To realize the goal of building a streamlined, effective, and modern political system, the Hai Phong City People's Committee issued two vital documents: Plan No. 197/KH-UBND on improving the quality of commune-level cadres and civil servants, and Plan No. 198/KH-UBND on strengthening their training for the 2026 – 2031 period. These represent decisive steps to prepare a workforce ready to operate the 2-level local government model and meet development requirements in the digital era.
The Necessity of Enhancing Grassroots Official Quality
As the city undergoes a powerful transformation, Hai Phong identifies building a team of commune, ward, and special zone cadres and civil servants as a "breakthrough step" in improving leadership capacity and state management effectiveness. This is considered a central, regular, and decisive task for the quality of the grassroots political system.
The necessity for increased training stems from several objective requirements:
- Adapting to the New Model: Operating a 2-level local government requires officials to possess more professional governance, executive, and task-execution skills.
- Comprehensive Digital Transformation: Competency in applying digital technology, data-driven thinking, and online interaction is mandatory to place citizens and businesses at the center of service.
- Standardizing the Workforce: There is a need to gradually modernize and professionalize officials, overcoming limitations in situational handling and a sense of responsibility in resolving work.
Objectives and Implementation Roadmap for 2026 – 2031
The city's plan sets out a specific roadmap through two strategic phases to ensure inheritance and sustainable development:
Phase 1 (2026 – 2028): Focusing on Professional Standardization The city aims for 100% of commune-level officials who do not yet meet the professional requirements of their new job positions to be sent for specialized training by the end of 2028. Additionally, at least 50% of professional civil servants must be trained in general state management knowledge suitable for the 2-level government operation.
Phase 2 (2029 – 2031): Enhancing Professionalism and Modernity By 2031, the city strives for 100% of commune-level officials to be trained in state management for the 2-level model. This phase focuses on supplementing in-depth skills, modern public governance thinking, and flexible policy response capabilities to meet the requirements of increased decentralization and delegation of power.
Core and Innovative Training Content
A highlight of this training program is the combination of traditional professional knowledge with "new era" skills. Training content includes:
- In-depth Professional Knowledge: Focusing on "hot" areas such as land management, public investment, construction, finance, social security, and risk management.
- Supportive Skills: Emphasizing grassroots decision-making, administrative communication, conflict resolution, and policy communication skills.
- Technology Application: Promoting training on digital production methods, utilizing digital profiles, and specifically researching the use of AI virtual assistants to support document searching and work process guidance.
Decisive and Effective Implementation Solutions
To ensure the plan translates into practice, Hai Phong applies an implementation method based on the "6 Clears" principle: clear person, clear task, clear time, clear responsibility, clear product, and clear authority.
The city utilizes flexible training methods such as on-site training, inter-commune clusters, and a combination of in-person and online learning. "Hand-holding" (practical) training is prioritized to guide officials through actual work processes arising locally. Crucially, the city requires that sending officials for training must not disrupt the normal operations of agencies and units.
The Department of Home Affairs is assigned the lead role in presiding over, monitoring, and periodically inspecting implementation. Furthermore, training results will be updated in management software and linked directly to annual evaluation, classification, planning, and appointment of officials.
With high political determination and a methodical roadmap, strengthening the training of commune-level officials for the 2026 – 2031 period will be a vital "lever" helping Hai Phong build a strong, modern grassroots government that is a truly reliable companion to citizens and businesses.