PROJECT SUMMARY

The project “Supporting the improvement of Social Assistance system in Viet Nam, period 2017-2020” (SAP-II) is designed to support effective and efficient implementation of the Master Plan for Social Assistance Reform (MPSAR). The project contributes to SDG 1, target 1.3 to “Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all”, and to “achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable in Viet Nam by 2020“ and contributes to the UNDP Country Programme (2017-2021) output 1.3 “Social protection is progressively expanded based on a life-cycle approach and universal floor coverage”.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

• Objective 1: Formulation and approval of new policies and law on Social Assistance based on rights and life-cycle approach and being more gender-responsive supported with inputs from trained MOLISA/DSA (The Ministry of Labour - Invalids and Social Affairs/ Department of Social Assistance) staff, joint research by the network of trained researchers, and additional Technical Assistance, including mentoring and facilitating a “learning by doing” approach on concrete policy design and law formulation.
• Objective 2: Support Implementation of new policies and law on Social Assistance and measuring impact, ensuring that Monitoring & Evaluation information is fed back to policy design and adjusted as needed.

EXPECTED RESULTS

• Enhanced technical capacity of (i) technical staff of MOLISA/DOLISA (The Ministry/ Department of Labour - Invalids and Social Affairs) and other relevant line ministries/departments at central and provincial levels for policy design and monitoring and (ii) practitioners - staff of DOLISA and other relevant line departments at sub- national levels for policy implementation/delivering SA services and monitoring.
• Consensus achieved among Social Assistance (SA) policy makers, implementers and beneficiaries on new approach reached by targeted policy advocacy, stakeholder consultation on new policies and law on SA.
• A policy & research facility/network of national researchers operational, hosted by the Institute of Labour Science and Social Affairs (ILSSA) to support (i) joint policy research for policy formulation/adjustment, implementation and M&E; (ii) sharing knowledge among members and facilitating knowledge/ experience sharing among provinces in Viet Nam and with other countries in the region.