The Team of the Budget Transparency Alliance (BTAP) conducted fieldwork at Ba Ria – Vung Tau and Dien Bien Province
Đăng vào 05/07/2023
From June 19-30, the Survey Team of the Budget Transparency Alliance (BTAP), consisting of the Vietnam Center for Economic and Strategic Studies (VESS) and the Center for Development and Integration (CDI), conducted a working visit to the provinces of Ba Ria – Vung Tau and Dien Bien. The field survey is part of an action research project aimed at enhancing public participation in transparent explanations of budget planning and utilization. The project is jointly implemented by VESS, CDI, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Vietnam.
The objective of this research is to support local authorities in finding solutions to enhance transparency, accountability, and explanations regarding the planning, revenue, and expenditure of the State budget to the people, as required by the Law on State Budget 2015 and the Law on Democratic Implementation at the grassroots level in 2022.
Based on the results of the Provincial Budget Transparency Index (POBI) in recent years, Ba Ria – Vung Tau province has consistently ranked among the top provinces nationwide in terms of budget transparency at the provincial level. The province’s experience in implementing budget transparency is a noteworthy lesson, providing valuable insights to the research team of BTAP in their efforts to promote budget transparency in Vietnam.
During the three working days from June 19-21, the team collaborated with the Provincial Department of Finance of Ba Ria – Vung Tau, the People’s Committee of Ba Ria City, the People’s Committee of Phuoc Nguyen Ward – Ba Ria City, the People’s Committee of Long Dien District, and the People’s Committee of Phuoc Hung Commune and Long Hai Town within Long Dien District. The team also had the opportunity to directly interview residents in several neighborhoods and hamlets within Long Dien District.
Research team worked with representatives from the Department of Finance of Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province
The team worked with representatives from the People’s Committee of Ba Ria City
The team worked with representatives from the People’s Committee of Phuoc Nguyen Ward, Ba Ria City
The team visited the public area of the People’s Committee of Phuoc Nguyen Ward
The team worked with representatives from the People’s Committee of Long Dien District, Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province
Team worked at the People’s Committee of Phuoc Hung Commune, Long Dien District, Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province
Public area for information about the State budget of Phuoc Hung Commune
Talking with people in Phuoc Lam Hamlet, Phuoc Hung Commune, Long Dien District, Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province
Fieldwork in Hai Son Group, Long Hai Town, Long Dien District, Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province
In the second week, the survey team worked in Dien Bien province. Here, the team had discussions with representatives from the Provincial Department of Finance, the Financial-Planning Division of the People’s Committee of Dien Bien Phu City, the People’s Committee of Dien Bien Dong District, and the People’s Committees of various communes, wards, and towns in the province, such as Him Lam Ward in Dien Bien Phu City, Dien Bien Dong Town, and Na Son Commune in Dien Bien Dong District. Additionally, the survey team engaged in in-depth exchanges with local residents in various field locations.
Research team worked with representatives from the Department of Finance of Dien Bien Province
The team worked with the Representative of Finance – Planning Department, People’s Committee of Dien Bien Phu City
Team worked with the Representative of the People’s Committee of Dien Bien Dong District, Dien Bien Province
Dien Bien is a province that has shown rapid improvement in budget transparency over the years, ranking high in the national and Northwest region’s POBI rankings. Despite having a relatively low budget scale and revenue, mostly relying on the state budget, the province of Dien Bien has consistently been encouraged by higher-level authorities to implement state budget transparency and accountability. Moreover, residents in the province’s communes, wards, and towns are also highly concerned about these efforts.
Team worked with the Representative of the People’s Committee of Him Lam Ward, Dien Bien Phu City
Team worked with the Representative of the People’s Committee of Dien Bien Dong Town
Team worked with the Representative of the People’s Committee of Na Son Ccommune, Dien Bien Dong District
The delegation visited public areas for information about the State budget of communes, wards and towns during the field trip
Talking with the people of Dien Bien Dong Town and Na Son Commune, Dien Bien Dong District
