Update on the implementation of SOI milestones

1. Update on the implementation of SOI milestones Focus on milestone 1, 2 and 5 (6,9) Health Partnership Group, 23rd September 2010 Dr Tran Thi Giang Huong Director General, ICD

2. Outline • Milestone 1: database of development partner support • Milestone 2: Harmonization and alignment of TA in the health sector • Milestone 5: Procedures to formally link HPG and other groups working in health • Milestones 6 and 9: Transparency, accuracy and timeliness of information provided by DPs, alignment of support with five year health plan • Other HPG Secretariat activities • Next steps • Future Direction

3. Milestone 1: Database of development partner support

4. Key results from workshop organized on 8th September • Presentation of preliminary results (24 DP responses) • Presentation and discussion of new database format and manual, with key inputs from: MPI, MoF, MOH DPF and DPs • Major comments included: • Strong endorsement for the exercise from all stakeholders and its importance recognized • Need to align with/build on existing GoV systems (five year health plan, ODA management system) • Need to keep matrix user-friendly, while at the same time collecting relevant information for planning • Based on inputs, HPG Sec has revised database and manual, new version sent to all DPs

5. Database and manual revision • Revisions of the matrix regarding content, structure, and format • Split the sheet into 2 different parts: general information and financial information (see the file) • General information: Add more indicators • Financial allocation: disaggregated data by year and by health priority area, using the basis from the Five year plan for health sectors and NTP • Revision of the introduction and guideline (see in the Manual)

6. Milestone 2. Study to assess degree of harmonization and alignment of TA in health

7. Key results of study conducted • Draft study currently under review by HPG Secretariat/MOH • Key findings: • Lack of shared understanding of the health sector’s development needs and/or priorities to which TA support can be aligned • Lack of shared definition of harmonization • Lack of formal TA Alignment and Harmonization and Monitoring Mechanisms • TA and TC in the health sector are fragmented and should to be better coordinated/clearly target their support to MOH and/or Provincial priorities.

8. Key results of study conducted • Recommendations • Convene a technical working group on TA • Adopt a procedural checklist to be completed by the funding agency for all new proposals for TA • Develop and adopt formal system to monitor and report on all new TA activities initiated in a calendar year • Reports can be generated by planning objective/activity and by DP showing numbers of new TA activities initiated by score.

9. Milestone 5: Procedures to formally link HPG and other groups working in health established

10. Survey on existing working groups in health • Survey conducted and draft shared with DPs for inputs • Responses received from 14 groups, interviews conducted with 5 (RHAG, HRR PCG, PAHI, CCM, HPC) • Two types of groups recognized • HPG working groups, under MOH authority (e.g. RHAG): need formal mechanism for registration of working groups and regular reporting to HPG • Other groups/partnerships linked to health, not under direct MOH authority (e.g. PAHI, HPC): need mechanism to promote dialogue

11. Key recommendations from survey on existing groups working in health • For HPG TWG • Clear procedures for the establishment of HPG TWG need to be agreed and formalized, as well as reporting mechanisms • Direction and support from high level in MOH is necessary, in order to ensure meaningful support to policy-making • Active leadership and involvement of MOH to ensure success and sustainability of groups, i.e. to issue a legal document on the establishment of the group • For other partnerships related to health • Nature of linkages will be different for each partnership, and further dialogue is necessary, in order to better define these • The HPG should be considered a focal point to promote effective participation of the MoH departments in relevant WG

12. Key recommendations from survey on existing groups working in health • Design appropriate additional information sharing channels functionally • Each working group should be considered a focal point for its relevant area/sub-sector and needs to assess the performance and effectiveness • The MOH to recognize the model and contribution of the WGs and multiply the good model of action of WGs to MOH’s planning and policy making; clear direction with the role and participation of each departments;clearly define the leading depts and supporting depts; • ICD acts as the focal point of the HPG and coordinate establishment, implementation, M&E of the WGs

13. Guidance note for the establishment of HPG TWG • Initial draft circulated to DPs before June HPG, and revisions made according to inputs • Revised version shared with DPs • Main purpose of TWGs: improve the way in which HPG functions through support for particular areas/sub-sectors that require attention, and promote greater effectiveness of health aid • Some temporary, some more permanent, based on NEED • Chair: MOH

14. Guidance note for the establishment of HPG TWG • Criteria proposed for the establishment of TWGs: • TWG of interest to the Government of Vietnam and more than one development partner; clear link with five year plan. • TWG is relevant to health. • No significant overlap with other existing TWG or other groups related to health; duplications to be avoided and synergies sought. • TWG should be able to sustain itself in the medium and long term (start-up support only from HPG Secretariat) • TWG may be terminated where deemed appropriate by chair and HPG

15. Milestones 6 and 9: Transparency, accuracy and timeliness of information provided by DPs, alignment of support with five year health plan

16. Progress • These milestones will be completed in 2011, based on: • Result of exercise on milestone 1 (process and content) • Five year health plan 2011-15 • Draft TORs prepared by HPG Secretariat for milestone 6, currently under internal review

17. Other HPG Secretariat activities

18. Fieldtrips to provincial levels • Purposes: to set up a formal relationship with the provincial IC focal points; to facilitate future cooperation in term of identifying the gap for ICD interventions and collecting the input to the international cooperation strategy and plan on aid management and coordination. • Fieldtrip to Thai nguyen in July and Hai phong in August • Lessons learnt: Political commitment; Smooth cooperation of the provincial departments; the active role of leaderships is extremely significant; donors interests; human shortage and capacity building; difference of IC level among government levels;

19. ICD and HPG websites • Supplying company: Netnam • HPG secretariat • IT consultant • HPG and ICD websites: English and Vietnamese • Programming, existed documents upload, mechanism to update the sites regularly: communication officer • Address: http://hpg.icdmoh.gov.vn/ http://icdmoh.gov.vn/ • ICD and HPG Leaflets in Vietnamese and English

20. Next steps

21. Next steps • Milestone 1 (donor database): • Endorsement of revised format • Database to be sent to ALL DPs for completion annually • Results to be presented at next HPG • Final report and gap analysis for five year health plan prepared and disseminated • Institutionalization of exercise and annual repetition • Milestone 2 (TA alignment & harmonization) • Draft study to be distributed to all HPG members • Workshop to disseminate results, discuss recommendations and establish next steps to be organized before next HPG meeting

22. Next steps • Milestone 5 (link with other health-related partnerships) • Receive inputs from HPG members for survey on working groups in health and finalize document • Actively discuss with existing partnerships on the most appropriate mechanisms for promoting linkages with HPG (discussion already started with HRR PCG at last mid-year review) • Submit guidance note on establishment of TWG for formal approval by high level • HPG to facilitate creation of TWG where interest has already been expressed (e.g. HMIS, health financing), including through facilitating dialogue between DPs and relevant MOH departments • Fieldtrips to provincial focal points

23. Next steps • Milestone 6: Coordinating the implementation the review of transparency, accuracy and timeliness of financial information provided by partners • Formal launching of website at next HPG meeting and website updates

24. Future Direction • Continually promote and improve policy dialogue and cooperation quality in health. • Enhance the linkage between HPG and other partnership groups working in areas related to health. • Promote the active participation of all relevant actors in health in the HPG forum. • Accelerate aid coordination effectiveness at local and national levels. • Facilitate the implementation of IHP+ principles and related activities in Vietnam.