How to build an information system on administrative reforms topped the agenda of a workshop held in the northern port city of Hai Phong on Dec. 1.

This is just one of four elements of a project funded by the United Nations Development Programme to boost administrative reform in Vietnamese government agencies.

Participants at the workshop said that the current system of information on administrative reforms has not met with public expectations as it focuses only on the efforts made by state management agencies but lacks any analysis.

The provision of information is based a lot on documentation which is not accurate and far from the truth. Meanwhile, information is scattered across many departments and agencies, making it harder to collect or update with new information.

They stressed the need to create an information system that includes guidelines and legal obligations, as well as examples of successful models and the results of previous administrative reforms.

The system should be all encompassing, including good and bad information, and the advantages and disadvantages of administrative reforms as well as feedback from local communities./.