Decision No. 48/2003/QD-BNV stipulates the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Department of Non-Governmental Organizations.

Article 1. Position and Functions

The Non-Governmental Organizations Department is an organization under the Ministry of Home Affairs, with the function of advising the Minister to implement state management over associations and non-governmental organizations.

b) Draft five-year and annual socio-economic development plans for the province; major economic and social balances for the province; draft five-year and annual plans, programs, projects, measures to organize and implement tasks related to socio-economic development, finance-budget, planning-investment, and other tasks within the scope of state management of the Department of Finance as prescribed by law;

1. Drafting laws, ordinances, regulatory legal documents on the organization and operation of associations and non-governmental organizations according to the directives of the Minister.

2. Reviewing and submitting to the Minister for consideration and decision on projects regarding establishment; merger; division, separation; consolidation; dissolution and operational charters of associations and non-governmental organizations operating nationwide or across provinces.

3. Providing guidance on professional matters related to the management of associations and non-governmental organizations to ministries, sectors, and provincial People's Committees directly under the Central Government.

4. Submitting opinions to the Minister for review on projects for establishing organizations within associations and state funding for associations and non-governmental organizations operating nationwide or across provinces as stipulated by law.

5. Assisting the Minister in coordinating with relevant ministries and sectors in state management over international agreements and cooperation, and the acceptance and management of foreign non-governmental aid for associations and non-governmental organizations.

6. Assisting the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, who is a member of the Committee for Foreign Non-Governmental Organizations, in state management over foreign non-governmental organizations concerning permission for foreign non-governmental organizations to establish representative offices, project offices, and issuance of operational permits.

7. Assisting the Minister in guiding and inspecting the implementation of charters for associations and non-governmental organizations, and coordinating with relevant agencies in handling violations of laws concerning associations and non-governmental organizations within their jurisdiction.

8. Taking the lead or coordinating with organizations under the Ministry in resolving certain issues related to the organization, staffing, and policies for associations, non-governmental organizations, and officials engaged in association work as assigned by the Minister.

9. Taking the lead or coordinating with ministries, sectors, and provincial People's Committees directly under the Central Government in monitoring and inspecting associations, non-governmental organizations, and citizens' compliance with laws on association formation, and inspecting the organization and activities of associations and non-governmental organizations.

10. Taking the lead or participating in researching scientific topics, contributing to training in professional matters related to association and non-governmental organization management. Organizing domestic and international conferences and seminars on the organization and activities of associations and non-governmental organizations according to the directives of the Minister.

11. Implementing comprehensive statistical work, building information databases on associations and non-governmental organizations, and coordinating with the Application Information Technology Center to apply information technology in managing, exploiting, and using information databases to serve leadership and management by the Ministry.

12. Taking the lead or coordinating in resolving petitions and complaints related to association and non-governmental organization work.

13. Requesting relevant agencies, associations, and non-governmental organizations to report on organizational and operational situations and management of associations and non-governmental organizations.

14. Performing other tasks assigned by the Minister.

Article 3. Organization and Working System

1. The Department has a Director, several Deputy Directors, and civil servants;

2. The Director shall be responsible to the Minister for organizing and implementing the tasks specified in Article 2 and shall have the following specific duties and powers:

a) Organizing and directing the implementation of the Department's tasks and being accountable to the Minister for all aspects of the Department's work;

b) Assigning tasks, supervising, urging, and inspecting the implementation of tasks by Deputy Directors and civil servants in the Department;

c) Signing on behalf of the Minister to respond, provide clarification, guide professional matters, and request information from organizations with functions and responsibilities for managing non-governmental organization work of state agencies or individuals working in non-governmental organizations.

d) Coordinate with organizations within the Ministry and relevant agencies in resolving issues related to the Department's functions, tasks, and powers;

đ) Implement information dissemination for civil servants in the Department according to the Ministry's working regulations;

e) Decide on the contents of reports, summaries, conclusions, and recommendations to the Minister regarding policies and solutions in implementing the Department's tasks;

f) Implement the Ministry's regulations; manage civil servants and assets allocated according to the Ministry's delegation;

3. The Deputy Department Head performs professional tasks and assists the Department Head in managing one or several aspects of work as assigned by the Department Head; is responsible to the Department Head for the assigned tasks.

4. Civil servants carry out specialized tasks assigned by the Director and are accountable to the Director for performing those tasks.

5. The Department operates under a specialist system combined with a chief executive system; in cases where the Ministry leadership works directly with the Deputy Director or specialists, the Deputy Director or specialists are responsible for implementing the leadership's opinions and promptly reporting back to the Director thereafter.

Article 4. Effectiveness and Responsibility for Implementation

1. This Decision takes effect fifteen days from the date of signing;

2. The Head of the Ministry's Office, the Director of the Non-Governmental Organizations Department, the Director of the Cadre Organization Department, the Heads and civil servants of related organizations under the Ministry are responsible for implementing this Decision.