As published in Viet Nam Plus on 7 July 2021

Hanoi (VNA) – An online workshop and training programme on community-based disaster risk management in coastal localities is taking place on July 6-8.

Jointly held by the Vietnam Disaster Management Authority (VDMA) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in Vietnam, the events are part of activities in the project “Improving resilience of vulnerable coastal communities to climate change in Vietnam” funded by  the Green Climate Fund (GCF), UNDP and the Vietnamese Government.

In his opening speech, Deputy Head of the VDMA Nguyen Van Tien underlined the importance to raise awareness of officials and people in coastal areas through training programmes and assessment of disaster and climate change risks, saying that this is the main foundation to ensure stable life and safety for coastal households frequently affected by natural disasters.

Such training courses also contribute to the Government’s efforts to raise awareness of and strengthen resilience of community, he noted.

The project will expand training activities and information sharing to 21 coastal provinces and cities of Vietnam, including Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Thai Binh, Ninh Binh, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Tri, Da Nang, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Thanh Ho Chi Minh City, Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Tra Vinh, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu and Kien Giang.

Senior Technical Advisor of UNDP Vietnam Khusrav Sharifov emphasised that it is important to strengthen capacity from the community level in the context of Vietnam's vulnerability to climate change and impacts of natural disasters.

Through the partnership with VDMA and provinces, UNDP is focusing on increasing resilience at all levels in order to mitigate negative impacts of cyclones, storms, floods, drought, and saltwater intrusion in vulnerable coastal communities.

UNDP has been closely cooperating with the authority to effectively implement the project “Raising public awareness and community-based disaster risk management” launched by the Vietnamese Government in 2009.

By the end of 2021, the project is expected to access 520 communities in seven coastal areas to help them assess risks and develop their own climate and disaster risk reduction plans.

More than 10,000 people are hoped to have access to more information on risks of climate change and natural disasters as well as activities to strengthen resilience and climate change adaptation in the coming time.

Since 2018, training courses on community-based disaster risk management have been organised for more than 44,000 people in 373 coastal and near-coastal communes in Nam Dinh, Thanh Hoa, Quang Binh, Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai and Ca Mau.