A new Finnish-funded project was launched on August 4, 2011 in Ho Chi Minh City. The project aims topromote and strengthen Vietnamese NGOs’ pro-active engagement in climate change adaptation in the southern provinces of Ben Tre and Tra Vinh.
Objective of the project is to strengthen existing networks of southern NGOs for their pro-active engagement in climate change adaptation supporting local communities in Ben Tre and Tra Vinh Provinces. These two provinces are located in the Mekong Delta area, which is hit hard by climate change. The project will help Vietnamese NGOs and local communities to respond to climate change challenges and to better pursue inclusive and sustainable development initiatives.
Bigger roles for NGOs and local communities in Mekong Delta area
The project’s main activities include strengthening institutional capacities for local NGOs, capacity building for local communities, setting-up of two information kiosks and a rescue communication centre at the grassroots level. The existing networks of local NGOs are reinforced and dialogues to advocate pro-poor climate change policies supported, which will create more space them to operate. It will enable local NGOs to play bigger roles in the development process at district, provincial and national levels. 130 staff members of local NGOs and 3,000 community members are expected to benefit directly from this initiative.
The project holder, Centre for Cooperation Human Resources Development (C&D), will collaborate with Hanoi-based Centre for Community Capacity Building on Environmental Protection, and two HCMC-based organizations, namely Centre for Biodiversity Conservation and Institute of Sustainable Development for the Southern Region to conduct the project.
Finland committed to tackle climate change and support civil society development
At the launching ceremony held on August 4, 2011 in HCMC, Ambassador Pekka Hyvönen said “Climate change is one of the greatest threats to sustainable development. Tackling climate change is considered amongst key priorities in the Finland’s development cooperation policy. We hope this project will facilitate both northern and southern NGOs to participate actively in climate change challenges in Mekong Delta area which is seriously affected. At the same time, it reconfirms our strong commitment to the Vietnamese civil society development.”
The project will be carried out between August 2011 and July 2013, and it is financed through the Embassy’s Fund for Local Cooperation with the budget of 160 625 Euros.
