Hanoi, 18 December 2025 – The Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics (HCMA) has piloted the Gender Equality in the Public Sector Index with support from the Australian Embassy in Vietnam through the Vietnam Australia Centre (VAC). The pilot has generated important evidence to strengthen women’s leadership and inclusive governance, with the results discussed at a dissemination workshop in Hanoi on 18 December 2025.
The Index, which includes 10 main indicators and a number of sub-indicators, measures gender equality across the entire employment pipeline—from recruitment and training to leadership development and appointments. It is designed to help public agencies identify gaps, track progress, and implement evidence-based interventions that strengthen women’s participation and leadership at all levels.
Between June and November 2025, the Index was piloted in two central agencies—the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics (HCMA) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs—as well as two provinces, Can Tho and Phu Tho. Jointly conducted by HCMA’s Centre for Gender Studies and Women’s Rights (GWR) and Griffith University, with funding support from the Australian Government, the pilot focused on refining the qualitative and quantitative frameworks of the Index and improving data collection. Among its key outputs, an initial online platform for displaying gender equality data was introduced at today’s dissemination workshop.
Presentation on the pilot results by Dr. Luong Thu Hien, Director of Centre for Gender and Women’s Rights’ Studies; Deputy Director General, Human Rights Institute, HCMA
The Index aims to provide transparency and accountability during Vietnam’s ongoing administrative restructuring and support the targets set under the National Strategy on Gender Equality 2021–2030. A key finding of the pilot is that while the overall number of women employed in the pilot organisations is more than 45 per cent of the total number of employees, structural barriers remain for women at the more senior levels.
Speaking at the workshop, Associate Professor, Dr Nguyen Manh Hung, Vice President of HCMA, said, “The pilot study of the Data Collection Framework for the Gender Equality Index in the Public Sector is an institutional initiative that suggests Viewing gender equality as a component of modern, effective, and sustainable public governance. Tested in various governance contexts, from strategic research and training institutions and foreign affairs agencies to local authorities, this study enhances the applicability and scalability of the Index in the future.”
Associate Professor, Dr Nguyen Manh Hung, Vice President of HCMA delivers opening remarks
Ms Renee Deschamps, Deputy Head of Mission at the Australian Embassy in Vietnam, added, “Advancing women’s participation, voice and influence in public institutions is not only the right thing to do; it is essential to effective governance, innovation, and sustainable growth. We are proud to support Vietnam’s ambitious goals under the National Strategy on Gender Equality 2021–2030, which call for strong institutions and inclusive leadership.”
Ms Renee Deschamps, Deputy Head of Mission at the Australian Embassy in Vietnam delivers opening remarks.
The Index represents the culmination of several years of research between the GWR and three Australian Universities. The concept of the Index first originated from a 2020 research project, “Reaching the Apex: Strengthening Opportunities for Women’s Leadership in Politics and Public Administration in Vietnam”, jointly conducted by the GWR (previously GeLEAD) and the University of New South Wales through Aus4Skills.
Building on this foundation, GWR and the University of Technology Sydney, through the VAC, launched the Index in 2024. Phase 1 culminated in a report published in October 2024 and a dissemination workshop in June 2025, co-hosted by HCMA, the Australian Embassy, and the Vietnam Women’s Union. The event showcased collaborative efforts between Vietnam and Australia and raised awareness ahead of Vietnam’s upcoming Party Congress.
Professor Susan Harris Rimmer, Griffith University, introduces the mock-up and the interactive data platform of the index.
Panel discussion on strengthening gender equality in public sector cadre management in Viet Nam
A participant takes part in the Q&A session
The pilot takes this research one step further, providing valuable data and insights into the actual experience and progress of women in the public sector, as well as identifying data gaps and collection challenges to refine the index and methodology for future research./.
