ActionAid Vietnam promotes locally driven approaches to sustainable development
WVR - Drawing on the practical needs and experience of each locality, ActionAid has adopted an approach based on the principle that local communities should take the issues they face in their hands, while the organisation acts as a partner, connecting resources and supporting appropriate solutions.
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| Ms. Hoang Phuong Thao, Country Director of ActionAid Vietnam. (Photo provided by the subject) |
On the sidelines of the Foreign Non-Governmental Organisations (FNGOs) Conference 2026, Ms. Hoang Phuong Thao, Country Director of ActionAid Vietnam, spoke to The World and Vietnam Report about the proactive role of local authorities in development programmes.
Ms. Hoang Phuong Thao said that throughout its years of operation in Vietnam, the organisation has consistently received attention, support and guidance from relevant agencies, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations and the Committee for Foreign Non-Governmental Organisation Affairs.
Drawing on ActionAid’s experience on the ground, Ms. Hoang Phuong Thao spoke highly of the practical support provided by the Service Department for Diplomatic Corps under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, particularly in recruitment, personnel management and capacity building for development staff.
The ActionAid representative also acknowledged the guidance and support provided by the Department of External Relations and Cultural Diplomacy under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the registration, approval and implementation of the organisation’s activities over the years.
Although such support may be understated and not immediately visible through individual programmes and projects, it has helped build a strong foundation for the organisation’s long-term operations in Vietnam and around the world.
Ultimately, any development programme that aims to deliver lasting results needs a capable team that can turn resources and mechanisms into tangible outcomes.
Local communities define the issues
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| During the Foreign Non-Governmental Organisations Conference 2026, Ms. Hoang Phuong Thao, Country Director of ActionAid Vietnam, signed cooperation agreements on sustainable local development support programmes for 2026-2030 with the People’s Committees of Nam Nung and Tan Ha Lam Ha communes in Lam Dong province. (Photo: ActionAid Vietnam) |
According to Ms. Hoang Phuong Thao, Country Director of ActionAid Vietnam, resources available for development activities are currently limited, while community needs are becoming increasingly diverse.
Against this backdrop, the focus is gradually shifting from asking what projects foreign NGOs can implement to asking what problems local communities need to address.
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| The signing ceremony was witnessed by leaders of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Hai Phong People’s Committee and the The People's Aid Coordinating Committee (PACCOM), together with around 300 delegates, including leaders and officials from 12 provinces and cities and representatives of more than 100 FNGOs operating in Vietnam. (Photo: Trung Anh) |
This approach was also reflected in the cooperation agreements between ActionAid Vietnam and the People’s Committees of Nam Nung and Tan Ha Lam Ha communes in Lam Dong province, signed on the sidelines of the Foreign Non-Governmental Organisations Conference 2026.
Under the agreements, the parties will coordinate the implementation of development support programmes in Krong No and Lam Ha for the 2026-2030 period.
For example, in Nam Nung commune, local authorities identified children’s education, literacy and community development as priority areas requiring attention.
The commune authorities have set a target of having at least one of the three schools in the area recognised as meeting national standards.
In Tan Ha Lam Ha, meanwhile, the locality has identified green livelihoods and the circular economy as priority areas.
Based on these specific needs, ActionAid determines the forms of support that best match its resources and strengths.
From these two examples, Ms. Hoang Phuong Thao affirmed that any development programme seeking to bring about meaningful change must first begin with local ownership.
Taking a long-term approach to development
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| ActionAid Vietnam, in coordination with Hanoi Radio and Television, Aid for Social Protection Programme Foundation Vietnam (AFV) and Hanoi Urban Environment Company Limited (URENCO), organised a dialogue on “Bringing Healthcare Services to Women Sanitation Workers” in Hanoi on 24 September. (Source: ActionAid Vietnam) |
According to Ms. Hoang Phuong Thao, Country Director of ActionAid Vietnam, the organisation proactively connects and mobilises a wide range of resources to respond to needs identified by local authorities, from the public and private sectors and foundations to contributions from around 9,000 individual donors overseas.
With regard to resources from businesses, the ActionAid representative in Vietnam said the organisation places emphasis on selecting partners that meet criteria relating to legal compliance, responsibility towards workers, and social and environmental standards.
According to ActionAid, the focus is on ensuring that each resource is directed where it is most needed, making full use of its strengths and complementing other resources.
From this perspective, ActionAid builds sustainability into programmes from the design stage.
Rather than simply receiving support, local authorities and communities need to play an active role throughout implementation and be able to sustain the results even after a project has ended.
At the same time, activities need to be suited to people’s living conditions and capacity to participate, avoiding turning support into an additional burden, particularly for women.
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| ActionAid Vietnam provided cash assistance to 350 households severely affected by floods in Dang Kang, Cu Pui, Yang Mao and Krong Bong communes in Dak Lak province in December 2025. (Source: ActionAid Vietnam) |
Following the same principle, even in emergency relief efforts, ActionAid seeks to enable local people to choose forms of assistance that best suit their needs.
The ActionAid representative said the organisation is currently focusing on issues where significant gaps remain, including inequality, climate change and young people of working age who are not in education, employment or training (NEET).
Ultimately, when local communities take ownership of the issues they face, resources are directed where they are most needed and support is designed with the long term in mind, development cooperation can create meaningful and sustainable change.
Tags:
ActionAid Vietnam
Sustainable development in Vietnam
sustainable development
Community-led development
Foreign NGOs in Vietnam
Foreign NGOs (FNGOs)
community development
Committee for Foreign Non-Governmental Organisation Affairs (COMINGO)
Foreign Non-Governmental Organisations Conference
Vietnam
Hai Phong City
