International Support Group for Natural resources and Environment (ISGE)

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE), as a fairly new ministry, is faced with a number of challenges. A major one is related to the organisation. The bringing together of six line functions from different ministries requires a very strong and workable mechanism for planning within the ministry, for development of an organisational culture a feeling of togetherness.

However, of equal importance is the need for coordination and policy dialogue with other ministries and donors. This is partly to ensure that GoV and MoNRE policies, priorities, strategies and plans are being addressed, but also to establish a policy dialogue between MoNRE, other ministries and the donors to enable MoNRE to draw upon lessons learned by donors' work and support in other countries. However, it will also increase efficiency of ODA projects.

It is also noted that some donors are in the process of adopting Sector Wide Approach (SWAP) in their development support and that focus on developing policies and governance capacity have become more significant features of donor attention. MoNRE will therefore need to relate to the new tendencies.

ISGE has not been functioning for some time and there is now a need to strengthen ISGE to become the vital instrument for MoNRE with coordination, policy dialogue and dissemination of information.

It is also recommended to provide ISGE with a wider scope to include all six line-functions of MonRE, but to let the environment become the core concern as a crosscutting issue. This is in the longer perspective having the implication that ISGE becomes a Ministerial support Group rather than a sectorial one. Such specific sectoral issues as CPRGS, Agenda 21, transition of water management from MARD to MoNRE and other issues would be addressed by Thematic Ad hoc Groups, which will be established under ISGE.

ISGE Overall Objective:

“Assist MoNRE, other Ministries and international donors towards mobilisation and better coordination of ODA resources to attain GoV and MoNRE plans, priorities, policies and strategies geared towards enhanced sustainable management of the environment and natural resources through facilitating functions and activities”.

Specific Objectives:

Assist MoNRE/ICD to strengthen coordination, policy dialogue on natural resources management and environment protection;

Advise the Minister of MoNRE on issues related to the development of relevant short and long-term natural resources and environmental policies, development programmes, ODA priorities and other specific environmental issues; and

Facilitate, coordinate and disseminate information and lessons learned through meetings, consultations, newsletters, databases, study tours…

(An extract from the Terms of Reference for ISGE)

For further details, please contact:
ISGE Secretariat,
Room 215, A block,
No 83, Nguyen Chi Thanh, Hanoi
Tel:  + 84 - 4 - 7735510
Fax: + 84 - 4 - 7735509
E-mail: isgemonre@fpt.vn  or isge@monre.gov.vn
Webpage: http://www.isge.monre.gov.vn

ISG - International Support Group, Room # 209, Building A9, 2 Ngoc Ha, Hanoi, Vietnam
Tel: (84 - 4) 733 6610 - 7336757 Fax : (84-4) 7336624 Email:isgmard@fpt.vn
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