Caitlin Wiesen, UNDP Resident Representative in Việt Nam and Tô Đức, Head of the National Office of Poverty Reduction, shook hands after the MoU signing ceremony.  — Photo VNA/VNS Tuấn Đức

HÀ NỘI — A memorandum of understanding for a poverty reduction programme between the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA), UNDP and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia (DFAT) was signed on Monday.

The "UNDP-MOLISA-DFAT programme development and policy advising on multidimensional and sustainable poverty reduction 2021-2023" project has provided technical support and advice to MOLISA on developing the National Target Program on Sustainable Poverty Reduction (NTPSPR) 2021-2025.

The advice helps the NTPSPR have a more innovative and timely approach and allows the government and local people to innovate and strengthen community power.

The programme will also apply successful ideas in quick and sustainable poverty reduction and projects that improve livelihoods and connect businesses with people to assist in developing the value chain.

As the NTPSPR is more people-centric and focuses on improving poor people's capacity than in 2016-2020, methods must be used to solve the core problems of poverty.

"The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs always welcome bilateral and multilateral cooperation with international partners," said Lê Văn Thanh, Deputy Minister of MOLISA. "We want to reach the goal of eradicating poverty in all aspects, for everyone, anywhere, at any time."

During the pandemic, research and recommendations from the project regarding poverty thresholds helped many people in need.

The project will recommend digitalisation solutions in managing the NTPSPR, enabling the timely update and sharing of information and results.

"Through today's memorandum of understanding, UNDP and GREAT/DFAT will continue to advise on policy and technical support for MOLISA to expand the scale of successful innovations to reach the program goal," said Caitlin Wiesen, UNDP Resident Representative in Việt Nam. "We aim to cut the number of households in poverty by 50 per cent by 2025."

The project is directly funded by DFAT and the National Office of Poverty Reduction, with the initial funding from 2021-2022 of US$180,000. Funding for the project will be increased from 2023-to 2025.

The National Office of Poverty Reduction will also fund VNĐ 2 billion (US$87,000).

"We are committed to helping sustainable development in Việt Nam," said Australian Ambassador to Việt Nam Robyn Mudie. "The partnership between UNDP and MOLISA unveiled today is part of Australia's commitment."

"This is a partnership that we hold in high regard since we can recommend Việt Nam in research and development of innovations and ideas that will reduce poverty."

Some of the project's recommendations aim to raise the role of women, especially women in ethnic minorities, and reduce domestic violence. — VNS