(VOVworld) - Vietnam has exerted effort to comprehend law and mechanism on anti-corruption and waste. A method that has received appreciation from society is to promote the role and responsibility of the people, public employees, and organizations. Le Phuong examines the effectiveness of anti-corruption work.

Deputy Inspector General Nguyen Duc Hanh

The Vietnam Anti-Corruption Initiative Program - VACI, under the theme “Strengthening public integrity and law implementation for effective anti-corruption”, has been piloted in some localities since last August. The Program, co-organized by the Vietnam’s Governmental Inspectorate, the World Bank in Vietnam and other co-sponsors, aims to raise community’s awareness on the anti-corruption law, and appreciate the role and responsibilities of all people and public employees in governmental agencies and social organizations. The Program has also enhanced cooperation between Vietnam and the international community in combating corruption, and showed its responsibility in implementing the United Nations Convention against Corruption. 34 community initiatives were financed to operate in some localities in order to minimize corruption, strengthen transparency and bring a better living environment. Le Quang Ha, Deputy Head of the Anti-Corruption Office, Government Inspection elaborates: “Since 34 programs received disbursement from the World Bank, the Anti-Corruption Office in cooperation with the International Cooperation Department have closely monitor their implementation to promptly solve their difficulties. The Governmental Inspectorate has worked with local administration and relevant agencies to confirm the legal status of the VACI Program and asked them to offer incentives for the program implementers.”

The Program “Improving legal knowledge for farmers of the Khmer ethnic group” has been piloted in An Cu commune, Tinh Bien district, An Giang province. Its training classes for local public employees, people and monks have received positive responses. Local people said they have thoroughly understood the party guidelines and government policies on anti-corruption. The number of petitions have halved after more than a year of implementation. Nguyen Thi Cam Ha, Head of the Monitoring Board of the An Giang Farmers Association, says: “During meetings of the Farmers and Law Club, they introduced legal documents, listened to and discussed local corruption incidents and social security.”

Deputy Inspector General Nguyen Duc Hanh comments on the initial results. “Surveys conducted by the Governmental Inspectorate show that the programs have been implemented in large scale and diverse sectors. They have basically met the goal of improving community’s awareness on anti-corruption. We should consider to finance more anti-corruption activities in some specific sectors.” 

World Bank Country Director for Vietnam, Victoria Kwakwa was speaking at the mid-term review of the Vietnam Anti-Corruption Initiatives Program in Hanoi on Thursday. “The Vietnamese population at large, they maybe committed to part of the fight against corruption. In the discussion this morning, we see that people are connected, people are dedicated and they are passionate about it. They feel they can make a contribution and indeed they can. That’s very important because the fight against corruption needs to be led by government. At the same time, the government needs to find ways to mobilize the population, huge community initiatives like this to be part of the fight.”

The Vietnam Anti-Corruption Initiatives Program has proved to be effective in raising community’s legal knowledge and improving the transparency in performance of administrative agencies. The program has created conditions for the people to engage in anti-corruption work for national construction.