Global Reporting’s consultant Agneta Carleson worked as Communication Adviser in Vietnam for the Sida-funded rural development programme "Chia Se". It was indeed a challenge to develop both top-down and bottom-up communication in this 330 million SEK programme, since it encompassed residents of 450 poor villages in remote areas in North and Central Vietnam, programme offices on municipality-, district- and provincial levels, as well as work groups in five ministries.

The work included training in communication for staff and stakeholders on all levels, producing information material for both illiterates and high level officials and developing methods for sharing of experiences and lessons learned throughout the programme. Communication therefore had a vital role in empowering the villagers, promoting local democracy and supporting openness and anti-corruption.