Decision No. 531-TTg On Managing National Programs

Pursuant to …;

Regarding the management of national programs

 _________

PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Government Organization Law dated September 30, 1992;

To strengthen the management of National Programs;

At the proposal of the Minister of Planning and Investment,

DECISION:

I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. A National Program is a comprehensive set of objectives, tasks, and solutions concerning economics, society, science and technology, environment, mechanisms and policies, organization to implement one or several goals determined in the country's overall economic and social development strategy within a specific period of time.

A National Program consists of various projects to achieve the program's objectives. The objects of management and planning are defined according to the program, while investment is carried out according to the project.

Article 2. A project of a National Program is a set of activities to undertake a specific task aimed at achieving one or more clearly defined goals within the program with a specified budget and implementation timeframe.

Article 3. Criteria for selecting National Programs:

Issues chosen to be resolved through National Programs must be urgent, cross-sectoral, cross-regional, and significant for the country's economic and social development, requiring focused guidance and resolution;

The objectives of a National Program must be clear, quantifiable, and aligned with the national general strategy;

The implementation period of the program must be limited, typically five years, or divided into phases for each five-year period.

II. BUILDING NATIONAL PROGRAMS

Article 4. Based on the content and tasks of medium-term or long-term plans, Ministries, National Commissions, General Departments (hereinafter referred to as Ministries) propose pressing socio-economic issues to be included in the list of National Programs to the Ministry of Planning and Investment. The Ministry of Planning and Investment collaborates with the Ministry of Finance to select, compile a list of National Programs, and anticipate the managing agency for the Government to consider and submit to the National Assembly for approval during each planning period.

Article 5. The agency responsible for managing a National Program is tasked with coordinating with the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Finance, and relevant Ministries, sectors, and localities to organize the construction of the program. The construction of programs and projects takes place during the short-, medium-, or long-term planning phase. When formulating annual plans, additional new programs may be proposed or existing ones reduced.

Article 6. The content of a National Program includes:

Assessing the current situation in the field that the program will address, justifying urgent issues that need to be resolved through a National Program;

Determining the scope, scale, and general objectives of the program, basic indicators to be achieved within specific timeframes;

Determining the total capital of the program, including the amount allocated annually, and methods of mobilizing funds;

Determining the overall economic and social effectiveness of the program and its investment projects;

Proposing possibilities for integration with other programs;

Plans and schedules for implementing the program and projects;

International cooperation (if applicable).

Article 7. National Programs are organized and reviewed by the Ministry of Planning and Investment, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and relevant Ministries and sectors, and submitted to the Prime Minister for approval.

Only after a program has been approved can it be reflected in the plan.

Article 8. Principles for integrating the activities of National Programs are implemented as follows:

Integrating related parts regarding objectives, activities, and organizations among National Programs to avoid duplication, enhance the efficiency of resource utilization, are considered from the proposal, construction, planning, monitoring stages to implementation, evaluation phases;

The program management agency is responsible for proposing the content, form, and mechanism for integration with other National Programs;

During the review and allocation process, the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance are responsible for recommending integration schemes, simultaneously allocating funds for integrated activities to be submitted to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision-making in the annual plan for program-managing Ministries;

The Chairman of the People's Committee of provinces and centrally-administered cities is responsible for participating in management, organizing the implementation, and integrating related activities of National Programs in their respective areas.

Article 9. When formulating annual or five-year plans, if conditions or program goals change, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Finance, and the program management agency must report to the Government to adjust the program with the following content:

Evaluating the completed portion of the program;

Justifying the necessity and reasons for adjustment;

Content of adjustment;

The impact of these adjustments on the final goal of the program and the effectiveness of the adjustment.

Article 10. The program management agency and the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities where the program is implemented must regularly report (quarterly and annually) on the implementation of objectives, funding, etc., according to prescribed forms. The program management agency must coordinate with relevant Ministries, sectors, and localities to organize mid-term evaluations for programs with a five-year duration or phased implementation over five years. These reports are sent to the Prime Minister, copied to the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance.

The program management ministry is responsible for leading together with relevant ministries, sectors, and localities to evaluate and accept the results of the implementation of National Programs, preparing a summary report on the completion of the program managed by the ministry to be submitted to the Prime Minister for approval.

