frameworks of their development supporting activities in Vietnam.

NGOs are active in different sectors and areas, especially in supporting remote areas, ethnic groups, and disadvantaged people. They provide services in consulting central, sectorial and local state owned organizations on developing policies, strategies, planning, socio - economic development and environment protection plans; in disseminating knowledge, in raising the people's intellectual standards; in researching and applying scientific and technological achievements in order to reduce poverty, improve the people's living standards; in environment protection; in consulting and inspecting social issues; in charity activities; in supporting NGOs members; in protecting members' interests. NGOs' activities also enhance solidarity and friendship between international and national communities, strengthen multilateral and bilateral relations with friendly, solidarity and peaceful organizations, international and national NGOs, follow friendly neighborly foreign policies; avail of financial support such as from foreign countries and their NGOs

NGOs' activities take part in addressing difficulties of the Government in implementing the socio-economic and environment protection programs, plans and strategies; support communities and individuals in carrying out effectively activities relevant to sustainable development.

The NGOs and social communities are defined as follows:

1. Volunteer Organizations (VO) include organizations formed based on communities, funds, sponsoring organizations, volunteer
2. Social - professional organizations (NGOs): most of their activities are non- beneficial and aimed for achieving community objectives. They are vocational club centers and institutes operating under the Decree No. 35/HDBT and other relevant legal documents (Gardening Association, Association for Nature and Environment Protection, Architects' Association, Old People Association, etc,
   
3. People's organizations (PO) are social-political organizations such as women association, farmers' association, veterans' association, fatherland front, Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union.
4. Governmental NGOs: are established by Government and serve as instruments for executing government policies. They are centers and institutes belonging to the ministries, universities, the Vietnam Union of Literature and Art Associations (VUSTA), the Vietnam Union of Scientific and Technological Associations, the Red Cross, etc.
5. International NGOs in Vietnam: namely WWF, SNV, FFI, GCAP, etc.
6. Community organizations: people organizations, unions and clubs in hamlets and villages.
7. Clubs: clubs for poem lovers, old people club, etc.
8. Funds: Study Encouragement Fund, Fund for Dioxin Victims, etc.

Download the Full 2005 Vietnam Sustainability Watch Report