This morning, December 22, 2021, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), People's Committee of Quang Nam Province and National Action Centre for Toxic Chemicals and Environmental Treatment (NACCET)/the Ministry of Defence have organized together the Online Announcement ceremony of USAID-funded assistance projects for persons with disabilities in Quang Nam.
The program was attended virtually by Mr. Bryan Moody, Deputy Director of Contracting and Bidding Department, and Mr. James Gilman, Acting Director, Department of Healing and Inclusive Development, United States Agency for International Development (USAID); Dr. Tran Duc Hung, Deputy General Director of National Action Centre for Toxic Chemicals and Environmental Treatment (NACCET), Ministry of Defence; Mr. Tran Hung Minh, Director of Center for Creative Initiatives in Health and Population (CCIHP), Director of Integration Project I; Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan Anh, Director of Action to the Community Development Institute (ACDC), along with officials, employees of the organizations participating in the project. Hosting from Quang Nam was Ms. Doan Thi Hoai Nhi, Deputy Director of Quang nam Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs; with the participation of representatives from departments and agencies, such as: Office of Provincial People's Committee; Quang Nam's Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Health, Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, Department of Construction, Department of Transport, Department of Planning and Investment, etc. with The Association of Persons with Disabilities, Victims of Agent Orange, Persons with Disabilities Protection and Child Rights Protection of Quang Nam Province and other local press agencies.
Mr. Bryan Moody, Deputy Director of Contracting and Bidding Department, on behalf of USAID announcing the funding decision
Opening the ceremony, Mr. Bryan Moody, Deputy Director of Contracting and Bidding Department, on behalf of USAID announced the decision to finance the two projects “Assisting the development of life quality for persons with disabilities in provinces affected by Agent Orange” (Inclusion Project-I) carried out by the Center for Creative Initiatives in Health and Population (CCIHP); and “Expanding opportunities and improving the status for persons with disabilities-II” carried out by Action to the Community Development Institute (ACDC). The Vietnamese governance agency for Inclusion Project-I is NACCET and the Vietnamese governance agency for the project “Expanding opportunities and improving the status for persons with disabilities-II” is Vietnam Federation on Disability (VFD). Quang Nam Province was one of the first to implement USAID's development assistance program, including projects for persons with disabilities and humanitarian aid.
Relations between the United States and Vietnam have grown in both width and depth, as a result of persistent efforts on both sides. The positive direction of the current partnership can be seen in the collaborative efforts to resolve the consequences of wartime. According to USAID, from 1989 to 2021, the United States has funded 126 million USD for assistance programs for persons with disabilities, especially in areas affected with Agent Orange during war. Over the next three years, in the Central region, USAID will add in over 6,9 million USD through the “Inclusion Project-I" and around 2 million USD through the project “Expanding opportunities and improving the status for persons with disabilities-II” to help support persons with disabilities, regardless of the cause of their disability. These are the projects from the U.S Government's foreign aid fund, contributed by the American people and within the framework of the Bilateral Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreements between the U.S Government and the Vietnamese Government which was signed in 2005.
Mr. James Gilman, Acting Director, Department of Healing and Inclusive Development, USAID Vietnam
During his speech at the funding announcement ceremony, Mr. James Gilman, Acting Director, Department of Healing and Inclusive Development, USAID Vietnam, has praised the effective cooperation of Quang Nam Province in the collaborative projects between the two countries, while also emphasizing on the importance of the partnership between USAID and NACCET in managing the “Inclusion" projects. “Through enhancing the efficiency and motivating local resources, the “Inclusion" projects have demonstrated USAID's efforts in cooperating with local organizations to manage the projects and to carry them out together with these organizations, strengthening the implementation of USAID’s goal to cooperate with the Vietnamese Government and local partners for sustainable results.” With the project “Expanding opportunities and improving the status for persons with disabilities-II”, the parties will “continue to collaborate to make positive changes in the perceptions and attitudes towards persons with disabilities, enhance the efficiency of the organizations, and improve the policies to remove barriers in the inclusion of persons with disabilities.”
