The Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences in collaboration with the French Institute of Research for Development and the European Union (EU) held a conference on May 24 to initiate a project on improving understanding of new anti-poverty policies in Vietnam. According to Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thang, head of the academy, Vietnam will continue conducting research on a multi-dimensional approach that include labor market, unofficial sector, social network, administrative reforms and the effects of public policies. The project will also cover new aspects of the issue, global inequity, influence from the globalization and fluctuation of the international environment. It will also explore limitations of the education system, labor market, a weak administration system, behavioral differences and impacts of administrative reforms at different levels. The government will spend VND5.03 trillion ($238 million) on the national sustainable poverty reduction program this year, versus VND5.06 trillion last year, in a move to reduce the poverty rate by 2%, with a 4% reduction targeted in poor districts. So far, up to 2.1 million households are deemed poor and 1.4 million near-poor, accounting for 9.46 and 6.75% of the national population, as shown in a survey by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs. (Vietnamplus.vn May 24)
