World Bank (WB) in Viet Nam

Vietnam HIV/AIDS Prevention Project

On March 29, 2005, the World Bank approved a grant of US$35 million to support Vietnam’s program to curb the transmission of HIV/AIDS. The grant will help fund the HIV/AIDS Prevention Project for Vietnam to help reduce transmission of the disease and prevent its spreading into the general population. The grant agreement was signed on May 26, 2005 by the State Bank of Vietnam Governor, H.E. Le Duc Thuy and the World Bank's Country Director for Vietnam Klaus Rohland.

Support to Implementation of Provincial Action Plans (Approximately US$21.6 million). Vietnam’s National HIV/AIDS strategy places the responsibility for implementation with the People’s Committees of the provinces and cities. This project will support these efforts by providing subgrants to local authorities to help them in their fight against HIV/AIDS. More than 60 percent of the World Bank grant will be used to support the design and implementation of specific provincial action plans. Block grants will be provided to 18 provinces (An Giang, Bac Giang, Ben Tre, Cao Bang, Dong Nai, Hau Giang, Khanh Hoa, Kien Giang, Lai Chau, Nam Dinh, Nghe An, Son La, Thai Binh, Thai Nguyen, Thanh Hoa, Tien Giang, Vinh Long, and Yen Bai) and two cities (Hai Phong and Ho Chi Minh City). Activities will be focused on halting HIV transmission.

Support to National HIV/AIDS Policy and Program (Approximately US$8.2 million). The focus of the national level support will be to improve the capacity of the National level to respond to the needs of the Provinces/Cities through coordination and technical assistance in implementation of the National strategy by: 1) supporting the government's efforts to develop a national system to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of their National HIV/AIDS Prevention Program; 2) supporting multi-sectoral collaboration to reduce stigma and discrimination; 3) building capacity at the national and provincial level and encouraging innovative thinking on preventing HIV/AIDS; and 4) developing a community-based approach to integrating harm reduction activities with treatment and care (to be piloted in Hanoi, Hai Phong and Khanh Hoa). MOH will work closely with MOLISA in this pilot program.

Support to Project Management at Central and Provincial Level (Approximately US$5.2 million). Support will be provided for the set up and management of the Central Project Management Unit as well as Provincial Project Management Units located in the 18 provinces and two cities.

Contact: (to be updated)

(Updated June 2005)