The provincial Administrative Reform Steering Committee (ARSC) held a conference on May 7 to evaluate the results of the Public Administrative Reform (PAR) Index, the Satisfaction Index of Public Administrative Services (SIPAS), and the Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI) for 2023; and to discuss ways to improve indexes for 2024 and the subsequent years. Vice Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee and head of the ARSC Bui Van Khanh chaired the event.

Seven out of the nine categories witnessed notable improvement, including administrative guidance and leadership, procedural reform, apparatus and institutional reform, and the development of e-government. Notably, feedback mechanisms such as leader-conducted surveys and citizen/organisation responses regarding service quality showed improvement. Previously lagging criteria also saw positive advancement in 2023.

In 2023, the province’s PAR Index surged to 86.76%, up 0.46% from 2022 but down 12 places in the ranking order. Specifically, seven out of the nine areas showed significant improvement, including administrative guidance and leadership, administrative procedure reform, apparatus and institutional reform, and building and development of e-government. Notably, feedback mechanisms such as leader-conducted surveys and citizen/organisation responses regarding service quality also improved. Previously lagging criteria also saw positive advancement in 2023.

Regarding the PAPI Index, Hoa Binh scored 43.55 points in 2023, placing it within the high average score group. This score represented a significant jump of 2.52 points and a 23-place climb in the national ranking compared to 2022. Improvements were observed in seven out of the eight assessed areas, including citizen participation at the grassroots level reaching 5.16 points (up 0.06 points), transparency 5.13 points (up 0.01 points), accountability to citizens 4.46 points (up 0.14 points), corruption control in the public sector 7.23 points (up 0.79 points), administrative procedures 7.35 points (up 0.7 points), environmental governance 3.88 points (up 0.45 points), and E-governance 3.15 points (up 0.56 points) compared to 2022. Public service supply was the sole category that saw a slight annual decline (down 0.2 points).

Concluding the event, Khanh urged departments, agencies, and local authorities to hold the heads of state administrative agencies accountable for reform efforts. This includes tightening administrative discipline, fostering ethical conduct in public service, and regularly monitoring the work performance and effectiveness of officials, civil servants and employees under their purview.