VietNamNet Bridge – About VND9.2 billion (US$450,000) was awarded to 34 innovative anti-corruption ideas at the first-ever Viet Nam Anti-Corruption Initiative Programme (VACI) held yesterday, Aug 17, by the World Bank and the Government Inspectorate.

"But we believe that each small idea, if successfully implemented, will have a pervasive influence on society."

This year's VACI focused on innovative ideas that would strengthen public integrity and law for effective anti-corruption action, especially at the local level.

Victoria Kwawa, World Bank Country Director in Viet Nam, noted that the competition attracted proposals from NGOs, the private sector, educational institutions, local authorities and other non-traditional parties, suggesting a strong, shared interest in the fight against corruption.

Winner Nguyen Thi Cam Ha, a staff member of the An Giang Farmers' Association, said she hoped to use the funding to raise awareness among Khmer farmers in An Cu village in An Giang about the legal system.

"Real knowledge of the law would enable them to participate and monitor the working process of the local authorities more effectively," Ha said.

Each winning proposal received up to VND290 million ($14,000) in funding, to be used for implementation over the course of one year.

Another winner, Tran Thi Thu Ha, deputy director of the Health Project Evaluation and Consultancy at the Ha Noi-based Research and Training Centre for Community Development, wanted to tackle the problem of bribes in the healthcare sector.

"I think the poor suffers the most from this problem and our project would focus on educating the residents on how to act, when it comes to accessing healthcare services," she said. "Our research has indicated that in many cases, paying bribes does not translate to better healthcare services."

The next VACI will be held in 2013.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News