INGO Forum
The Resource Centre organises and hosts the monthly INGO Forum meeting, which provides INGO representatives with an opportunity to share experiences and to better coordinate common activities. The Resource Centre acts as a secretariat for the INGO Forum Meeting, setting the agenda in consultation with the Steering Committee, taking and distributing forum minutes, and when relevant following up on discussions from meetings.
INGO Working Groups
The Resource Centre encourages and facilitates its INGO members to establish a range of Working Groups focusing on different sectoral and/or cross-sectoral issues.
Library
The Resource Centre maintains a library as well as online resources containing a wide range of information from NGOs and others concerned with development and Vietnam, including studies, reports, sectoral handbooks and other resources. The library is open to the public during working hours, and is utilised by a wide range of people including NGO staff and volunteers, government agencies, donors, local and visiting researchers, local organisations and others. All library holdings are maintained in an online searchable database, with a terminal available to library users at the Resource Centre.
Annual INGO Directory
The Resource Centre produces an annual directory of INGOs providing support to Vietnam in English and Vietnamese. This directory is used by INGOs, government agencies, donors, embassies, local organisations, researchers and others to find out about the work of INGOs in Vietnam. A database of INGO organisation details, including staff and activity locations, is maintained by the Resource Centre. We can conduct searches of this databases upon request.
Resource Centre Website: www.ngocentre.org.vn
The Resource Centre website provides updated information and resources in English and Vietnamese to support the work of NGOs, VUFO and others focused on hunger eradication, poverty reduction and sustainable development in Vietnam. The NGO RC welcomes any feedback you may have relating to our website and associated services. If you would like to submit suggestions or comments, please contact the NGO RC Communications Advisor Eddy McCall on eddy@ngocentre.org.vn.
Fortnightly email newsletter
The Resource Centre produces an informal newsletter that is sent out via email to member organisations and friends of the Resource Centre. The newsletter includes information relevant to member organisations, including Resource Centre news; library arrivals; calendar of events; agency personnel and address announcements; other announcements; conferences, meetings, workshops; training opportunities; and current vacancies. If you are interested in subscribing to the newsletter, use the following form: http://mailman.ngocentre.org.vn/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/newsletter
Newsbrief Service
The Resource Centre subscribes to a weekly Newsbrief Service which compiles news items from the Vietnamese press on a broad range of topics relevant to NGOs and development. This service is available to member organisations by subscription via the Resource Centre. The Resource Centre and subscribing organisations share the cost of the service.
Information and assistance provided to NGOs as needed
The Resource Centre provides information and 'unofficial advice' to new NGOs wanting to set up an office or work in Vietnam, and to newly arrived expatriate staff. For INGOs without offices in Vietnam, and for those based outside of Hanoi, a visit to the Resource Centre is often on their agenda when they first arrive in Hanoi. The Resource Centre responds informally to queries regarding operational and programme issues for INGOs in Vietnam including Issuing/Renewal of INGO Permits, Project Approvals, Personal Income Tax, Value Added Tax (VAT) etc. We also arrange presentations during the year from Vietnamese authorities and other experts on programme and operational issues.
Maintain and foster dialogue between INGOs and Government agencies
Working under the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) and in close cooperation with the Peoples' Aid Coordinating Committee (PACCOM), the Resource Centre also plays an important role in the overall relationship between INGOs and Vietnamese authorities. The Resource Centre is also perceived as a contact point for INGOs and INGO activities, in particular by certain government ministries (MPI, MARD, etc.) and by donor agencies (WB, UN, bilateral cooperation agencies, etc.).
The Resource Centre coordinates and facilitates INGO representation at the mid-term and annual Consultative Group meetings for Vietnam, and within the Poverty Task Force, which supports the implementation of the Comprehensive Poverty Reduction and Growth Strategy for Vietnam, as well as a range of other partnerships and campaign initiatives.
The Resource Centre attends the monthly donor meeting held at the UNDP to maintain awareness of issues relevant to the INGO community in Vietnam. The centre also attends or facilitates INGO representation at numerous other donor and government meetings throughout the year.