From September 24–25, 2026, in Ho Chi Minh City, the Wildlife Conservation Society, Viet Nam Program (WCS Viet Nam), in collaboration with the Ho Chi Minh City Branch of the Viet Nam Procuratorate University (VPU-HCMC), organized the closing workshop for Cohort 3 of the “Wildlife Crime Leadership Initiative” (WCLI), designed for prosecutors from southern provinces and cities of Viet Nam. The workshop brought together more than 40 participants who are representatives from the Department of International Cooperation and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters (Department 13) of the Supreme People’s Procuracy, VPU in Ha Noi and VPU-HCMC, and leaders of regional People’s Procuracies whose staff participated in Cohort 3.
Overview of the workshop, Ho Chi Minh City, September 2026.
During the workshop, Cohort 3 participants, lecturers from VPU-HCMC, and WCS Viet Nam reviewed the implementation of the program and discussed the content and teaching methods of the three thematic courses, the application of knowledge and skills in professional practice, and challenges encountered in implementing individual action plans. Participants shared their experiences and recommendations for improving the effectiveness of action plan implementation and explored opportunities to replicate successful practices within their respective units and localities.
As part of these discussions, participants and lecturers from VPU-HCMC reviewed the draft competence framework for prosecutors in preventing and combating illegal wildlife trade proposed by WCS Viet Nam. The consultation focused on comparing the framework with the content delivered during Cohort 3, assessing its relevance, and gathering suggestions for additions and revisions to ensure that it reflects participants’ practical needs while addressing the broader competence requirements of the procuracy sector in future cohorts.
Participant shared action plan results, Ho Chi Minh City, September 2026
The workshop also presented the results of Cohort 3, including changes in participants’ professional practices and their application of knowledge gained through the program. From the perspective of participating units, representatives of the leaders of regional People’s Procuracies shared their assessments of participants’ implementation of individual action plans within their units and localities. They also provided guidance on how participants could continue to apply and build on the knowledge and skills acquired through the program in their professional practice.
Participants further discussed opportunities to integrate selected content from the three thematic courses into the training and professional development programs of VPU-HCMC. Such integration would help sustain and expand the application of knowledge and skills related to preventing and combating illegal wildlife trade through the procuracy sector’s regular training and professional development activities.
The workshop was conducted within the framework of the project “Wildlife Crime Leadership Initiative”, funded by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), United States Department of State, and implemented by WCS in Viet Nam.