Enhancing capacity to implement climate change response projects

(Baonghean.vn) - On the afternoon of October 13, Comrade Nguyen Xuan Duong - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Committee of Nghe An province chaired a working session with Mr. Mark Fenn - Co-director of the Project to Support Climate Change Response in Forests and Deltas of Vietnam (VFD Nghe An project) to agree on training on climate change and green growth.

Attending the meeting were comrade Dinh Viet Hong - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and representatives of a number of provincial departments, branches and sectors.

Overview of the working session

Along with Nam Dinh, Long An and Thanh Hoa, Nghe An has implemented the VFD project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) since February 2014. The goal of this total project with an investment of 26 million USD is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural and forestry activities, ensure green growth and cope with climate change. Specifically, through implementation in the three districts of Que Phong, Ky Son and Tuong Duong, some results have been achieved in the following four aspects: Regarding sustainable forest management and payment for environmental services, Tuong Duong forestry company and Pu Hoat nature reserve have been supported to survey and assess the current management status, investigate biodiversity, organize workshops, visit and learn from exploitation experiences.

Regarding climate change adaptation livelihoods, surveys have been conducted, livelihood needs and potentials have been assessed, and a pilot plan for socio-economic development adapted to climate change has been developed. In particular, in-depth research on rice production under climate change conditions has been completed, and a workshop, report and consultation are expected to be held in October 2014.

Climate change communication work has been carried out at Vinh University and is planned to be implemented in Que Phong district. Relevant sectors have also been supported with consulting surveys and the organization of two seminars on water resources management, with special attention to the issue of effective management and exploitation of the Ca River basin.

Finally, the local partners’ capacity building work has completed the capacity assessment survey and capacity building needs. In particular, Que Phong district has organized training courses to raise social awareness and climate change for people and officials in a number of communes.

Mr. Mark Fenn - Co-Director of the Project to Support Climate Change Response in Forests and Deltas of Vietnam spoke at the meeting.

After learning about the project implementation in Nghe An province, Mr. Mark Fenn expressed his appreciation for the province's spirit of cooperation and goodwill. He emphasized that the initiative of local authorities plays an important role in project implementation. He agreed with the locality's comments and requested the project to support and strengthen training for officials at all levels. According to the plan, USAID will organize two training sessions for officials of Nghe An province. The first session is for leaders of the Provincial Party Committee, Provincial People's Committee and leaders and technical staff of departments and branches, expected to be held before Tet. The second session is for each branch and district-level officials, held after Tet. USAID hopes to support and advise localities in planning green growth and responding to climate change for the 2015-2020 period.

Comrade Nguyen Xuan Duong - Deputy Secretary, Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee concluded the working session.

Video clip of comrade Nguyen Xuan Duong's speech at the meeting:

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Assessing the results of the VFD Nghe An project, comrade Nguyen Xuan Duong stated that the protection, management and sustainable exploitation of natural resources should be one of the top priorities, especially for a province with a large forest area and an 82km long coastline like Nghe An. Government leaders at all levels fully agreed with the training program and committed to supporting and coordinating with USAID so that the VFD Nghe An project could achieve the expected results.

Thuc Anh