24 December 2020, Hanoi, Vietnam – The climate change adaptation project was developed by UN-Habitat in Viet Nam in partnership with the Government of Socialist Republic of Viet Nam and was approved by Adaptation Fund through extensive consultations.
Tra Vinh Province: River Bank Erosion Photo: UN-Habitat Viet Nam
The main objective of the proposed project is “to enhance the resilience, inclusive and sustainable eco-human settlement development through small scale infrastructure interventions in the coastal regions of the Mekong Delta in Viet Nam”. To align with a government’s objectives to promote sustainable eco-human settlement in Viet Nam, this project aims to improve the poor and vulnerable communes that climate change impacts have affected the most. Also, this project focuses on dealing with saltwater intrusion and coastal erosions in Mekong Delta, which are the major impacts from the climate change. Along with the water resource management and coastal erosion issues, the lack of vertical and horizontal coordination has been a bottleneck for the community to reflect their needs to the provincial and national level policies. To achieve this, climate resilient water and coastal protection infrastructure will be built, and climate change will be mainstreamed into urban planning through trainings and other capacity building activities.
On 15 December 2020, at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), the UN-Habitat’s representative, Habitat Programme Manager (HPM) for Viet Nam, Dr. Nguyen Quang co-chaired with Vice Minister Nguyen Thi Phuong Hoa at the Project Steering Committee. Together with the participation of Tra Vinh and Bac Lieu provinces, representatives of the Korean Institute of Technology and Environment (KEITI), and leaders of many related departments under MONRE.
PSC Meeting at MONRE; Vice Minister Nguyen Thi Phuong Hoa (left) and Dr. Nguyen Quang (right)
16 December 2020, Hanoi – the project was formally launched with an inception workshop attended by over 50 relevant members from local, provincial, and national levels such as commune leaders, provincial and national governments. The US$6.3 million project will support the action plan development for climate change adaptation and community resilience capacity building, which aim mainstreaming climate change into urban planning and development. 4,912 households and 25,199 local people will directly benefit from the climate change related impacts, and national and local government officials will increase their capacity for mainstreaming climate change adaptation into urban planning and development.
Mr. Phan Tuan Hung – Director General – Department of Legal Affair – delivered his opening speech. Photo: UN-Habitat Viet Nam
Inception Workshop Photo: UN-Habitat Viet Nam
The project is to be implemented by UN-Habitat and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, in partnership with Bac Lieu and Tra Vinh Provinces. This project is well aligned with the Prime Minister’s Resolution 120, which is about the development of the Mekong Delta region, and provincial socio-economic development plans. This also contributes to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals, especially Goal 6 ‘Clean Water & Sanitation’, Goal 11 ‘Sustainable Cities & Communities’, and Goal 13 ‘Climate Action’.
Bac Lieu Province: Human Settlement at Bank River Photo: UN-Habitat Viet Nam
Action plans for community resilience building against climate change risk will be developed with participatory approach and this action plans will be integrated into provincial and national policies for vertical and horizontal integration through the integrating policy framework development. This will contribute to reflect the locals’ needs into the planning and policy development. Furthermore, infrastructure development for water resource management and costal erosion will provide direct benefits to local people and communities. The needs of the most vulnerable will be considered at all stages of the process.
At the inception workshop, Mr. Phan Tuan Hung, Director General of Department of Legal Affairs, highlighted that the Adaptation Fund project will be catalyst of enhancing the resilience capacity of climate change adaptation, and protection the natural assets with natural based infrastructures for water resource management and costal erosion in Bac Lieu and Tra Vinh provinces of the Mekong Delta.
Moreover, Mr. Tran Van Hung, Director General of Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DONRE) in Tra Vinh, and Mr. Pham Quoc Nam from DONRE in Bac Lieu reaffirmed the commitment of local authorities towards improving access to basic services and their will to provide support for a successful implementation.
