Associate Professor, Dr. Duong Trung Y, Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics

Ms. Deirdre Ní Fhallúin, Ambassador of Ireland to Viet Nam

Ms. Renée Deschamps, Charges D'affairs a.i., Australian Embassy in Viet Nam 

Excellencies, distinguished guests, friends and partners of PAPI    

Welcome to the launch of the 2024 results of the Provincial Governance and Public Administration Index.

We are launching these results – their 16th edition – at a time of great change.

Change in the country.

And change on the international stage.

In Viet Nam, far reaching administrative and institutional reforms promise an era of greater government efficiency, agility and responsiveness to changing citizen needs.

This year’s PAPI results capture the voice of close to 19,000 citizens across the country. And they hold valuable data to inform the roll out of the Rising New Era’s reforms, especially at the subnational level.

Internationally, the last few weeks have brought great uncertainty to the global economy and international trade system.

While the horizon remains uncertain, trade turbulence could have detrimental impacts on Viet Nam’s development pathway. It could impact the well-being of vulnerable populations in sectors most dependent on exports. 

PAPI’s findings here too, can help policy makers identify groups who are at greatest risk of economic shocks and to design policies to offset impacts.

Today we will explore some of the rich findings across several policy areas, that will be of interest to different audiences and policy actors.

So before we begin, please allow me to highlight what UNDP - a steadfast partner of the Vietnamese government in inclusive and green development - sees as the most significant findings.

First, we recognize the consistent progress in the performance of local governments across most dimensions measured by PAPI. And at the same time, we continue to see gaps in how certain demographic groups experience governance.

Women. Ethnic groups. Residents of rural and mountainous areas. Internal migrants.

These population groups consistently give lower scores to local governments, suggesting that they feel less well served. Less well supported. Less well cared for.

While such governance gaps are common in many countries, they underscore the urgent need and opportunity to advance gender equity, social inclusion, and equitable access to public services through the ongoing governance reforms. 

There is a real, historic opportunity to address these gaps now.

Another significant finding for UNDP is the clear relationship between access to social insurance and citizens’ perceptions of economic safety.

While in 2024 citizens felt more positive about the country’s and their own economic situation, households without access to social insurance were less optimistic. They felt vulnerable.

And here again we see gaps. Citizens in the informal sector, in agriculture, in private services, have lower access to social insurance than citizens working in manufacturing or in the state sector.

The 2024 survey took a special look at social insurance given this year’s roll out of the 2024 Social Insurance Law.
Here again we have a real opportunity for progress. To expand social protection, especially for vulnerable populations.

This is particularly important at a time of increasing climate vulnerability, which takes me to my third and last key takeaway.

Ladies and gentlemen, in 2024, nearly 40% of respondents nationwide reported that their homes were directly affected by at least one climate-related disaster. 

This is a 25% jump compared to 2021.

As Typhoon Yagi tragically reminded us, climate disasters are becoming more frequent and more intense.
And this has a direct impact not only on people’s safety, but on people’s livelihoods and on long-term economic development.

The 2024 PAPI findings make it clear that citizens are concerned about the environment.
65% of respondents prioritized environmental protection over economic growth.

This figure rose to 75% in provinces affected by the super Typhoon.

I strongly believe that these findings offer an evidence-based roadmap for improving citizen-centric governance and ensuring that ongoing and upcoming institutional reforms translate into tangible benefits for all citizens. 

I thank all those who made PAPI 2024 possible. The respondents. Our donors, Australia and Ireland. PAPI Advisory Board members. Local Viet Nam Fatherland Front committees and chapters across the country. CECODES. And the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics. 

Thank you all. 

As UNDP, we look forward to engaging with a wide range of partners on the 2024 results and to exploring their policy implications at this time of great change and transformation.

Thank you.