The two programmes were evaluated under a UNDP-supported project in 2003-04, and the report, "Taking Stock, Planning Ahead", was published jointly by MOLISA and UNDP and formally launched by MOLISA Minister on 24 November 2004. The evaluation helped develop an improved understanding of the programme performance by the stakeholders, and build donor confidence for providing TA support to the design, and the subsequent implementation, of the National Target Programme on Poverty Reduction (NTP-PR), and the Socio-Economic Development for Communes Faced with Extreme Difficulties in Ethnic and Mountainous Areas (SEDEMA) programme, for the period 2006-10.  The Technical Assistance to the seven ‘Technical Design Working Groups’ (TDWGs) set up in September 2004 after the Do Son workshop, completed their inputs, which fed into the draft document of the NTP-PR (2006-10). Working closely with the Drafting Team, two short-term consultants provided support to the technical design process in October-December ’04 and March-April ’05 to develop the draft programme document for the NTP-PR (2006-10). The draft document was shared at 4 regional workshops organised by MOLISA in December 2004, and March-April 2005 to elicit feedback and comments from provincial-level officials. Donor representatives also participated in some of these workshops and provided comments and suggestions.  An advanced draft programme document of the NTP-PR was shared at a government-donor meeting on 1rst April 2005. At the same workshop, CEM shared an outline of the SEDEMA programme, 2006-2010. Well attended by donor, NGOs and government representatives, the workshop marked the formalisation of the joint government-donor partnership process whereby both the NTP-PR and the SEDEMA programmes would receive TA support from a number of donors in design and implementation through the UNDP-supported project VIE/02/001 during the period 2006-10.  Written comments prepared jointly by donors and NGOs were sent to MOLISA and CEM, the two leading organizations, after a donors’ meeting on 11 April. These comments, together with comments and ideas provided by provinces and ministries from recent and on-going regional consultations, are being analysed and incorporated selectively by MOLISA and CEM in the two revised Programme Documents, respectively.  2) Over the next six months, what concrete actions will your group take?  Two separate national workshops are planned to be organized by MOLISA and CEM respectively around mid-June. The final draft program documents are expected to be completed and submitted to the Office of Government shortly after that.  In addition, a number of key actions are planned: development of suitable implementation and management system; designing and piloting of the M&E system as well as pilot testing different programme components; conducting programme baseline surveys; curriculum development for training and testing; developing detailed guidelines for implementation; and strengthening information sharing among group members through newsletters and websites.  3) What are your revised success criteria - or milestones- for 2005 to ensure your partnership group reaches its development outcomes?  The work of the Steering Committees, Inter-agency Research Committee, Drafting Teams and TDWGs will lead to many concrete outputs, such as: A final programme document for the NTP-PR (2006-10) – likely in the third quarter of 2005. A final programme document for the SEDEMA programme (2006-2010) – likely in the third quarter of 2005. Draft implementation guidelines for components of the two programmes (by end-2005). Baseline surveys conducted, M&E and management systems piloted (by end-2005). Training programme designed and tested, and curriculum revised (by end-2005).
4) The future of this Partnership  The nature of poverty in Viet Nam has changed over time, and fresh challenges have emerged. It is also fairly clear that targeted programmes will remain essential elements of the GOVN’s poverty reduction strategy, at least until 2010. Addressing these challenges will require a coordinated approach through an inclusive and a participatory process whereby government agencies at different levels, all stakeholders in society, donors and NGOs work in tandem.  The collaborative process is an outgrowth from the evaluation of the NTP-HEPR and P135 and continues during the design process of the NTP-PR (2006-10) and SEDEMA (2006-2010). A number of donors (DFID and the Finish Embassy) have come together to channel TA support to the targeted programmes for poverty reduction through the UNDP-supported project VIE/02/001.  This partnership is expected to be further strengthened, under the leadership of the GOVN, based on the practical needs of its members to improve coordination, learning and cooperation during the implementation of the NTP-PR (2006-10) and the SEDEMA programme (2006-2010).
  | 
RSS