III. FINANCIAL MECHANISM FOR NATIONAL PROGRAMS

Article 11. Annually, based on the allocation of tasks and goals of National Programs, the Ministry of Finance leads in collaboration with the Ministry of Planning and Investment to propose a budget balance for each National Program in the overall state budget estimate plan for the Government to consider and submit to the National Assembly for approval.

Article 12. Based on the approved budget for each program, the program management agency proposes the allocation level for each ministry and locality, which the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Planning and Investment consolidate into the plans of ministries, sectors, and localities to be submitted to the Prime Minister for consideration and approval.

Article 13. The funds for implementing the National Program are allocated from the central budget by the Ministry of Finance directly to Ministries and sectors to carry out projects under central management, and authorized through the Provincial Department of Finance and Prices to implement projects managed by localities. The management of expenditure and settlement of accounts for the National Programs shall be carried out in accordance with current regulations.

Article 14.To achieve the objectives of the program, in addition to state budget capital, it is necessary to mobilize domestic and foreign credit capital and contributions from organizations and individuals. For capital mobilized from the people, the program management agency and the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities where the program is implemented may use it for tasks within the scope of the program; but must manage and settle accounts according to current regulations.

IV. MANAGEMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF NATIONAL PROGRAMS.

Article 15. Tasks of the Ministry of Planning and Investment:

To take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance to assist the Prime Minister in reviewing, integrating, managing, implementing, inspecting, and evaluating National Programs;

To take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance, based on the five-year and long-term socio-economic development directions of the State and proposals from Ministries, sectors, and localities, select and compile a list of National Programs and their managing agencies for the Government to consider and submit to the National Assembly for decision;

Together with the Ministry of Finance, propose the budget allocation for each National Program to be included in the State's overall budget plan to be submitted to the Government.

Article 16. Tasks of the Ministry of Finance:

To take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment in allocating budget funds for each National Program, compiling them into the State's overall budget plan for the Government to consider and submit to the National Assembly for decision.

To disburse funds for each program and project that has been approved according to the plan; guide and inspect the program management agencies to comply with current financial and accounting regulations. Compile the annual fund disbursement situation for each program and approve the final settlement of funds for National Programs and completed projects, report to the Prime Minister, and send copies to the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

Article 17. Tasks of the program management agencies: - The program management agencies are responsible for leading and coordinating with relevant Ministries and localities to organize and develop programs and projects according to the division of labor by the Government, submit to the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance for review, and submit to the Prime Minister for approval;

Establish a Program Management Board to assist the head of the program management agency in organizing the implementation of the program and dissolve this board upon completion of the program. The Program Director is a leader of a Ministry, and members include representatives with authority from planning, finance departments, and other related departments. The operational rules of the Program Management Board are decided by the program management agency based on compliance with the provisions of these Decisions;

For National Programs of particular importance, members from Ministries and localities should participate in the Program Management Board, the composition of the Program Management Board and its operational rules are decided by the Prime Minister;

Responsible for managing, allocating funds, and organizing accounting work to manage the program's funds in accordance with the State's financial management system;

Responsible for settling accounts with the Ministry of Finance and subject to audit by the State Audit Agency according to current regulations;

Article 18. Provincial People's Committees have the following responsibilities:

Participate in the construction and management of National Programs in their respective areas;

Propose changes to the project objectives when they are deemed unsuitable and not aligned with the actual situation of the locality;

Create favorable conditions for the program to proceed smoothly, organize integration and implementation of program activities in their respective areas;

Establish a Local Steering Committee for National Programs to assist the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities in planning, implementing, and managing National Programs in their respective areas. The Chairman of the Steering Committee is a leader of the People's Committee of the province or centrally-administered city, and members are representatives with authority from the Provincial Department of Planning and Investment, Provincial Department of Finance and Prices, and specialized provincial departments. The Provincial Department of Planning and Investment serves as the permanent liaison.

V. IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS

Article 19. This Decision takes effect from September 1, 1996. - The Ministry of Planning and Investment will coordinate with the Ministry of Finance and relevant Ministries to provide guidance on the implementation of this Decision.

National Programs currently being implemented that do not meet the standards and procedures stipulated in this Decision must be submitted to the Prime Minister for approval.

Article 20. Ministers, Heads of Ministries equivalent to Ministries, Heads of government agencies, Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities are responsible for implementing this Decision.