Ha Noi, 5 February 2022 - UNDP Executive Board has just approved the new Country programme document (CPD) for Viet Nam for the 2022-2026 period with a total fund of more than USD121 million.

“Viet Nam stands at a critical juncture as it seeks to rebound from COVID-19 in ways that generate growth, are job-rich, sustainable and inclusive,” said UNDP Resident Representative in Viet Nam Caitlin Wiesen. “With UNDP’s new 5- year Country Program, we deepen our partnership with Viet Nam to eradicate persistent poverty and develop pathways that deliver net zero carbon emissions and the Sustainable Development Goals. The Country Programme Document describes how we will foster innovation and shift ecosystems to scale implementation of the SDGs.  We look forward to working closely with all partners to accelerate green inclusive transformations that empower the most vulnerable through greater opportunity and resilience.”

In the CPD, UNDP acknowledged that with more than three decades of uninterrupted economic growth, Viet Nam has made impressive advances towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and improving the quality of life for millions of people. Multidimensional poverty has fallen from 8.23 per cent in 2016 to 4.8 per cent in 2019, with another 5.6 per cent of the population categorized as vulnerable to multidimensional poverty. For the first time in 2019, Viet Nam moved into the high human development category, ranking 117 out of 189 countries, with a Human Development Index value of 0.704. 

However, the CPD noted that, despite significant gains, income, gender, regional and urban-rural inequalities persist. Viet Nam is among the top 10 countries most affected by natural disasters. Its dependence on fossil fuels and degradation of its environment and biodiversity undermine opportunities for sustainable economic development.

In this context and based on the Independent Country Programme Evaluation (ICPE) for the 2017-2021 period, in the coming period UNDP will provide thought leadership on issues core to the achievement of the SDGs, Paris Agreement and human development based on a jointly developed theory of change underpinning the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), which contributes to Viet Nam’s Socio-Economic Development Strategy (2021-2030) and Socio-Economic Development Plan (2021-2025).

The overall objective of the new country programme is that by 2026, all Vietnamese people will contribute to and benefit from a more sustainable, inclusive and gender-responsive economic transformation; safer and cleaner environment; and a more just, safe, and inclusive society.

Toward shared prosperity through sustainable economic transformation, UNDP will help ensure that people in Viet Nam, especially those at risk of being left behind, will contribute to, and benefit equitably from a more sustainable, inclusive and gender-responsive economic transformation based on innovation, entrepreneurship, enhanced productivity, competitiveness, and decent work.

UNDP will support Viet Nam with next-generation mechanisms to enable vulnerable groups, in particular poor people, ethnic minority women and people with disability, to create and access sustainable jobs and improved livelihoods; evidence-based policy options for sustainable, inclusive and gender-responsive economic transformation agenda and its financing; and inclusive, gender-responsive and shock-responsive social protection systems expanded.

For climate change, disaster resilience and environmental sustainability, the programme will enable people in Viet Nam, especially those at risk of being left behind, to benefit from and contribute to a safer and cleaner environment resulting from Viet Nam’s effective mitigation and adaptation to climate change; disaster risk reduction and resilience building; promotion of circular economy; provision of clean and renewable energy; and sustainable management of natural resources.

UNDP will support innovative and resilience-building solutions introduced to reduce risks from disasters and climate change and health impacts for vulnerable people; policies and solutions designed and implemented for transformation to low-carbon development, circular economy, and   environmental protection; and gender-responsive, sustainable, and innovative solutions and practices in natural resources, biodiversity conservation and nature-based tourism adopted.

In the governance and access to justice area, the programme will help enable people in Viet Nam, especially those at risk of being left behind, to benefit from and contribute to a more just, safe, and inclusive society based on improved governance, more responsive institutions, strengthened rule of law and the protection of and respect for human rights, gender equality and freedom from all forms of violence and discrimination in line with Viet Nam’s international commitments.

Rule of law institutions and systems will be strengthened, and implementation of laws will be monitored to expand access to justice and freedom from discrimination, with a focus on vulnerable groups. Mechanisms for promoting transparency will be improved, alongside with public participation, integrity, adaptability, and accountability, including participation of women and other vulnerable groups.

UNDP will support gender-responsive, risk-informed, and anticipatory capacities to improve human security, respond to future crises and sustain peace; and strengthen capacities strengthened to undertake legal, policy and institutional reforms to address structural barriers to gender equality and inclusion of persons with disability.

Building on the previous programme, UNDP will support government with capacities for anticipatory, adaptive and agile (triple AAA ) responses to complex and emerging challenges by: evidence gathering and analysis to address new forms of multidimensional poverty, keeping nature and environment at the heart of economic development; inclusive, human-centric digitalization and innovation; reframing policy choices and enabling shifts to address systemic gaps; testing and scaling up successful implementation models; and developing platforms to improve fiscal planning and mobilization of resources. 

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For further information, please see a presentation, two pager, and full text of the CPD here: bit.ly/35EZ0gl

Media Contact: Nguyen Viet Lan, UNDP Viet Nam Communication Lead

Email: nguyen.viet.lan@undp.org | Phone: 0914436769.