The Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA) is the umbrella organisation for the Vietnamese intelligentsia and 450 NGOs and 48 local VUSTAs, which helps Vietnam in poverty alleviation, health care, community development, and monitoring and evaluation of development projects.

Within the broadly defined area of science and technology VUSTA is designated by the Government to: unite and coordinate operations of its individual and organisational members and promote cooperation with national and international institutions and organisations; promote socialisation and dissemination of science and technology activities and a favourable environment for research and training; and publicize the results of science and technology research.

According to the Prime Ministers Decision No.22/TTg from 2002 regarding consultancy, assessment and social evaluation, VUSTA is also designated to assist the Government of Vietnam in development, implementation and assessment of government policies and programmes. On one hand, this provides an opportunity for VUSTA to promote the participation of its member organisations in policy research and dialogue with the Government. On the other hand, it poses a challenge to VUSTA to facilitate and support its members' participation in and contributions to this process.

In 1983, the year before VUSTA was formed; a provincial union of associations was formed in Hanoi after an initiative taken by Prof. Tran Dai Nghia, who became the first president of VUSTA and later honorary chairman. The idea of provincial unions was developed after the example of other mass organisations within the Vietnam Fatherland Front being organized both at national and local levels.

Local Unions of VUSTA, sometimes referred to as USTAS or PUSTAS, consisting of provincial branches of professional associations in various disciplines, were formed by a decision of the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee with agreement from Central VUSTA . Such a local union of VUSTA has its name after the province like HUSTA (Ha Tinh Union of Science and Technology) LUSTA (Lao Cai Union of Science and Technology, NUSTA (Nge An Union of Science and Technology.

The Local unions of VUSTA serve as a connection between Central VUSTA and local branches of Discipline Associations, and have the task of coordinating local intellectuals from different sciences at the provincial level and inspiring them to perform multidisciplinary activities and enable networking.

Since the formation of VUSTA in 1983, Local Unions have been formed in many provinces and cities, beginning in 1985 (10 years after unification of Vietnam ) in Kien Giang province in the south and Nghe An province, where Ho Chi Minh was born, in the north. The growth of local unions has been rapid during the 1990s and after the millennium. There are currently 48 Local Unions in cities and provinces and the target of VUSTA is to have a Local union of VUSTA in all 64 cities and provinces, if possible before the year 2008. At the moment decisions of 6 provinces are pending.

The local VUSTA unions, consisting of branches of discipline associations have a provincial congress, an elected council, a president and vice presidents, one of which is Secretary General (For VUSTA´s national organ see below 2.3).

Currently, the number of NGOs belonging to VUSTA is 450.

1. Good networks of scientists from all over Vietnam
2. Continuous growth since inception in 1983
3. Basic organisation model combines disciplinary member associations and local unions in provinces
4. Connecting point between NGOs (both national and foreign) and Vietnamese society
5. Bridge between member associations, government and donors
6. Access to knowledgeable scientists in many different scientific areas all over Vietnam
7. Ability to mobilize 5- 800 000 Vietnamese scientists who can contribute to Vietnamese social-political development
8. Many contributions to training of professionals
9. Knowledge dissemination in many areas and in many ways (publications, workshops, training, TV)
10. A certain reputation in Vietnam , both through different types of publications, awards and scholarships and by a growing open dialogue with Government in tricky matters
11. Growing influence on Vietnamese Government both regarding research policies and socio- economic development
12. Increasing relations with foreign scientific organisations, especially within engineering
13. Arranging national and international conferences, workshops in many different areas (such as law on associations, East-West Conference)
14. Openness to new ideas
15. Growing knowledge of English within VUSTA enables global contacts
16. VUSTA offers NGO s registration which gives protection and support

• Receiving the concern of the Viet Nam Communist Party, State
• The need of society in VUSTA's activities field is increasing.
• Potential of intellectual
• More and more member associations are dynamic and work effective.
• Flexible working mechanism.
• Inter disciplinary activities: easy to assemble.

Continously organizing annual meetings between NGOs and donors to exchange experiences, to increase the quality of the projects for hunger eradication, poverty alleviation and community development;

Studying and running a NGO model of international quality: transparency and efficiency.

• Lack of information on:
• Donors
• Programmes, projects at local levels
• Ineffective information sharing among organizations.
• NGOs at local level are still not dynamic.
• Lack of experts
• Funding procedure is still slow.
• Most of state organizations do not really create enabling environment for NGO's activities.
• Insufficient staffs: incompetent in English skills, weak ability in brainstorming, project proposal writing and management.
• Donors' approach are different from that of Viet Nam , thus posed difficulties for VNGOs in accessing and working in line with international donors.

