Using foreign non-governmental resources effectively

Over the past five years, Dong Nai province has effectively implemented the National program on international cooperation and mobilization of foreign non-governmental aid for the 2019–2025 period, utilizing foreign non-governmental resources to implement social welfare initiatives.

These outcomes highlight Dong Nai province’s positive progress in people-to-people diplomacy, successfully mobilizing the social responsibility contributions of foreign direct investment (FDI) enterprises operating in the province, while fostering stronger cultural and social exchanges between local people and international communities.

Proactively engaging foreign non-governmental resources

Currently, three agencies have been designated as focal points for foreign non-governmental affairs in Dong Nai province. Among them, the Department of Foreign Affairs plays a role and exercises state management functions over the operations of foreign non-governmental organizations. The Department of Finance serves as the focal point for receiving applications, taking the lead in coordinating with relevant departments to appraise and submit to the Provincial People’s Committee for review and approval of the reception of foreign non-governmental aid. The Dong Nai Union of Friendship Organizations serves as the focal agency for developing relations and mobilizing foreign non-governmental aid.

Students of Thanh Phu Secondary School (Tan Trieu ward) use computers provided through foreign non-governmental resources. Photo: Van Truyen

Nguyen Viet Thang, Deputy Director of the Dong Nai Department of Foreign Affairs and Vice President of the provincial Union of Friendship Organizations, stated that in recent years, relevant units have coordinated closely to effectively connect, mobilize, receive, and implement foreign non-governmental resources.

To date, Dong Nai province has attracted over 1,500 investment projects from 45 countries and territories. This accomplishment has created an opportunity and favorable conditions for fostering friendly and cooperative relations between the people of Dong Nai and those of other countries. It also facilitates the connection and mobilization of the social responsibility of FDI enterprises, foreign non-governmental organizations, and overseas associations in social welfare activities.

According to Tran Thuy Tien, Vice President of the Dong Nai Union of Friendship Organizations, in its assigned role as the focal point, the Dong Nai Union of Friendship Organizations has proactively coordinated with relevant agencies, units, and localities to implement the mobilization of foreign non-governmental aid. To enhance connectivity, Dong Nai province organizes annual meetings to engage with and honor foreign non-governmental, FDI enterprises, and overseas associations that have made positive contributions. At the same time, the province has introduced various measures to ensure the prompt and efficient reception and implementation of foreign non-governmental projects.

At the same time, every year, the Dong Nai Union of Friendship Organizations, in coordination with relevant departments, sectors, and localities, develops a list of projects in need of aid mobilization as reference materials to be sent to foreign non-governmental organizations, FDI enterprises, and overseas associations for consideration.

In the course of implementing project and non-project activities funded by foreign non-governmental resources, Dong Nai province has provided support on 175 occasions to foreign non-governmental organizations, overseas associations, and FDI enterprises in organizing groundbreaking ceremonies, meeting with beneficiaries, monitoring construction works, and inaugurating projects. At the same time, the province has accompanied these partners in resolving difficulties and obstacles, thereby contributing to improved implementation effectiveness and promoting sustainable cooperative relations.

Darell Smart, representative of Latter-day Saint Charities, stated that during the implementation of foreign non-governmental projects in cooperation with Dong Nai province, the organization has consistently received close coordination and favorable support in achieving its intended goals.

Thanks to the concerted efforts of the entire province, after five years of implementing the National program on international cooperation and mobilization of foreign non-governmental aid for the 2019–2025 period, Dong Nai has cooperated with foreign non-governmental organizations on 202 occasions, mobilizing a total committed aid amount of nearly VND 497 billion, with disbursed funds to date equivalent to VND 275 billion.

Bringing resources into social welfare activities

Over the past five years, Dong Nai province has implemented 215 projects and non-project activities, utilizing resources mobilized and received from foreign non-governmental organizations, overseas associations, and FDI enterprises, across various sectors, including education and training, healthcare, and social issues.

Representatives of the Dong Nai Union of Friendship Organizations, Tan Trieu ward, and Phan Chu Trinh Primary School join donors at the ceremony to receive meeting room equipment, water purifiers, and other items funded by foreign non-governmental resources. Photo: Van Truyen

Recently, the Department of Ethnic and Religious Affairs and the Dong Nai Union of Friendship Organizations handed over two solid houses to two disadvantaged ethnic minority households in La Nga commune. Each house was supported with VND 75 million by the Taiwan Business Association in Vietnam – Dong Nai Chapter. Similarly, Hyosung Dong Nai Co., Ltd. sponsored VND 700 million to build solid houses for disadvantaged families in Tan Phu and Dinh Quan communes. Notably, during the implementation of housing-related projects, local authorities also mobilized additional contributions, with each family sharing part of the cost to demonstrate their sense of responsibility.

In addition, since the beginning of this year, several clean water systems have been installed in schools through foreign non-governmental funding, including Tan Hanh Primary School, Tan Hanh Secondary School, Tran Van On Secondary School (Bien Hoa ward), and Phan Chu Trinh Primary School (Tan Trieu ward), serving the needs of students and teachers.

Moreover, several computer labs and projection systems have also been provided to schools to support teaching and learning activities.

Nguyen Phuc Nguyen, Principal of Thanh Phu Secondary School (Tan Trieu ward), shared that through the coordination of the Dong Nai Union of Friendship Organizations, departments, and local authorities, the school has received substantial support from foreign non-governmental resources. This endeavor has contributed to creating more favorable conditions for teaching and learning at the school.

Students of Phan Chu Trinh Primary School (Tan Trieu ward) collect drinking water from a clean water system funded by foreign non-governmental resources. Photo: Van Truyen

In the new phase, Dong Nai province continues to regard cooperation and mobilization of foreign non-governmental aid as an integral part of people-to-people diplomacy, contributing positively to the province’s sustainable development goals. Therefore, expanding cooperation with foreign non-governmental organizations and international donors, promoting corporate social responsibility among FDI enterprises, and developing project portfolios that closely align with the province’s actual needs will remain key priorities moving forward.

By Van Truyen - Translated by Thu Hien, Minho