Mr. Tran Duc Hung, Deputy General Director of NACCET presenting the project “Assisting the development of life quality for persons with disabilities in provinces affected by Agent Orange”
Mr. Tran Duc Hung, Deputy General Director of NACCET, stated: “The project “Assisting the development of life quality for persons with disabilities in provinces affected by Agent Orange” has been received by the Prime Minister’s approval of the investment policy under Decision No.1276/QD-TTg on July 20, 2021, and the Ministry of Defence's approval of the investment project under Decision No.3754/QD-TTg on December 22, 2021. With a total funding of up to 65 million USD and 75 billion VND financed by the Vietnam Government, the project will be carried out from 2021 to 2026 in 8 provinces heavily affected by Agent Orange. In particular, Quang Nam is one of the central provinces of the project with the number and level of persons with disabilities accounting for a major proportion of the entire project. The implementation of the project will directly meet the priorities of our Party and State, as well as the goals of the assistance program for persons with disabilities during the period 2021-2030. The expected outcome of the project will focus on these following objectives: 1) Expanding medical and rehabilitation support services to improve the health and life quality of persons with disabilities; 2) Expanding social services, increasing assistance in social inclusivity and establishing direct support to help improve life quality of persons with disabilities; 3) Improving policies as well as public attitudes, minimizing the barriers, ensuring social inclusivity for persons with disabilities; 4) Strengthening efficiency in managing, implementing and supporting persons with disabilities of all levels.”
On behalf of Quang Nam People's Committee, Ms. Doan Thi Hoai Nhi, Deputy Director of Quang Nam Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, shared: As a province heavily affected by the consequences of wartime and natural disasters, in recent years, with the support from the central government and local budget, as well as from international organizations and social organizations, Quang Nam Province has been implementing actions to support citizens with disabilities of this province. Quang Nam is pleased to cooperate in carrying out projects aiming to improve the life quality for persons with disabilities, through strengthening healthcare and social services and enhancing the capability of the province's professional team.
Ms. Doan Thi Hoai Nhi, Deputy Director of Quang Nam Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, speaking on behalf of Quang Nam People's Committee
She stated: “Identifying the work of supporting persons with disabilities, victims of Agent Orange and improving the environment is one of the major focus points for the province. In the upcoming period, Quang Nam Province respectfully requests the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and partner agencies to continue supporting Quang Nam Province with more programs/projects aiming to help all persons with disabilities in Quang Nam Province meet their needs for access, along with the support from central, local and institutional resources. Quang Nam Province will accompany and create the most favorable conditions for the efficiency implementation of projects in the province.”
At the announcement ceremony, the organization representatives in the direct implementation of the project gave a presentation introducing the main objectives and activities of the upcoming projects. Afterwards, with the participation of the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, Department of Health, Department of Planning and Investment, Department of Foreign Affairs and other relevant departments, The Project Management Board of Inclusion Project 1 introduced the expected partners for the direct implementation of the operational components of the projects in Quang Nam Province, as well as discussed the plan to launch new activities in 2022.
Information about the projects:
- “Inclusion - I" (phase I: 2021-2024): The total funding came up to more than 6,9 million USD for three provinces Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam. The project focuses on improving the access to rehabilitation services and other social services; strengthening the implementation of policies on persons with disabilities; reducing the barriers to ensure the social participation and inclusion for persons with disabilities.
Contact: Mr. Tran Hung Minh - Director of CCIHP, Project Director of “Inclusion - I"
Address: No. 48 Lane 251/8 Nguyen Khang Street, Cau Giay District, Hanoi
Phone: 024 3577 0261 - Website: http://ccihp.org
- “Expanding opportunities and improving the status for persons with disabilities-II” (phase II: 2021 - 2024): The total funding came up to nearly 2 million USD for three provinces Quang Trị, Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam. The project continues to assist persons with disabilities and organizations of persons with disabilities, as well as local organizations; improve the implementation efficiency of policies related to persons with disabilities, such as issues about disability rights, physical accessibility, gender-based violence, legal advice; strengthen the local organizations' ability to implement policies and supervise their enforcement. The results will contribute to the amendment and supplementation of current policies and laws, which will better assist persons with disabilities to live independently and be inclusive into society.
Contact: Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan Anh, Director of ACDC, Project Director of “RVCO - II"
Address: P903, Dream Center Home Building, 11A, Lane 282 Nguyen Huy Tuong Street, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi
Phone: 024 6675 3946/ 024 6291 0814 - Website: http://acdc.vn
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