1. Consolidating, developing the organisation and boosting activities of central and provincial / city's associations.

2. Contributing to the socialization of activities in science and technology, education and training, people's health care, community development, famine eradication and poverty alleviation.

• Diffusing scientific and technological knowledge, organizing and guiding mass movement in the march towards science and technology front.
• Organising activities in consultancy, assessment and social evaluations in view of contributing to build up scientific basis for making decisions on directives, policies, laws, programmes, plans of the government regarding the development of socio-economic, science and technology, education and training, environment protection, security and national defence; participating in independent evaluations of important projects.
• Science researching, technology developing, transferring scientific and technological progresses to production and life, and environment protection.
• Promoting various types of schools, classes, other forms of education and training, contributing to the formation of a learning society in order to improve people's knowledge, to develop human resources, to foster talented peoples.
• Participating in community development, famine eradication and poverty alleviation, people's health care.

3. Promoting the mobilization/motivation of scientific and technological intellectuals:

• Stimulating patriotic traditions, national pride, citizens' responsibilities, co-operation spirit, community character, loyalty, honesty and professional ethics
• Propagating, widely diffusing directives, policies and laws of the state regarding the contingent of intellectuals, scientists and technologists.
• Mobilising scientists and technologists from overseas Vietnamese to contribute knowledge and efforts to the cause of building and defending the Fatherland.
• Protecting legitimate rights and interests of intellectuals in scientific and technological activities; creating conditions for raising professional level, improving spiritual, material life of people engaged in science and technology.

4. Playing the role of a Vietnam Fatherland Front member:

• Collaborating with other member organizations in deploying common activities to promote the combined strength, contributing to the building of the whole nation's solidarity bloc.
• Reflecting the expectation and contributed ideas of intellectual, scientific and technological contingent to the State and the Fatherland Front.
• Participating in the struggle for peace protection, fight against war, for the friendship, mutual understanding and co-operation among nations.

5. Strengthening the co-operation with other countries' associations, NGOs, joining regional and international scientific and technological organizations.

1. Yes

• Contributing to the socialization of activities in science and technology, education and training, people's health care, community development, famine eradication and poverty alleviation
• VUSTA delegation took part in CAFEO 24 where 40 Viet Nam engineers who met the Asean Engineer qualifications and criteria and were awarded the title.

• ICCO training courses for VUSTA on lobby and advocacy capacity. The training program was grassroot focused.
• UNDP proposed VUSTA as participant at the General Consultation Meeting December, 2006.

As stated before, civil society organisations such as associations, grassroots organisations, NGO's, socio-professional organisations and community based organisations have increasingly been formed in the country under the framework of regulations and laws that show the commitment of Vietnam to improve the conditions for the third sector to function.

The most important ones are described as follows:

• Decree 35/CP in 1992 included some measures to encourage Scientific and Technological Activities, allowing individuals to establish their own science and technology organisations.
• Decision No. 340/TTg in 1996 of the Prime Minister provided the regulations of the operation of international NGOs in Vietnam
• Decree 177/CP in 1999 where the Prime Minister promulgated new legislation on social and charitable funds and charity funds.
• Law on Science and Technology by National Assembly 2000 containing rights and obligations of Scientific and Technological organisations and individuals.
• Decree 79 on Grassroots Democracy in 2003 (dan chu co so), created the legal framework to expand direct citizen participation in local development, exercise their rights to be informed of government activities, contribute to policy formulation and to supervise government performance.
• Under the mandate of the Decree 81 of 2002 and the Circular 10 of 2005, VUSTA started the setting up what is now called Units 81 . This represented a turning point, as before the new mandate, these sorts of organisations had to be created and financed directly by the government. Out of around 1300 units currently operating in the country, 1/3 work under VUSTA.
• Decree 88 on associations in 2003 that provides the guidelines for organisation, operation and management of Vietnamese associations.
• Current discussions around the 11th Draft of the Law on Associations as an important step towards creating a legal framework that enables growth and operation of civil society organizations in the country.

For execution, implementation and coordination of VUSTA's activities, the union has a Head Office (HO) with about 50 employees in functional departments, and also a second office in HCMC with 5 employees.

The President and the five vice presidents, all with backgrounds in different Central Associations, have offices in the HO.

At the head Office there are also two different types of units; functional departments and independent units.

The staff of the independent units is not included in the given figure of 50 employees, but independent units as well as functional departments are under VUSTA leadership.

