Denmark-Vietnam Environmental Cooperation Gearing Up

The Development Cooperation Environment program between Denmark and Vietnam, initiated after a launch workshop held in Hanoi March 22, will support Vietnam in implementing the National Strategy for Environmental Protection with DKK 250 million focusing on poverty alleviation.
The opening was attended by the Danish Ambassador Peter Lysholt Hansen, Vice Minister of Ministry of Planning and Investment Dr. Phan Quang Trung, Vice Minister of Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Dr. Pham Khoi Nguyen together with representatives from line ministries, partner provinces and NGOs.
“It is my sincere hope that our cooperation…will assist Vietnam to meet the Millennium Development Goals and to provide basic environmental services to poor people living in target areas of the provinces,” Ambassador Hansen said.
The Danish ambassador also underlined the importance of this program being demand led ensuring true Vietnamese ownership of the program.
Counselor for Environment at the Embassy of Denmark, Lars Mikkel Johannessen stated that the environment program has now left the runway and is ‘flying though while some Vietnamese partners taking ownership may feel like there’s something of a headwind in the short term, in the long term, however, everyone will realize that they will be flying with a tailwind.’
Applying the demand led approach was one of the important issues discussed at the workshop. The provinces may now receive support to projects that have a demonstratable effect on other provinces and feedback effectively to the central level. Priorities shall be identified at all levels and the program can respond to the five areas of the program’s focus.
Participants traveling from targetted program provinces including Thai Nguyen, Phu Tho, Ha Nam, Nghe An, Quan Nam and Ben Tre said they were looking forward to improve the environmental conditions for the poor in their provinces.