National target programs initially achieved positive results.

The National Assembly Standing Committee reviews the report on the results of monitoring the implementation of the National Target Programs - *Photo: VGP/DH*

At the 26th session held on the afternoon of September 13, the National Assembly Standing Committee reviewed the report on the results of monitoring "The implementation of the National Assembly's resolutions on national target programs on new rural construction for the 2021-2025 period, sustainable poverty reduction for the 2021-2025 period, and socio -economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the 2021-2030 period".

This is the first time the National Assembly has conducted mid-term supervision and conducted it simultaneously with the three National Target Programs.

Improved economic and social infrastructure in rural and mountainous areas

Reporting at the meeting, Chairman of the National Assembly's Ethnic Council Y Thanh Ha Nie Kdam, Deputy Head of the Standing Committee of the Supervisory Delegation, affirmed that under the leadership of the Party, the support of the National Assembly and the determination of the Government and the Prime Minister, the implementation of the National Target Programs has initially achieved some positive results, closely following the goals, requirements, contents, scope and principles in the Resolution of the National Assembly; economic and social infrastructure in rural and mountainous areas has been greatly improved; inter-sectoral and program-specific inspection and supervision have been strengthened.

The Government and ministries and branches have organized many dialogue conferences to listen to local opinions. Through this, they have compiled more than 300 local recommendations, 150 recommendations from National Assembly Deputies at the session and many contents discovered by the Supervisory Delegation regarding difficulties and obstacles in the process of implementing the programs.

On that basis, the Government promptly assigned tasks to ministries and branches to amend, supplement or revise 11/11 important documents (including Decree 27 and guiding circulars), as well as respond to, explain and clarify contents that still have different interpretations in localities.

The work of planning and allocating capital to implement programs has been assigned by the Government to localities according to the provisions of the Budget Law and the Public Investment Law; the content closely follows the National Assembly's resolutions on approving investment policies for national target programs.

Disbursement results have improved in 2023, especially investment capital. According to the report of the Ministry of Finance, it is estimated that by August 31, 2023, the disbursement results of long-term development investment capital of the 3 National Target Programs will reach about 58.47% of the long-term capital plan (calculating the total planned capital for 2022 disbursed in 2022 and in the first 8 months of 2023, it will reach 79.82% of the 2022 plan; the disbursement results of public investment capital in 2023 are estimated to reach 41.9% of the plan by August 31, 2023).

Many lessons learned

From the practical implementation of the 3 National Target Programs, Chairman of the National Assembly's Council for Ethnic Minorities Y Thanh Ha Nie Kdam said that many lessons have been learned.

That is, it is necessary to thoroughly grasp, correctly, fully and clearly perceive the resolutions of the Party and the National Assembly, closely follow reality to ensure that the content of the Resolution is fully institutionalized right from the time of building the National Target Programs, concretizing the mechanisms, policies, operations, management and implementation organization.

Promoting the leadership role of Party committees and authorities at all levels, especially the strong leadership of leaders, the initiative and responsibility of executive and implementing agencies are key factors to achieve program results. Overcoming the fear of making mistakes, avoidance, shirking, and fear of responsibility.

At the same time, promote the role of the people as the subject and creativity, the exemplary role of cadres and party members, and the participation of the entire political system, especially the people, the beneficiaries of the program. This is the key factor to determine the success and effectiveness of the National Target Programs.

In order to have policies suitable to the characteristics of each region, the National Assembly and the Government need to continue to promote decentralization and delegation of power to localities in selecting and deciding on specific project and sub-project lists. Central agencies issue framework policies, assign specific targets to localities and build appropriate and effective inspection, monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.

Amend and supplement inappropriate and difficult-to-implement regulations

The monitoring delegation made a number of recommendations to the Government and the Prime Minister, including a request to focus on directing the amendment and supplementation of inappropriate and difficult-to-implement regulations; implementing Resolution No. 100/2023/QH15 on questioning activities at the 5th Session of the 15th National Assembly on contents related to the implementation of the National Target Programs, including the development of a pilot management mechanism for the district level; fully implementing the audit conclusions on the National Target Programs, including the proposal to handle budget capital that has been allocated to a number of localities but is not in line with the needs and regulations (to be completed in 2023).

Along with that, it is necessary to review and recommend competent authorities to promptly handle the backlog of capital due to slow disbursement; focus on thoroughly resolving difficulties and concerns regarding residential land, housing, domestic water, and planning and arranging stable population in ethnic minority and mountainous areas.

Issue housing support policies for poor households in rural areas for the 2021-2025 period; increase social policy credit capital for the Social Policy Bank to increase loans to support poverty reduction, especially loans for building and repairing houses for the poor and near-poor in rural areas (to be completed in 2023).

Assign targets for poverty reduction and poverty alleviation for ethnic minority and mountainous areas; for communes recognized as meeting new rural standards, it is necessary to ensure sustainable improvement in people's quality of life, livelihoods, and incomes, and to prevent them from falling back into poverty or near-poverty.

Review and adjust new rural criteria that are not suitable to reality; research and propose a plan to develop a set of criteria for new rural areas in the spirit of Conclusion 65-KL/TW dated September 30, 2019 of the Politburo (to be completed in 2023).

Research and build an electronic information page to exchange, respond quickly, promptly, publicly and transparently on the results of implementing the National Target Programs in each locality; digitize and build documents guiding the implementation of the National Target Programs.

Directing research, orienting the development of content, structure, and policies for national target programs to prepare conditions for implementation in the 2026-2031 period.

The National Target Program on New Rural Development for the 2021-2025 period was approved by the National Assembly in Resolution No. 25/2021/QH15 dated July 28, 2021 and the Prime Minister approved the Program in Decision No. 263/QD-TTg dated February 22, 2022. The Program has a total minimum budget (rounded number) of VND 196,332 billion (central budget capital is VND 39,632 billion, local budget capital is VND 156,700 billion).

The National Target Program on Sustainable Poverty Reduction for the 2021-2025 period was approved by the National Assembly in Resolution No. 24/2021/QH15 and the Prime Minister approved the Program in Decision No. 90/QD-TTg dated January 18, 2022. The Program has a total minimum capital (rounded number) of VND 75,000 billion (central budget capital is VND 48,000 billion; local budget capital is VND 12,690 billion, other legally mobilized capital is VND 14,310 billion). The Program consists of 7 projects, consisting of 2 independent projects and 5 projects with 11 sub-projects.

The National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas was approved by the National Assembly in Resolution No. 120/2020/QH14 dated June 19, 2020 and the Prime Minister approved the Program in Decision No. 1719/QD-TTg dated October 14, 2021. The Program has a minimum budget (rounded number) of VND 137,664 billion (of which investment capital is VND 50,000 billion; public capital is VND 54,323 billion; local budget capital is VND 10,016 billion; policy credit loans are VND 19,727 billion; other legally mobilized capital is VND 2,967 billion). The Program includes 10 projects, 14 sub-projects, implemented in 49 provinces.

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