The present distribution of responsibilities for the current presidents are as follows:

President Prof. Vu Tuyen Hoang, from Association of Agriculture, has overall responsibility for finance and the Department for Organisation and Personnel (this used to be a responsibility of the Secretary General). Prof. Hoang is also a member of the National Legislative Assembly of Vietnam.

The five Vice Presidents have different responsibilities:

• Prof. Nguyen Huu Tang is the head of the Inspection Committee and responsible for contacts with mass media and contacts with NGOs. Prof Nguyen Huu Tang used to be the chairman of the Science Education Committee of the Party
• Prof. Pham Manh Hung from the Medicine/Pharmacy Association and former Vice Minister of health is responsible for contacts with Member Associations. Prof Hung is also Vice Chairman of the Science Education Committee of the Party.
• Prof. Tran Ngoc Hien, professor at Ho Chi Minh Political Academy is responsible for theories of political economy.
• Mr Pham Quoc Anh, at present also president of The Lawyers Association, is responsible for legal matters.
• Associated Prof. Ho Uy Liem, is, as Vice President and Secretary General, responsible for daily work at the Head Office. The secretary general has two vice secretary generals.

The six functional departments are:

Administration Office

Department of Organisation and Personnel Department of Training and Knowledge Dissemination Department of Information Department of Science, Technology and Economy Department of International Relations

Regardless of the fact that all departments coordinate activities assigned by the leadership, each of them has their own specific responsibilities:

The Administration Office is in charge of the day to day activities of VUSTA in relation to planning, finances and infrastructure, but the department also organises conferences and seminars and coordinates activities of Local Unions of VUSTA.

Department of Organisation and Personnel is in charge of staffing in the Head Office, gives advice on staffing issues and recruitment, and gives support to member associations in personnel affairs, organisational development and training. The department also gives advice to Units 81 both for establishment and development. Through Units 81 the Department of Organisation and Personnel has contacts with international organisations. With a growing number of units 81, the department has increasing tasks.

Department of Training and Knowledge Dissemination is in charge of some of the core activities of the union: publications, national scientific contests, international Scientific Olympics for students in science, scholarships and capacity building efforts for increasing public awareness and understanding of science and technology matters as well as supporting the development of talented people.

Department of Information is in charge of the internal and external exchange of information regarding VUSTA's activities and achievements. Since 2001 they publish monthly newsletters sent to all member organisations and manage a Local Area Network as well as a Wide Area Network (web page) both intended to increase awareness of VUSTA's work among its staff, member associations, affiliated organisations and the general public.

Department of Science, Technology and Economics manages VUSTA issues regarding science, technology and economics (including taking some responsibility for part of the Government budget for R&D). The department also supports Units 81 re legal framework.

Department of International Relations manages VUSTA´s international relations and organises international conferences and workshops. The department also supports member associations and affiliated units in administrative activities related to international relations. The department coordinates and appraises development projects, and coordinates activities related to overseas Vietnamese intellectuals.

The Administration Office and the department of Personnel and Organisation are responsible both for activities within National Organs and within HO.

Plans for the coming 5 year term are presented to the National Congress of Representatives.

Each year the Department of Information tries to evaluate the events of last year by making the leadership list the 10 successes. Such a list of 10 successes for 2006 was published on the Vietnamese web paged of VUSTA in January 2007 and contains both activities by and for VUSTA as well as by Central Discipline Associations like East West conference organised by VUSTA, or VUSTA Web site or Prime Minister approving VUSTA Charter, VUSTA giving feedback to documents of 10th Communist Party Congress, contribution to the draft of Law on Associations, made by Association of Lawyers, or the second issue “black list” – Federation of Civil Engineering publishing a list of corrupted companies and projects.

VUSTA has also made a general evaluation of Units 81.

There are no job descriptions in HO, but the leadership has just asked the Department of Organisation and Personnel to develop such job descriptions for its own department.

During our contacts with the HO we have met an open, friendly atmosphere, and very service minded employees; many of whom can speak English. The leaders and managers in the HO are all male, with employees responsible for daily work often being females. Gender development issues need to be introduced.

Respecting and abiding by Regulations of the central Union , implementing resolutions of the Union Central Council. Constantly contributing to the enlargement of influence and the improvement of position of the Central Union . Strengthening the solidarity in the Central Union , mutually supporting and collaborating in all activities.

NO

All member associations/NGOs.

