The People's Participation Working Group (PPWG) was established in 1999 as one of the partnership groups, and it provides an informal forum for organisations and professionals - including donors, government employees, NGOs, project managers, consultants, researchers - to meet and exchange information and ideas on issues relating to people’s participation, grassroots democracy and civil society. Participants are encouraged to share information relevant and interesting to other members of the network.

The PPWG is co-ordinated by an elected Chairperson assisted by a voluntary Core Group. This Core Group consists currently of 15 members from UNDP, World Bank, Embassy of Finland, international and Vietnamese NGOs, who meet regularly to organise relevant thematic workshops and other events. The current Chairperson is Ms. Vu Thi Bich Hop, Director of SRD (Centre for Sustainable Rural Development). The PPWG is open to all those who are interested in participating and contributing to sharing information and carrying out the joint objectives (see below).

Update on PPWG activities in 2007

During the first months of 2007 the Core Group of PPWG has focused on reviewing the objectives and strategy of the group for the period 2007-2010. Based on an environmental scan and SWOT analysis of the Group it was agreed to develop a strategy, aligned with the period of the current Socio-Economic Development Plan of Viet Nam. The strategy should have clearer focus and improved impact indicators, with more recognition by the Government and other key stakeholders of its activities. PPWG should be more conscious of the identified needs of group members, increase its cooperation with existing networks and expand its membership base to include also government agencies and mass-organisations in Viet Nam. 

The revised strategy will be shared amongst PPWG members and other stakeholders for comments in June 2007 before finalisation and updating on the PPWG website. An operational plan for the strategy to be used by the Core Group to implement the new strategy is equally being prepared.

In the revised strategy the overall goal and objectives of PPWG are suggested updated as follows.

Overall Goal
To promote people's participation in the development and poverty reduction process of Viet Nam

Specific Objectives

1. To enhance exchange of information and coordination amongst the group's members;
2. To advocate and promote an enabling environment for effective people's participation in the development and poverty reduction process of Viet Nam;
3. To facilitate dialogue and improved understanding of people's participation experiences and lessons learned amongst different stakeholders (state, civil society, international organizations, donor community, etc.).

Thematic meetings planned by PPWG in 2007

The PPWG is planning to organise 4 thematic meetings in 2007, two in the 2nd quarter, one in the 3rd quarter and one in the 4th quarter of 2007. The four meetings are organised by members of the Core Group with presentations from government officials, researchers, technical specialists, or other relevant experts depending on the topic. In 2007 the tentative meeting plan is as follows:

1st meeting - 2nd quarter (May): Overview on the Legal Environment Affecting Civil Society Organisations (CSOs)
Within the past few years the Government of Viet Nam has showed determination to promote the growth of Civil Society Organisations, and the CSO sector in playing and increasingly important role in improving the active participation of people at all levels to promote development nation-wide (VDR/PRSC Consultation Exercise, VUFO-NGO Resource Centre, 2006). Several legal documents have been or are in process of being drafted offering new opportunities to the CSOs.

To take stock of the legislative changes affecting CSOs role in facilitating enhanced active people's participation of people at all levels in the development of Viet Nam the PPWG is organising a workshop on the Legal Environment Affecting the CSOs in Viet Nam. The overall purpose the workshop is to create an overview of the law making process and key legislation recently promulgated or in process of being drafted relating to the role CSOs in enhancing people's participation in development.

2nd meeting - 2nd quarter (June): New aid modalities and implications for people’s participation in Viet Nam
Viet Nam has experienced rapid economic growth over the past 15 years of Doi Moi reform and made great achievements in reducing the national poverty rate. The Government of Viet Nam has played a crucial role in achieving this development result.

The Paris Declaration and Hanoi Core Statement on Aid Effectiveness make strong emphasis on the ownership and leadership of the Government of the development agenda. With the new aid modalities such as direct budget support and the emphasis on increased donor coordination/harmonized and alignment, questions arise on how to ensure participation of Civil Society Organisations in monitoring the use of the funds and participation in government-led important policy discussions and decision-making process.

The main objective of the meeting is to get an overview of the new aid modalities (aid effectiveness/direct budget support) and discuss how these new modalities influence the work and role of Vietnamese NGOs in the development of Viet Nam. When applicable, recommendations will be made on how to strengthen the broader participation of the CSOs in this regard.

3rd meeting - 3rd quarter: Follow-up on recommendations from the NGO workshop in 2006
On 9 November 2006 a multi-stakeholder workshop on “Capacity Building and Strengthening the Participation of NGOs for the Socio-Economic Development in Viet-Nam” was held, organised by Viet Nam Union for Science and Technology Associations, co-chaired by the Ministry of Home Affairs, and supported by UNDP, SNV and the Royal Netherlands Embassy.

The workshop 9 November 2006 was a landmark event with presentations from national and international speakers, the Government and Non-Government sector. The afternoon was spent on group discussions on the challenges facing Vietnamese NGOs and how different stakeholders can support an enabling environment for, and strengthen the institutional/organisational capacities of, NGOs. The workshop concluded with a number of specific recommendations to the donor community, international NGOs, the Government and the Vietnamese NGOs themselves on how to move forward.

The objective of the 3rd PPWG meeting is to follow-up on the conclusions from the workshop. The meeting will in particular look at capacity building opportunities and needs for Vietnamese NGOs, how to further promote the participation of VNGOs in the implementation of the SEDP 2006-2010 and Vietnamese NGOs’ involvement in service delivery. 

4th meeting - 4th quarter: Decree on Rural Collaborative Groups
A final draft Decree on Rural Collaborative Groups (RCG) was prepared with consultation from NGOs and others in the end of 2006. PPWG has been proactive in the consultation process by organising a consultation meeting with NGOs to give their comment to the draft Decree, and thereby supporting the process of finalising this legal framework for small rural groups that so far have not had such.

It is expected that the Decree will be approved by 3rd quarter 2007. Upon approval by the Prime Minister, the PPWG will work with Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to organise a PPWG meeting to thereby enable discussions on the implementation and implications of the Decree, and other possible follow-up actions.

Other activities foreseen in 2007

• Finalise and start implementing the new strategy for PPWG including stakeholder analysis
• Continuous update of the PPWG website
• Inventory update for organisations involved in PPWG. It will be updated twice a year.
• Additional meetings if/as required