DEVIWAS Project – A look back at 2014

Year 2014 was closed by considerable achievements of the partnership project German – Vietnamese Cooperation for the Competence Cevelopment of the Vietnamese Water Sector (DEVIWAS) with a great contribution from the Vietnam Water Supply and Sewerage Association (VWSA). DEVIWAS&;s achievements in 2014 have built a fundamental platform for the non-stop effectiveness of the project in 2015.


 
Indeed 20 out of over 80 activites were hosted by DEVIWAS, which were aimed at the competence development and the status of VWSA together with the sustainable development of the Vietnamese water sector.

These activities were operated directly by the Central VWSA or its branches in the North, the Central Highlands, as well as the South and/or international organizations, i.e, ADB, World Bank and so on. By doing so, it helped expand financial resources and tighten national and international cooperation. Activities included conferences, small/medium scale trainings, seminars, policy dialogues with the participation of high-level authorities, specialists from Ministries and a wide number of entrepreneurs – and also cross-visits, field-trips, match-making as well as learning and sharing between the two associations from Germany and Vietnam.  

Through six seminars and policy dialogues, entrepeneurs and specialists in relevant ministries shared experience with German expertises on competence growth themes such as association development, leadership, how to approach EU fund as well as technical topics like water safety plan, sewerage and marketing in water enterprises.

Together with VWSA, the project organized five capacity training courses for the members based on a needs assessment report. These courses were supported by experienced Vietnamese and German professors and highly appreciated by their practicability and the members&; needs. In addition, VWSA&;s staff participated in seven internal technical courses such as water supply and drainage and communication. A new website designed in Vietnamese and English was set up for information supply, connecting partners and enterprises in the water sectors of the two countries.  

Communication and international cooperation activities brought in encouraging results in 2014. GWP, VWSA and DEVIWAS became more familiar with many national and international organizations. A number of fliers, e-news about DEVIWAS&;s activity implementation and the website of VWSA were shared with international organizations and enterprises in the Vietnamese water sector. Through the Vietwater 2014 exhibition, the DEVIWAS project had a chance to introduce its achievements to visitors, partners, governmental departments and national and international enterprises. It also presented at special events such as the National forum - German and Vietnamese water sector in Hanoi and the International conference – Southeast Asia region by WB, ADB, JICA.

 

The status of VWSA has changed positively, especially in the international cooperation sector by participating in the DEVIWAS project. A large number of international organizations are familiar with and interested in collaborating with VWSA. By the connection and coordination of DEVIWAS, 3 projects/programs of Germany, WMP-TVET-DEVIWAS, will cooperate with VWSA for the first time in order to strengthen resources as well as exercise the influence of Germany on the Vietnamese water sector.

In 2014, VWSA admitted 12 new members. VWSA also completed a strategy for the development of the association in the period of 2015 – 2025, towards 2030. It is an essential strategic development plan, especially for prioritizing fields regarding the importance of international cooperation. A detailed plan (2015-2017) was also designed with some activities within the DEVIWAS framework. The strategy will be ratified at the 6th  executive committee meeting, period IV, tentatively hosted in the end of 2015 or early 2016. 

Thu Hiền

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