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Water for the Poor - Partnerships for Action
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| Phase 1 | Assessment of the RWSS Situation in Viet Nam The review process focused on defining the current RWSS situation in the country. |
| Phase 2 | Preparation of Strategic Plan and Memorandum of Understanding Building on the findings in phase 1, this phase identified strategies and actions needed to enhance the activities and increase resource flows in the RWSS sector. |
The joint GoV-donor review was designed to address three key objectives:
To describe and assess the present status of the RWSS sector framework and related health issues in Vietnam.
To assess the status of implementing the National Rural Clean Water Supply and Sanitation Strategy (NRWSSS), summarize lessons learned, and recommend solutions to issues identified in the implementation of the NRWSSS.
To provide guidance and recommendations to GoV and donors on the development of strategies and implementation modalities for the sector.
The following are some of the key conclusions arrived at by the Review to describe RWSS coverage in Viet Nam.
The overall national picture for rural water supply suggests that the targets for 2010 and 2020 are likely to be met if existing efforts are maintained.
The same is not true for improved sanitation: present trends show that there is little prospect of the 2010 and 2020 targets being met without changes to the approach to sanitation development. This is true for national, regional and provincial levels.
There are major differences between regions and provinces in RWSS technologies, coverage and the trends over time. Strategies to develop RWSS need to reflect the characteristics of different areas.
While the national and regional trends for water supply are positive, there are a number of provinces in all regions that are lagging behind the overall trend.
Health indicators are improving but still not satisfactory and need better coordination between improvements to RWSS services, health and hygiene promotion, primary health care provision and the participation of rural communities (especially women).
A supportive and coordinated institutional environment for the development of RWSS is necessary. There is a wide range of institutional capabilities that can be built on, but these capabilities are fragmented, lack coordination and suffer from some key gaps in the policy, legal and institutional framework. There are three generic challenges in this field:
Fragmentation and a lack of coordination between different institutions involved in the sector. There is little or no coordination between the different ministries involved in RWSS, and between the government, donors and NGOs. Engagement by any of these agencies with the private sector is also minimal.
Subsidiarity. The structure of decision-making in the sector needs to be re-organized to devolve authority, in line with government policies on decentralization and socialization. This includes more effective links between the centre and provincial levels, building provincial capacities and institutional processes within provinces to enhance cohesive actions at province, district, commune and community levels.
Participation. Models of good practice on community participation, in particular from donor-assisted and NGO projects, have not been mainstreamed in most provinces and levels of participation in RWSS are poor. These pose problems for both the planning of the construction and operation of RWSS facilities and the development of a better understanding of related issues such as health and hygiene.
The range of existing and potential financial mechanisms for both new investments and the operation of existing facilities is analysed in depth. This includes the:
Special attention has been paid to the role and potential of the small-scale private sector. In many areas, small local entrepreneurs are the largest builder of RWSS facilities and provider of RWSS services, but they are poorly integrated into main GoV and donor programs. Factors that constrain and provide opportunities for the development of the private sector are identified in the Report.
A coherent national system for monitoring and evaluation of RWSS in Viet Nam needs to be developed under existing initiatives. The Report discussed a number of key issues related to this, particularly those involving factors that influence the effectiveness of current activities in relation to achieving national goals and targets, or present opportunities for change to substantially improve effectiveness of actions in the future
These key issues are:
The strong construction focus of the approach and objectives of the RWSS-NTP, and its failure to identify and fund activities on many other parts of the NRWSSS
The complexity and fragmentation of the legal, policy and regulatory environment. Action to develop a coherent legal, policy and regulatory setting for RWSS is an urgent issue.
Coordination between government departments, between government and donor projects and with the NGO sector.
Decentralization, and especially how to strengthen coordination and implementation capacities at provincial and sub-provincial levels.
The inclusion of a coordinated and coherent approach to further socialization for the future development of a national program for the RWSS sector.
Establishing a range of choices on sustainable financial mechanisms that fit the needs and circumstances of different people and technical options.
The participation of local communities in the development of RWSS services, including scaling up and mainstreaming positive local level pilot experiences.
The importance and future potential of the private sector, and especially of small-scale local entrepreneurs.
The importance of targeting the resources available from GoV and donors to reach the poor and use these resources in a more effective manner.
The strengthening of information, education and communication campaigns as integral part of any program.
Improving sustainability of investments, including O&M, cost recovery improved local participation and more effective management systems.
Improving the links between WSS, poverty reduction and economic development, including providing for the use of domestic water for productive activities.
Meeting sanitation targets will require structural change, the substantial expansion of present levels of investment and clearer institutional commitments.
Improving the links between WSS provision and health and making sure that health and hygiene promotion are key aspects of all RWSS activities.
Clarifying and strengthening institutional responsibilities for water quality monitoring and regulation.
Strengthening monitoring and evaluation, including a central sector system and reconciling data from different sources.
These issues are the key to the future of the sector. It should be noted that generating higher levels of funding for RWSS program is not one of the key issues. If these issues are addressed, then the resources to meet NRWSSS targets and the needs of all the people of Viet Nam will be generated, including increases in the resources that flow from rural communities themselves.
Download the Status Report to read the full report of the Review.
Wouter Lincklaen Arriens
Lead Water Resources Specialist
E-mail: water@adb.org
John Soussan
Lead Water and Poverty Specialist (Consultant)
E-mail: johnsoussan@hotmail.com
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