Since 2016, USAID’s Governance for Inclusive Growth (GIG) activity and Vietnam’s National Assembly have collaborated to support the implementation of the 2015 Law on Oversight. The revised law has provided a clearer framework for the National Assembly and Provincial People’s Councils to perform their oversight function. The Law enhances oversight quality and effectiveness by clarifying who does what, specific procedures, and the role of each department in supporting the oversight work. 

This week, the National Assembly and USAID held a workshop with key stakeholders to review the results of the law’s implementation to date. Emerging from this technical analysis were several recommendations to enhance implementation, including ensuring a staff member is assigned to support oversight activities at each office; increasing the capacity of support staff in information synthesis, report writing, and work planning skills; and enhancing communication between National Assembly agencies and government offices, People’s Committees, and mass media. National Assembly leaders will use these recommendations to develop more specific guidance on the coordination, including restructuring the provincial Deputies Offices, which will be done by the end of this year.  

So What?  One of USAID’s key objectives in Vietnam is to help the host government improve its formulation of policies, regulations and laws through better technical analysis. Reviewing and assessing the effectiveness of the 2015 Law on Oversight is one such example and will enhance the National Assembly’s oversight role.