USAID/Vietnam Weekly Report

On February 13, 2023, three local organizations received the first grants through this fund. These grants will be used to conduct studies on critically endangered species in Vietnam, including the spot-finned loach in Bach Ma National Park and Bac Hai Van Protection Forest, the white-cheeked gibbon in Vu Quang National Park, and the gray-shanked Douc Langur in Song Thanh National Park. Vietnam is home to nearly 10 percent of the world's species, making it a priority for conservation work. This fund strengthens Vietnamese organizations and research institutes to study and develop solutions to conserve critically endangered species. The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOIT) launched an action plan to respond to climate change and promote green growth in Vietnam through to 2050, with support from USAID's Vietnam Low Emission Energy Program II. The plan includes a framework to decarbonize and support sustainable economic growth in the energy and manufacturing sectors, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This plan publicly lays out the steps that the Government of Vietnam and the business sector need to take to implement Vietnam's net zero commitment to fight climate change and support Vietnam's transition to a secure and market-driven energy sector. USAID worked with the Government of Vietnam to develop a new policy that makes it easier and more effective for officials to determine the nature of a disability, the corresponding benefits, and issue a disability certificate. This policy will allow millions of persons with disabilities to receive a disability certificate, enabling them to apply for benefits such as financial support, educational services, vocational training, and healthcare. The Local Health System Sustainability Project (LHSS) is USAID's flagship initiative for assisting low- and middle-income countries transition to sustainable, self-financed health systems, and supporting access to universal health coverage. This project strengthens the Government of Vietnam's capacity to sustainably manage HIV and TB programs and increases domestic financing for healthcare. The project is funded by USAID and PEPFAR. USAID provides assistance in Vietnam through more than 40 activities, including the LHSS project. The organization's work in Vietnam is focused on promoting sustainable development, improving health outcomes, and supporting economic growth. USAID's programs in Vietnam are implemented in partnership with the Government of Vietnam and other stakeholders.