Ha Noi, March 30, 2021 - The Viet Nam Disaster Management Authority (VNDMA) in collaboration with the Thuyloi University, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) held a Closing Ceremony of the second training course on capacity improvement for the trainers at the central level on Community-based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM). More than 50 trainees from nearly 20 provinces attended two intensive courses and were certified by the Thuyloi University as master CBDRM trainers. This certification allows them to carry out trainings on disaster risk management and climate change adaptation across Viet Nam.

These trainers are qualified to conduct training courses at central, provincial, district, and commune levels focusing on community-based climate risks, impacts of disasters and climate change on vulnerable people, building capacities of women and integrating gender in disaster risk reduction, climate change adaption. They have also been trained on necessary training methods and skills to deliver their practical knowledge to adult audiences.

The trainings were carried out by national and international trainers and experts, who covered current and future disaster risk management solutions, international experiences in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. A number of training sessions also focused Vietnam’s national strategy on disaster risk management for the period 2021 - 2030, other relevant policies and institutional arrangements on disaster risk management as well as existing policies and programs on community-based disaster risk management.

“These training courses are of great significance to help increase awareness on disaster risk reduction, early warning and post-disaster recovery in localities, especially in the most disaster-prone and vulnerable regions. Thuyloi University will also integrate the knowledge of CBDRM acquired from these two courses so that university students can also gain additional knowledge to enhance their understanding of these important matters,” said Prof. Dr. Trinh Minh Thu - President of Thuyloi University at the closing ceremony.

Ms. Sitara Syed, Deputy Representative of UNDP in Viet Nam emphasized “The context we live in now is increasingly volatile, unpredictable, and complex, with more frequent extreme disasters resulting in serious damages to livelihoods, properties, and human wellbeing. There is a recognition of the need to build a strong contingent of trainers for disaster risk reduction in Viet Nam. We hope that both of these training courses will lay the foundation for the development of the training courses for future trainers, as well as for staff from VNDMA, ministries, and provinces who are directly involved in disaster risk management work.”

On behalf of VNDMA, Ms. Doan Thi Tuyet Nga, Director of the Department of Science, Technology and International Cooperation, thanked the cooperation of UNDP, and the dedication of the Thuyloi University as well as the trainers for supporting the second training course, which is in line with the Government Program 1002 on "Raising public awareness and community-based disaster risk management”.

This is one of many activities implemented by the project "Improving the resilience of vulnerable coastal communities to climate change-related impacts in Viet Nam" funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the Viet Nam Government, and UNDP. By early 2021, the project has provided training and information on climate change and resilience to more than 45,000 people in 7 targeted project provinces including Thanh Hoa, Nam Dinh, Quang Binh, Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, and Ca Mau.

For more information, please contact:

Phan Huong Giang,
Media and Communications Analyst
Climate Change & Environment,
United Nations Development Programme
Email: phan.huong.giang@undp.org
Mobile: 0948466688

Vu Thai Truong,
Programme Management Specialist,
United Nations Development Programme
Email: vu.thai.truong@undp.org