[{"bbox": [85, 153, 1124, 233], "category": "Text", "text": "the EU's Circular Economy Action Plan 2020. Working with Vietnamese export sectors that have strong linkages with the EU key value chains for circular economy is therefore important to ensure the achievement of the EU ambitions on circular economy and green transition."}, {"bbox": [85, 243, 1124, 723], "category": "Text", "text": "**Non-state actors (NSAs)**¹⁰ have been playing a critical role in Viet Nam in supporting the country in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They are contributing in this SDG journey through a variety of roles including advocating for change in business practices, providing knowledge or capacity building, serving as technical providers and implementing agents in development projects, notably at the grass-root level. They operate within diverse political contexts and areas of expertise and act as a connection between the government and citizens. They share information/policies from government in the language and format that is relevant for citizens and provide feedback from citizens to the government for advocating policy change. They play an important role in providing basic social and economic services in places and to vulnerable and marginalised groups. The role and voice of NSAs has become more and more significant over time, as their number and capacity steadily improved. The number of registered NGOs has risen from fewer than 200 in the late 1990s to an estimated number of 1700 today. Beyond the NGOs, the NSA's landscape in Viet Nam is experiencing rapid and multiple changes, as new types of informal organisations, actors and activities are coming into play and are active in the civic space, both physical and online. Nonetheless, the effective participation of NSAs, especially non-governmental organisations (NGOs), in policy making and monitoring processes in Viet Nam is becoming more challenging in recent years due to shrinking space and increased administrative control from the government. This underscores the importance to continue to strengthen the EU collaboration and support to NSA with a view to achieve inclusive and sustainable development, and to promote transparency and accountability in all sectors of cooperation."}, {"bbox": [85, 748, 1124, 1016], "category": "Text", "text": "This Action aims to strengthen the role of the NSAs in circular economy in Viet Nam. Together with the “EU-Viet Nam Women-led Green Partnership Programme” (adopted in 2023) supporting NSA women-led initiatives on climate change adaptation, disaster resilience and digital and circular value chains, and other two Actions supporting circular economy in industrial and agriculture sectors, it is expected to contribute to the development of an ecosystem that enables more robust and conducive transition to green growth at all levels. It will also complement other on-going and upcoming supports to Viet Nam, notably the Budget Support programme on Sustainable Energy Transition, the Decent Work programme, the Technical and Vocational Training programme, the SWITCH-Asia Programme, as well as the Integrated Sustainable Landscape Management (I-landscape), Smart Agro-ecological Transformation of Farming Systems towards Resilience and Sustainability (STAR-FARM) projects and the project enhancing transparency and traceability in the garment and footwear industry."}, {"bbox": [85, 1040, 1124, 1095], "category": "Text", "text": "This Action will, therefore, contribute to two priorities of the MIP 2021-2027, namely (i) Climate-responsive digital circular economy and (ii) Responsible entrepreneurship and enhanced skills for decent employment."}, {"bbox": [85, 1120, 1124, 1307], "category": "Text", "text": "This Action will also contribute to the Commission objectives and priorities, notably to the European Green Deal, the Global Gateway strategy, the EU Circular Economy Action Plan, and the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive and their related policies and strategies. The European Green Deal demands a transformational change to make the Europe the first climate neutral continent in the world by 2050. Most recently, the “Fit for 55” legislation sets legally binding climate targets covering all key sectors of the economy. To ensure a level playing field for European companies, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism requires that imported goods pay an equivalent carbon price on targeted sectors."}, {"bbox": [85, 1331, 1124, 1519], "category": "Text", "text": "The Action is also expected to contribute to improve bilateral trade and investment and to the implementation of the EVFTA, notably Chapter 13 on Trade and Sustainable Development. It will work with government and relevant non-state actors to improve regulations and create a more enabling environment to support businesses to switch to cleaner production, resource efficient and circular business models. This encompasses facilitation of access to finance to scale up investments in green infrastructures, digital-circular economy technologies, including opportunities brought by the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+) under the NDICI-GE, in the context of the EU Global Gateway strategy."}, {"bbox": [85, 1604, 1144, 1678], "category": "Footnote", "text": "¹⁰ NSAs/CSOs include non-profit organisations, non-government organisations (NGOs), community based organisations (CBOs), academia, research institutes, cooperatives, business and/or professional associations, unions, social enterprises, youth and women movements, and private sector actors."}, {"bbox": [1034, 1678, 1144, 1704], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 7 of 28"}]