World Bank urges Vietnam to improve integrity, efficiency of public sector

The World Bank (WB) on Wednesday urged Vietnam to improve integrity and efficiency of the public sector by strengthening laws and policies addressing prevalent forms of conflict of interest, such as gift taking, nepotism and using insider information for personal gain.

The suggestion was made in a report titled "Managing Conflict of Interest in the Public Sector, Law and Practice in Vietnam", jointly conducted by the WB and Vietnamese government.

"Vietnam aspires to become a prosperous country with modern institutions by 2035. Managing conflict of interest is essential to this aspiration, as it helps determine how state and market institutions, rules and regulations are shaped for the next generation," said Ousmane Dione, the WB Country Director for Vietnam at the launching ceremony of the report held in Hanoi on Wednesday.

The report examines the prevalence of conflict of interest in six types of activities in the public sector including public service delivery, recruitment, procurement, licensing and project approval, inspection and auditing, as well as handling of violations.

It identifies procurement, licensing and project approval, and recruitment as the areas with most prevalent forms of conflict of interest. Surveyed citizens, businesses and government workers showed an increasing societal demand for more effectiveness, transparency and integrity in public institutions, said the report.

In order to manage conflict of interest, the report proposes to raise awareness and understanding of conflict of interest among public servants, citizens and enterprises; improve policy and legislation addressing conflict-of-interest issues as well as assign a focal point to manage conflict of interest, who will monitor, support and recommend solutions for relevant issues and violations. Endit