Nhan Dan Online- Vietnam’s Ministry of Planning and Investment, the UK Department for International Development (DFID), the Embassy of Denmark and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands on January 22 signed an agreement for non-refundable aid from the UK worth GBP 17 million.

The assistance supports the second phase of the National Programme for Clean Water and Rural Environmental Hygiene (2005-2010). This programme is being sponsored by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Netherlands Ministry of Development Cooperation, with a commitment worth US$125 million.     

The programme has helped 79% of the rural population get access to clean water and 51% of households in the countryside to acquire hygienic toilets. To date, 75% of schools, 77% of medical stations, 67% of communal People’s Committee offices and 45% of public markets have benefited from this programme.

Vice Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Bich Dat said: “The programme has made significant progress and brought important changes to the lives of poor people in rural areas. We highly appreciate the support from international donors, who have provided not only funding but also technical assistance and valuable recommendations to help run the programme more efficiently. I’m very glad to see that its success has attracted the attention from other international donors to decide co-funding this programme.”

“We are delighted to formally confirm our commitment of GBP 17 million to support the Government of Vietnam in scaling up rural household access to water and sanitation.  Vietnam has made great strides in socio-economic development. But slow progress in meeting the sanitation target will compromise further poverty reduction, particularly for the ethnic minorities, said Fiona Louise Lappin, Head of DFID Vietnam.

“In joining other donors in co-funding this programme, we recognise the commitment of the Government of Vietnam and look forward to working together to support sustained progress over the next 3 years, focusing especially on sanitation for poor households,” she added.

The Government of Vietnam, with support from the donors, is currently developing a 2011-2015 national programme for rural water and sanitation, which will concentrate on rural sanitation and personal hygiene.

By D.T