On April 2nd, 2025, Ms. Hang Pham, Acting Director of the Center for Community Health Research and Development (CCRD), represented CCRD at the Partnership for a Healthy Region (PHR) Annual Partners Meeting, in a significant panel discussion focused on “Supporting locally led development through PHR programs.”
The Partnership for a Healthy Region (PHR), funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), plays a pivotal role in empowering local organizations across the Asia-Pacific region to spearhead developmental initiatives in their own communities. Among the notable examples highlighted during the meeting was the “Intercountry Partnership for Ending AIDS and Tuberculosis” project, successfully led by CCRD in collaboration with consortium partners in Vietnam and Lao PDR. This initiative exemplifies how local organizations from neighboring countries can collaboratively tackle shared public health challenges.
During the panel, Ms. Hang Pham underscored how CCRD’s strategic design of this project enhances the capabilities of community-based organizations, empowering local communities to deliver sustained and inclusive support, particularly to marginalized groups vulnerable to HIV and tuberculosis.
At CCRD, we firmly believe that true locally led development involves more than delegation—it requires actively shifting power and resources to local communities. We remain committed to building robust, resilient local organizations that can drive enduring change from within.
We extend our sincere appreciation to DFAT for their steadfast support of locally led initiatives and look forward to continuing and deepening our collaboration for a healthier, inclusive, and sustainable future in the region. CCRD is proud to be one of the very few Vietnamese organizations operating at the regional level, actively contributing to cross-border collaboration and shared public health objectives.