Regarding the formal governance structure indicated in the charter, VUSTA as an umbrella organisation has four important national organs:

• National Congress
• Central Council
• Presidium
• Inspection Committee

National organs of VUSTA

a) National Congress of Representatives:

The National Congress of Representatives is the supreme organ of VUSTA and is held every five years usually at the end of the term. VUSTA has held 5 National Congresses so far (1983, 1988, 1993, 1999 and 2004), and the next National Congress will be held in 2009.

The aim of the National Congress is to approve activity reports, decide on priorities for VUSTA's activities and to elect the Central Council for the coming term. At the latest National Congress in December 2004, a new charter was approved.

b) The Central Council

The Central Council is in charge of steering the activities of VUSTA and organising the implementation of the resolutions of the Congress. The Council holds a regular national meeting once a year and occasional meetings when the Presidium or at least half the members of the Central Council request.

The council is elected by the Congress and its members comprise:

• 2 representatives from each Member Association
• 2 representatives from each Local VUSTA union
• A number of individual scientists introduced by the preceding Presidium of the Central Council and agreed upon by the Congress. These candidates can not exceed 15 % of the total number of the Central Council's members.
• Members of the Presidium
• There are also directors of units 81 who attend Central Council meetings.

As VUSTA grows the Central Council does as well, consisting presently of about 250 people.

Both the Central Discipline Associations and Local Unions are represented in the National Congress as well as in the Central Council.

Links between member associations and national organs of VUSTA

c) The Presidium

For the management of VUSTA activities, the Central Council elects a Presidium that holds 4 meetings per year. The Presidium of the Central Council in the current term comprises 30 members: 1 President, 5 Vice Presidents, one of which has the role of Secretary General, and another 24 members elected by the Congress.

The President and the five Vice Presidents are responsible for running VUSTA in between the meetings of the Presidium. The charter talks about collective leadership, but the vice presidents also have their specific responsibilities. (See below 2.5)

d) Inspection Committee

The Central Council elects an Inspection Committee. According to the charter the main tasks of the Inspection Committee are:

• Monitor and control the application of the Charter of VUSTA
• Guide and support inspection committees of the Member Associations
• Deal with complaints, grievances and objections.

One of the Vice Presidents is chairperson of the Inspection Committee and the head of the department of Organisation and Personnel is a standing member of the inspection committee.

The Inspection Committee meets 4 times a year for specific assignments and holds an annual conference regarding inspection.

The Central Council is in charge of steering the activities of VUSTA and organising the implementation of the resolutions of the Congress. The Council holds a regular national meeting once a year and occasional meetings when the Presidium or at least half the members of the Central Council request.

The council is elected by the Congress and its members comprise:

• 2 representatives from each Member Association
• 2 representatives from each Local VUSTA union
• A number of individual scientists introduced by the preceding Presidium of the Central Council and agreed upon by the Congress. These candidates can not exceed 15 % of the total number of the Central Council's members.
• Members of the Presidium
• There are also directors of units 81 who attend Central Council meetings.

As VUSTA grows the Central Council does as well, consisting presently of about 250 people.

Both the Central Discipline Associations and Local Unions are represented in the National Congress as well as in the Central Council.

No.

• Diversifing partners: UNDP, WB, OXFAM, CARE, SNV, FORD, ICCO
• Information sharing: provided information of over 500 NGO organizations in Viet Nam and had been a bridge in direct exchange between INGOs and VNGOs
• Close cooperation with UNDP and ICCO
• Broaden relationship with US's organization.

Yes.

• Since established in 1983, Vusta has continuously been expanding bilateral and multilateral co-operation with international organizations and countries for the adevancement of science and technology development of the nation.
• Took the initiative to invite two UNDP's specialists to help giving comments and consultation on Law on Association and facilitating one national conference on Association Law in May 2006
• ICCO training courses for VUSTA on lobby and advocacy capacity. The training program was grassroot focused.
• UNDP proposed VUSTA as participant at the General Counsultation Meeting December, 2006.
• Vusta has sucessefully organised the international and regional conferences, one of which was “Partnership among NGOs and donors for poverty alleviation in Vietnam ” held in March 29 th , 2005 involving the participation of over 40 international organizations. The conference confirmed a vital role of scienctific organizations in achieving the goal of hunger eradication, poverty alleviation and community development. Member associations and affiliated units have cooperative relationships with hundreds of international organizations in many differents fields;

Yes.

VUSTA is one of the biggest NPF in Viet Nam (count for 1/3 of the total NGOs in Viet Nam )
There are some other NPFs and the cooperation as follows:

• AAPS: Oxfam and VUSTA in the field of Hunger Eradication and Poverty Alleviation
• INGO Resource Centre