Improving capacity for officials and civil servants when organizing two-level local government

Up to this point, along with the whole country, Lam Dong province has officially operated smoothly the 2-level local government model. More than ever, the team of cadres and civil servants (CBCC) will be the key factor for the model to operate effectively and practically.

Handling administrative procedures at the Public Administrative Service Center of Lang Biang Ward - Da Lat

Improving the quality of civil servants is an urgent requirement.

In the current context, the need to improve the quality of the workforce and build a team of civil servants with good moral character and practical skills is essential and urgent for the effective and smooth operation of the two-tiered government system in the new situation. Accordingly, the Party committees, government, and departments in the province have been paying special attention to the training, development, and enhancement of professional skills and practical abilities for civil servants, as well as the cultivation of moral character, lifestyle, responsibility, dedication to work, and a service-oriented attitude towards the people.

In reality, in our province, the quality of the civil servants appointed and assigned to the newly merged communes and wards is ensured in terms of professional qualifications and task performance. However, this is the first time in history that the whole country has implemented a two-tiered local government model, therefore, there will be some initial difficulties and obstacles in the implementation of this new model.

At the Lac Duong Commune Public Administrative Service Center – the largest commune in Lam Dong province with over 82% of its population being ethnic minorities – after more than half a month of operating the two-tiered local government system, everything has been relatively smooth. However, according to Mr. Pham Hong Thai, Deputy Director of the Commune Public Administrative Service Center, the sheer volume of new documents and the incomplete administrative procedures in some areas have made it difficult for officials to access them, affecting the process of resolving administrative procedures for the people. In addition, with the enormous workload and high demands of the tasks, some officials are still feeling overwhelmed…

This is also the general situation of Public Administrative Service Centers, which directly handle administrative procedures for citizens. Therefore, improving the quality of the staff of civil servants and public employees is a very urgent requirement to completely transform from administrative management to governance that serves the people.

During inspections of the operational situation and organizational structure of communes, wards, and special zones, one of the key contents that the leaders of Lam Dong province requested localities to implement was to coordinate the organization of training courses to improve the professional capacity and management skills of commune-level officials and civil servants.

From July 13th to 26th, the Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee organized a training conference on operating the information system for resolving administrative procedures under the two-tiered local government model. The conference was held in three locations: the former Binh Thuan province, the former Dak Nong province, and the former Lam Dong province, for officials and civil servants from provincial-level administrative units and communes, wards, and special zones throughout the province. The aim was to guide and help officials and civil servants quickly access and proficiently use the steps and procedures in resolving administrative procedures and operating the public service system under the two-tiered local government model.

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“When participating in the online conference organized by the Department of Agriculture and Environment, I received specific guidance on the steps and procedures for receiving initial land registration applications, which I can apply to my work. This was also a challenge we faced since the two-tiered government system came into operation, and it will help us process land registration procedures for people more quickly.”

Mr. Cil Ha Nien - a civil servant receiving land-related applications at the Lac Duong Commune Public Administrative Service Center.

Building a people-oriented administration.

Since the implementation of the two-tiered local government system, land and justice have been two areas where many difficulties and obstacles have arisen. Therefore, on July 19th, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Lam Dong province organized an online conference with localities on the implementation of the 2024 Land Law and guidance for localities on the implementation of decentralization and delegation of power according to Decree No. 151/2025/ND-CP dated June 12, 2025 of the Government; and some other contents in the fields of agriculture and environment.

Speaking at the conference, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Ngoc Phuc stated that in the initial phase of implementing the two-tiered local government model, commune-level authorities faced many difficulties and obstacles arising from the implementation of the 2024 Land Law and the execution of administrative procedures, such as: regulations on the delineation of authority of the two-tiered local government, decentralization and delegation of power in the field of land in Government Decree No. 151/2025/ND-CP dated June 12, 2025; the development of land price tables and specific land prices; the development of land use planning and plans at the commune level; the procedures for issuing land use right certificates and certificates of ownership of assets attached to land for the first time and printing certificates…

Commune-level civil servants are the ones who directly handle administrative procedures for the people.

Therefore, the Provincial People's Committee directed and agreed to assign the Department of Agriculture and Environment to organize an online conference to exchange information and provide guidance to communes, wards, and special zones throughout the province to ensure the smooth, effective, and efficient operation of land policies when implementing a two-tiered local government system, and to support localities in resolving administrative procedures in the land sector.

According to Ton Thien San, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, the Department has also directed the Provincial Land Registration Office to increase the number of officials and employees to support and guide commune-level authorities in handling administrative procedures for the two-tiered government system. Accordingly, one official or employee from the Provincial Land Registration Office will be assigned to guide and support communes, wards, and special zones in the province for a period of three months, starting from July 22, 2025.

To address difficulties in the field of justice, Ms. Pham Thi Tra My, Director of the Department of Justice of Lam Dong province, said that on July 23, the Department of Justice of Lam Dong province will coordinate with the Department of Justice of Khanh Hoa province to organize a training conference on skills and professional expertise in the field of justice for provincial and commune-level officials and civil servants (newly reorganized) to promptly implement legal documents on the organization of local government at two levels; decentralization, delegation of power and delineation of authority. At the same time, it will guide and resolve difficulties and obstacles in the implementation process at the local level... helping to ensure unified operation and contribute to improving the efficiency of document handling at the local level when implementing the two-level government.

In addition, the Department of Justice established the Lam Dong Justice Team, comprising all civil registry and judicial officials from 124 communes, wards, and special zones throughout the province, along with the Department's leadership and specialized departments, to monitor, understand the situation, and promptly address difficulties and obstacles from the grassroots level within the Department's authority. Notably, there is interaction between three parties: between civil registry and judicial officials at the commune level and the Department of Justice, and the Department of Justice's continuous communication with the Ministry of Justice throughout the entire process, from the very beginning of the two-tiered local government system, to resolve difficulties and obstacles arising during implementation.

The training conferences were held both in person and online, connecting to all communes, wards, and special zones throughout the province. This helped officials from the provincial to the grassroots level to acquire additional knowledge, skills, and approaches appropriate to their newly assigned tasks and responsibilities.

From July 13th to 26th, the Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee organized a training conference on operating the Information System for resolving administrative procedures under the two-tiered local government model. The aim was to guide and help officials and civil servants quickly access and proficiently use the steps and processes in resolving administrative procedures and operating the public service system under the two-tiered local government model.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/nang-cao-nang-luc-cho-can-bo-cong-chuc-khi-to-chuc-chinh-quyen-dia-phuong-2-cap-382906.html