There is a lack of capacity in Vietnam to design, evaluate, and implement policies on science and technology. The Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA) is the umbrella organization under which many of USAID/Vietnam’s implementing partners are registered - specifically local organizations working on disabilities and HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. To improve their capacity on developing policies related to science and technology, on August 8-10, USAID conducted a training “Policy Research Project Design and Management” in Hanoi. It was attended by 24 VUSTA representatives and was designed to strengthen the participants’ ability to design and manage high-quality, policy-relevant science and technology research projects. These VUSTA trainers will share their increased knowledge with VUSTA’s broader membership of more than 300 associations.

So What? This work will contribute to VUSTA’s efforts to become one of Vietnam’s premier science and technology think tanks, putting them in a position to provide policy advice to the Government of Vietnam.