Update on the ‘Renewal’ process of the Statement of Intent

SOI Characteristics Draws on principles of Hanoi Core Statement & Accra Agenda for Action for better harmonisation and alignment, and greater use of country systems Aims to optimise the impact of development assistance on the health of the Vietnamese people Developed in the spirit of mutual accountability but not legally binding or enforceable All parties subscribe to principles and Partnership Commitments of the SoI Adopted 31 March 2009

Partnership Commitments Strengthening Country Ownership over development Building More Effective and Inclusive Partnerships for development Delivering and Accounting for Development Results Milestones Annexes: JAHR; ToR for HPG

Process for ‘Renewing’ the ‘SoI’ Background review + options paper Stakeholder consultation: Assess options: Review SoI Discuss options First draft – small drafting team Stakeholder consultation on first draft Final adoption at HPG meeting (and ‘signing’ if appropriate) Iterative process for redrafting and negotiating

Background review + options paper was drafted: Introduction and summary on SoI progress and the renewal process Brief outline of milestone implementation Options for future document: -Renewal of SoI -Country Compact -Memorandum of Understanding -Code of Conduct -Partnership Principles

Renewal SoI Seems to have achieved its purpose Endorsed by MoH and many DPs Attained most objectives, targets and milestones Provides bases to build on existing processes and outcomes Potentially avoiding previous discussions on legalistic aspects and ability DPs to sign up or endorse Demonstrated ownership MoH SoI is open ended formulation vs. results-based approach, including defined targets and budget

Country Compact MoH signed IHP+ Global Compact in 2010 Sets out collective and individual commitments to agreed aid effectiveness principles in the health sector Not all DPs have signed the Global IHP+ Compact Might be perceived not in concurrence with stipulations of overarching official government agreements IHP+ Global Compact emphasises building on existing country structures and mechanisms IHP+ aspects can be absorbed in new version of SoI

Memorandum of Understanding often used in companies and government agencies to define a relationship between departments or agencies overarching definition of a MoU appears not to exist Sometimes legally binding status, sometimes not generally seem to be signed documents Current SoI: “was developed in a spirit of accountability and is neither legally binding nor legally enforceable”

Code of Conduct a set of rules outlining the responsibilities of or proper practices for an individual, party or organization Principles, values, standards, or rules of behaviour that guide the decisions, procedures and systems of an organization in a way that (a) contributes to the welfare of its key stakeholders, and (b) respects the rights of all constituents affected by its operations Code of Conduct: the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and NGOs in disaster relief; Hippocratic Oath; etc

Partnership Principles Definition: -Partnership: Association of two or more people as partners or is an arrangement where parties agree to cooperate to advance their mutual interests -Principle: A fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behaviour or for a chain of reasoning Have been used as a concept to formulate an arrangement to improve coordination and harmonisation and alignment SoI seems to reflect this concept

HPG Core Group Discussed Background review + options paper Some of the four new options imply quite a degree of detail and description of obligations is required If a new approach were to be preferred, there would likely be an intense and potentially lengthy period of negotiations Repetition of discussions on legalistic implications for DPs to be avoided Concluded: Renewal of SoI most appropriate

Some major achievements of the current SOI Successfully organized the policy dialogues between the MOH and DPs through HPG meetings Successfully implemented many Milestones of SOI The transparency and mutual accountability between the MOH and DPs have been strengthened (Matrix of DPs activities in Health sector, JAHR…) Developed THE 5 YEAR HEALTH PLAN with the mutual effort between government agencies and DPs HPG has the stronger link to the aid effectiveness activities at International level (IHP+), Better linkage with other partnerships at National level (AEF, PAHI, ISG, ISGE, HIV/AIDS forum, INGO forum…) Routine activities of aid effectiveness at provincial level Consolidated the HPG secretariat with the leadership of ICD, MOH

Challenges The aid for Vietnam reduces and the health sector received less health aid as Vietnam became a MIC Different philosophy of funding mechanism, timing, monitoring and evaluation Harmonization between the priorities of MoH and interest of development partners is not adequate Differences between the procedures of DPs and MOH especially the financial procedures Human resource limitation remains a constraint More active participation from the functional departments of MOH is required

Vietnam Partnership Document (VPD) Government of Vietnam document to replace the Hanoi Core Statement 2005 after the Busan Partnership Document 2011 MoPI led process consulting with stakeholders From aid effectiveness to development effectiveness Expected to be agreed at Consultative Group meeting in December and signed by Prime Minister early 2013

Vietnam Partnership Document (VPD) Four principles: (i) Ownership of development priorities; (ii) Focus on results; (iii) Inclusive development partnerships; (iv) Transparency and accountability. Overarching government umbrella document. Provides framework for SoI Renewal Identifies MoH leading on health related indicators and targets for life expectancy, IMR and MMR

Roadmap for SOI Renewal ActivityImplementerDeliverableDeadline Establish WG for SoI Renewal HPGHPG CG to guide on SoI Renewal HPG2 Nov 2012 Review of SoI implementation -HPG Secretariat -Consultants -DPs -ToR -Assessment tools -SoI Review Report & dissemination workshop Dec 2012 Jan 2013 Consultation process/workshop on SoI renewal/new support modality -HPG Secretariat -HPG CG -Consultants -DPs -Agreement on Key content SoI and support modality -Draft SoI March 2013 (before HPG1) SoI Completion & adoption -HPG Secretariat -HPG CG -Consultants -Agreed SoI Documents -Agreed support modality document May 2013 (before HPG2)

Budget estimates and Funding support ActivityBudget (US$)Funding support Review of SOI Implementation -Consultants (01 int’l consultant for 10 working days & 02 local consultant for 10 working days each) - Workshop (participants: HPG members including MOH and related Ministries/ agencies, DPs and provinces) (Potential: WHO-EU program, who else??) Consultation process on SOI renewal -Consultants (01 int’l consultant for 5 working days & 02 local consultant for 5 working days each) -Workshop/ meetings (2 – 3 rounds of consultation) (Potential: WHO-EU program, who else??)