HANOI, January 14, 2014 -- The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) signaled its robust support for the U.S.-Vietnam Comprehensive Partnership with an event to launch its Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS), which outlines the USAID’s development assistance program in Vietnam from 2014 through 2018.  At the event, USAID signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Justice to officially begin USAID’s new Governance for Inclusive Growth program.

“The Governance for Inclusive Growth program exemplifies how we are putting the concepts of our strategy into action,” said USAID Vietnam Mission Director, Joakim Parker.  “The program supports broad-based growth, including trade, while addressing development issues for women, ethnic minorities and vulnerable groups.  We expect that it will assist Vietnam’s aspirations to be a responsible, inclusive international partner.”

As the next phase of USAID’s successful economic growth and governance assistance, this program will focus on improving policymaking processes in Vietnam in support of an improved regulatory environment and public administration and look to strengthen oversight, performance management and other accountability mechanisms.  The program will include capacity building support relevant to Trans-Pacific Partnership commitments.  Activities under the program will be designed to increase the economic and social participation of groups such as women, ethnic minorities and vulnerable populations.

This new $42 million, five-year USAID program will be implemented by a consortium led by Chemonics International, a U.S. consulting firm selected through a competitive procurement process. The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) has been assigned by the Government of Vietnam to be the prime counterpart of the program. The program will work directly with the National Assembly, Ministry of Industry and Trade, and Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Planning and Investment, the State Audit Office of Vietnam and MOJ. The program will also develop partnerships with the private sector, civil society organizations, universities, local governments, and development partners on specific issues.

“With its objectives and expected results that have been highly agreed upon by the Government of Vietnam and the U.S. Government, I believe that the Governance for Inclusive Growth Program will create a new cooperation framework, ushering in and opening up a new period in development cooperation in general and cooperation on legal and justice issues between Vietnam and the United States and the international community,” said Ministry of Justice Vice Minister, Hoang The Lien.

Participants at the event included U.S. Ambassador David Shear, Minister of Planning and Investment Bui Quang Vinh, Vice Minister of Justice Hoang The Lien, Vice Chairman of National Assembly Foreign Affairs Committee Ngo Duc Manh, development partners and media representatives. The event also provided participants with an overview of the strategy and included panel discussions based on the key objectives including enhanced governance for broader, sustainable growth and increased capacity to protect and improve health and well-being.

An overview of the strategy can be found at http://vietnam.usaid.gov.

For photos of the event, visit http://flic.kr/s/aHsjQCwNKs.