Advocacy coalition support Over the past decades, the mining industry has played a rather important role in Vietnam's economy. However, mining activities alsocause many consequences such as environmental degradation and land occupation. Due to its complex characteristics, the mining industry always requires high levels of transparency and high accountability in management. Since 2014, Oxfam has supported the Vietnam Minerals Coalition (VMC) to promote the implementation of the Transparency Initiative in the EITI mining industry in Vietnam. The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) has been appointed by the Government to act as the focal point to consider the implementation of EITI since 2005. In 2016, the Prime Minister also issued an official document instructing MOIT to consider participating, implementing EITI. MOIT have proposed the EITI pilot to provide more evidences and practical experiences for Vietnam participation in EITI. However, until now, there has not been a final decision on the ability of Vietnam to join EITI.

With the support of Oxfam in the period 2016-2018, VMC has implemented projects to integrate EITI mechanisms in national mineral management policies, promote transparency and fair distribution of revenue from mineral exploitation. These projects are actively contributing to narrowing the gap between national policies and international standards in mineral industry management. In Ha Giang and Quang Tri province, the project has created opportunities for experts, citizens, and social organizations to discuss and have dialogues on publicity and transparency of environmental protection fees.

In Ha Giang, the Provincial Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA) has collaborated with the Provincial Fatherland Front to supervise the collection of environmental protection costs, organize dialogues and promote relevant agencies such as District People's Committee and Department of Finance, Tax organ of Natural Resources and Environment Department to publish information on environmental protection fee collection in Yen Minh and Bac Me districts. At the same time, theproject also promotes social responsibility of mining enterprises in the area where the exploitation is carried out through dialogues between people, businesses, and local authorities. Through those, opinions of  people affected by the exploitation activities have been recognized by the company and some have initially implemented their social responsibilities such as An Thong Company buildinga 1.1km-road for Minh Son commune of Bac Me district. Ha Giang province currently has 70 mining licenses in 11 districts and cities, the revenue from minerals accounts for 20% of the total income of Ha Giang province. Therefore, the publicity and transparency of information from mining is required. The lessons-learnt and experiences in Yen Minh and Bac Me need to be spread to other districts of Ha Giang province.

In Quang Tri, the provincial People's Council also has similar activities to promote publicity and transparency in environmental protection fee and spending. The provincial People's Council issued Resolution No. 27/2017/ NQ-HDND on environmental protection fee for mineral exploitation and the requirement for information publicity on income from mineral exploitation in Quang Tri province. In addition, VMC has introduced transparency initiatives in the mining industry to related parties in Quang Tri. With local practical requirements, Quang Tri People's Council has proposed to support EITI pilot.  This is a good opportunity for CDIto pilot EITI in Vietnam at local level. Quang Tri will test the establishment of EITI supervisory council, training on EITI for local government agencies and businesses, hence promote the planning and monitoring of EITI pilot in Quang Tri, organize dialogues between stakeholders on EITI. The pilot results will be used by CDI and VMC for governmental advocacy to quickly decide on Vietnam's participation in EITI.

In that context, VMC proposes to continue implementing the next phase of the project with 2main objectives:

(i) Expand monitoring and dialogue model in property management in Ha Giang.
(ii) Support Quang Tri provincial People's Council to pilot EITI initiatives.

Results from the two models will be used for advocacy activities and to promote EITI implementation at centrallevel.