Over the last 18 months, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Legislative Research Program held 28 trainings and seminars on issues of importance to the legislative process, such as national budgeting, legislative oversight, decentralization and local governance. The ILS is the principal source of technical support for the National Assembly's Standing Committee and Vietnam's National Commission for Constitutional Reform.

"The project achieved its objective of enhancing the capacity of the ILS," said ILS President Dr. Dinh Xuan Thao at the project closing this month. "It brought a new wind of change to ILS."

Institutional strengthening seminars and workshops tackled issues such as communication policy and strategy, budget analysis, conducting oversight hearings, and promptly handling member requests for assistance. Due in part to the USAID project training, the percentage of requests answered by ILS staffers increased by 14 percent, from 81 percent in 2011 to 95 percent in 2013.

The program strengthened the research and English language capacity of ILS staff, conducted a survey on member perceptions of the ILS, worked to develop the ILS library and contributed computers, printers and related office equipment so staff members could have access to these resources to better perform their functions.

"We are pleased to have contributed to ILS' ability to research issues that will certainly result in more informed decisions and better laws," said USAID Mission Director Joakim Parker. "It was our first joint effort with the National Assembly, and we are very pleased with the collaboration as well as the results."

Launched in October 2011, Vietnam LRP worked closely with ILS to lay the groundwork for its five-year Strategic Development Plan and improve the quality, relevance, and timeliness of its services to the National Assembly's Standing Committee, portfolio committees and Members.

Other major activities included a five-day course on Policy Analysis and Legislative Research, four months of English language training for ILS managers and staff, and a seven-day Study Tour to the Polish Sejm (Parliament) last November. The Sejm's Bureau of Legislative Research proved to be a useful model for the ILS as it continues its development.