Long-term vision, strong leadership bring achievements to Vietnam: UNDP Representative

(Chinhphu.vn) - According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in Vietnam, Ramla Khalidi, the power of long-term vision and strong leadership has brought great achievements to Vietnam in the past term.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in Vietnam Ramla Khalidi

Speaking to the Government Electronic Newspaper, the UNDP Representative said that during the past term, Vietnam has achieved significant progress in promoting socio -economic development and sustainable development with an average GDP growth rate of 6.9% in the 2022-2024 period, along with steps forward in human development.

According to the UNDP Human Development Index (HDI) - a measure of people's ability to access education , maintain a decent standard of living and enjoy a long, healthy life - Vietnam is now among the countries with high human development.

During the 2014–2021 period, Vietnam’s multidimensional poverty rate was reduced by more than half, reflecting a significant improvement in people’s living conditions. These achievements are remarkable and demonstrate a strong commitment and effective implementation of the targets set out in the Government ’s Socio-Economic Development Plan for the 2020–2025 term.

Ms. Ramla Khalidi was particularly impressed by the Government’s whole-of-society approach during the past term, and the resilience, adaptability, and solidarity of the Vietnamese people. From the quick response to the COVID-19 pandemic to the collective efforts after Typhoon Yagi, the Vietnamese people and Government have always demonstrated determination, compassion, and solidarity.

The UNDP Representative highly appreciated Vietnam’s long-term vision on its development journey during the past term. The Government’s commitment to public administration reform and strategic orientation towards innovation and green transformation clearly demonstrates the country’s strong aspiration for sustainable development.

Specifically, Vietnam's public administration has made important strides in improving efficiency, responsiveness and promoting digital transformation.

According to the Chandler Good Government Index 2025, Vietnam is among the top countries in Southeast Asia in terms of governance capacity and policy vision. Based on the Global Governance Index, Vietnam shows steady improvement in government performance and quality of public administration.

"These achievements demonstrate Vietnam's strong commitment to building a modern, effective and people-centered administration," the UNDP Representative emphasized.

Going forward, Vietnam needs to strengthen its coordination capacity and promote a whole-of-government approach to address complex policy challenges that transcend sectoral boundaries, including issues such as climate change adaptation, green transition, digital governance and social security. These issues require not only coordination between ministries and sectors, but also a multi-stakeholder strategy, mobilizing the participation of civil society, academia, the private sector and the community, Ms. Ramla Khalidi recommended.

The journey towards sustainable and inclusive development presents both opportunities and challenges. Building on this solid foundation, the UNDP Representative expressed hope that Viet Nam will continue to prioritize inclusive and equitable development to unlock the full potential of its people and economy.

Achievements and challenges in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals

According to Ms. Ramla Khalidi, despite the context of global instability and many overlapping crises in recent years, Vietnam has achieved significant progress in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Multidimensional poverty has fallen sharply, from over 9% in 2016 to around 4% in 2022, reflecting comprehensive policies that address deprivations beyond income. Health insurance now covers over 94% of the population, and education indicators show high enrolment rates from pre-school to secondary school.

Rapidly developing infrastructure has connected communities and created new economic opportunities. These results demonstrate Vietnam’s ability to link economic growth with comprehensive human development.

However, Ms. Ramla Khalidi also pointed out challenges in fully implementing the SDGs such as inequality among ethnic minorities and vulnerable groups along with gender inequality, air pollution, climate risks and biodiversity loss.

Vietnam’s SDG progress in the coming period will depend on addressing inequalities, investing in human capital, and accelerating the green transition. This requires concerted action and joint commitment from the Government, the private sector, civil society, and international partners to ensure that all communities benefit from the country’s sustainable development.

Therefore, building resilience—through climate-adaptive livelihoods, inclusive social protection systems, and investments in human capital—needs to remain central to Vietnam’s development path.

By investing early in renewable energy, adaptive infrastructure and human development, Vietnam can not only protect its achievements, but can also become a model in the region and the world towards a greener and more inclusive future, the UNDP Representative stressed.

Cooperation between the Government of Vietnam and UNDP always puts people at the center of development.

During the past term, the Government of Viet Nam and UNDP have made significant progress in the areas of governance, mine action, climate action, circular economy innovation and digital transformation, thereby strengthening national systems and empowering people and communities towards a greener, safer and more inclusive future.

At the community level, UNDP-supported initiatives have helped farmers in Lam Dong and Ca Mau adopt climate-friendly agricultural models; youth in Cu Lao Cham pioneered eco-tourism development; and elderly women in disaster-prone areas have been moved into safe, secure homes.

In remote villages, people can now access public services online thanks to the support of local digital transformation support groups, while children in areas contaminated with landmines are learning about the risks of explosives through innovative education programs.

At the policy level, UNDP is a key partner of Viet Nam in the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), supporting the transition from agreement to implementation and mobilising climate finance. UNDP has also supported the Government in enhancing its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and promoting the National Adaptation Plan, helping to mainstream climate action across sectors and build resilience to future shocks.

UNDP’s cooperation with Viet Nam has also made significant progress in mine action, with significant clearance of contaminated land and strengthening of national capacity for safe and efficient land use, thereby promoting rural development. In parallel, UNDP has supported the transition to a circular economy – piloting source separation of waste, developing circular business models, and recycling non-recyclable waste into energy.

In all these efforts, the Vietnamese Government and UNDP always put people at the center of development, ensuring gender equality, social inclusion and transparency in governance./.

Thuy Dung

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/tam-nhin-dai-han-vai-tro-lanh-dao-manh-me-mang-lai-thanh-tuu-cho-viet-nam-truong-dai-dien-undp-102251031094348996.htm