The Provincial Party Committee has convened a conference reviewing one year of operating two-tier local government model across the province. The conference was held in a hybrid format, connecting 102 commune- and ward-level venues province-wide.

After one year of implementation, the province has provided strong leadership along with direction for organisational restructuring and consolidating the political system in a streamlined, effective as well as efficient manner. Communication and dissemination of the Central Government’s resolutions alongside conclusions were carried out comprehensively, generating broad consensus among officials, Party members and the public.

The Permanent Board of the Provincial Party Committee chairing the conference.

The province completed restructuring and merger of numerous agencies together with units, significantly reducing intermediary bodies while accelerating decentralisation and delegation of authority, assigning more responsibilities directly to commune level. Public Administrative Service Centres at all levels have operated steadily, with 97% of applications processed within prescribed timelines.

The two-tier local government apparatus has generally operated in a stable and smooth manner over the past year. Coordination among sectors coupled with levels has improved, alongside gradual improvements in service quality for residents and enterprises. The province has also prioritised training combined with capacity building, with more than 15,000 grassroots officials participating in training programmes.

Alongside achievements, the report identified several challenges, including vast geographical scale, a heavy workload, shortages of specialised personnel at the commune level, as well as administrative facilities and infrastructure in some areas that have yet to meet requirements. Certain sectors, including finance, land management alongside IT, continue facing shortages of qualified personnel.

In the coming period, Dak Lak will continue refining decentralisation mechanisms, strengthening grassroots workforce, promoting administrative reform (AR) and digital transformation (DX), as well as improving effectiveness of two-tier local government model in line with development requirements in the new period.

Comrade Luong Nguyen Minh Triet and comrade Cao Thi Hoa An presenting merit certificates to collectives for their outstanding contributions to implementation of two-tier local government model.

At the conference, delegates focused on discussing and sharing effective approaches combined with innovative models during the operation of two-tier local government system, while also highlighting difficulties and obstacles at the grassroots level. Many participants recommended further improvements to organisational structure, expanded training programmes, attraction of high-quality human resources to grassroots areas, along with increased investment in IT infrastructure. They also proposed that the Central Government promptly allocate additional staffing quotas, introduce special mechanisms for large and densely populated localities, as well as provide resources to address outstanding issues arising from restructuring process.

Delivering closing remarks, comrade Luong Nguyen Minh Triet, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Head of the Provincial National Assembly Deputies Delegation, emphasised that the two-tier local government model is a sound policy aligned with reform requirements and organisational streamlining apparatus. He requested Party committees together with authorities at all levels to continue reviewing and refining organisational structures in a streamlined manner to ensure high performance, effectiveness alongside efficiency; promote decentralisation and delegation of authority in tandem with resource allocation; while enhancing the capacity of officials.

Simultaneously, he called for appropriate deployment of grassroots officials, with work performance and public satisfaction serving as key benchmarks for evaluating officials.

He also urged decisive action to achieve double-digit growth, accelerate public investment disbursement, support enterprises and advance AR alongside DX, while enhancing leadership initiative and accountability at all levels to ensure effective operation of two-tier local government model.

On this occasion, the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee awarded merit certificates to 10 collectives together with seven individuals for their outstanding contributions to implementation of two-tier local government model.

Translated by KHUONG THAO