Rapid assessment of design and implementation of Government's 2nd support package for the affected by Covid-19

Rapid assessment of design and implementation of Government's 2nd support package for the affected by Covid-19

September 22, 2021

The outbreak of the fourth wave of Covid-19 has been very complicated and has had a serious and prolonged negative impact on people's health, livelihoods and the economy. In response, the Government of Viet Nam (GoV), based on the experience of the first social protection package to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 in 2020 (under Resolution 42/NQ-CP- hereafter referred to as the first package), has issued Resolution 68/NQ-CP dated July 1st, 2021 on policies to support workers and employers impacted by Covid-19 pandemic (hereafter referred to as the second package). The second package, with a total budget of VND 26 trillion, was designed with the dual goal of "Ensuring social protection and promoting economic recovery, production and business stabilization." This rapid assessment, conducted in August 2021, aims to provide policy makers designing the third social protection support package, with (i) identified strengths and weaknesses of both design and implementation of the second package in achieving its goals; and (ii) recommendations for improvements. The assessment was conducted by reviewing the second package documents, analyzing available data and reports on implementation, interviewing policy makers, experts and representatives of target groups, and several case studies. Relevant information/accounts from official media have also been used to support the findings and recommendations.