Redesigning Aus4Transport’s second phase to continue supporting Vietnam’s strategic needs
IN BRIEF
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is currently working on the design of the potential second phase of Aus4Transport after an independent review team recommended the Program to be extended for a period of 3 to 5 years.
The transport infrastructure collaboration between the Government of Australia and the Government of Vietnam, which has been successfully operating since February 2018, is getting ready for a deep review that will identify how this second phase could best continue strengthening Vietnam and Australia’s economic partnership.
The Program Design Refresh will take place during August-September 2021 and will consider opportunities to improve efficiency, maximise program impact and ensure sustainability of the outcomes delivered.
KNOW MORE…
The Aus4Transport Program has been a further step in the long trajectory of cooperation and partnership between the Government of Vietnam and the Government of Australia. Aus4Transport started operations in February 2018, aiming to support Vietnam’s transport infrastructure priorities by removing bottlenecks in the transport sector, facilitating project preparation and implementation and, consequently, attracting much needed investment.
In October 2020, two and a half years’ after the Program started, DFAT commissioned an independent team to perform a Mid-Term Review (MTR) of Aus4Transport. The MTR team evaluated the progress of the Program towards its ultimate goals and assessed if, through the implementation experience gained over these years, any changes could be made to improve performance and results.
The conclusions of the MTR were extremely positive: Aus4Transport is working effectively on building capacity and skills of transport sector professionals, and it is clearly assisting Vietnam to develop high-quality projects that were ready for implementation more rapidly. The independent team also recommended extending the Program for a second phase, to allow enough time and resources for long-lasting technical and institutional strengthening to happen within the Ministry of Transport (MOT).
The Program Design Refresh team will be undertaken between August and September 2021 and will bring together national and international expertise, and will make recommendations on the most appropriate way forward in terms of focus of the Program and modality of delivery. In order to asses these, the team will pay special attention to:
- Development context and legislative changes in Vietnam
- Vietnam and Australia’s development priorities
- Review of Lessons Learned
- Consideration of the partnership principles agreed by the parties involved
- Ways to strengthen counterpart capacity and ownership
- The activity selection criteria, including how technical and financial assistance can best be delivered
- Approaches to maximise operational efficiency and minimise administrative tasks
- Roles and responsibilities of partners
- Current constraints and opportunities
- How to enhance Aus4Transport responsiveness to address emerging priorities
All the partners are enthusiastic about the redesign and look forward to seeing proposed options and ways forward that will allow Aus4Transport to continue supporting Vietnam’s transport infrastructure sector, leading to an improved national transport network that promotes economic growth and alleviates poverty.
