The Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment, the UK Department for International Development (DFID), the Embassy of Denmark, and the Embassy of the Netherlands signed on January 22 an amendment to the joint funding agreement to provide an additional non-refundable aid of £17 million ($27 million) for Vietnam’s National Goal Program for Rural Water Supply and Sanitation.

The program’s phase 2 (2005–2010) has been jointly funded by the Australian Government Overseas Aid Program (AusAid), the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Netherlands Ministry for Development Cooperation with a total commitment of US $125 million.

The program has helped 79% of the rural population in Vietnam access to clean water and 51% of rural households have standard latrines.

The initial focus has also been placed on providing clean water and sanitation for public sites, such as schools (75%), health clinics (77%), communal People’s Committee offices (67%) and markets (45%).

Chief representative of DFIF in Vietnam Fiona Louise Lappin stated that, by joining the program, DFIF want to increase the program’s sustainability and improve environmental hygiene for poor households.

Mr. Peter Hansen, Ambassador of Denmark, also stressed two most critical focuses of the program, namely rural sanitation and the operation and maintenance of water and sanitation schemes.

The donors expect to support the Vietnamese Government to achieve the targets of the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation National Goal Program. ensuring that achievements gained in this work will be maintained after 2010 when the current phase is due to end.

The programs targets to provide clean water for 85% of the rural population by the end of 2010, hygienic latrines and livestock facilities for 70% of rural households, clean water and hygienic latrines for 100% rural primary schools, kindergartens, nurseries, clinics and communal People’s Committees.