Vietnam: Forum 'starting point' for national platform for DRR

On 7th October 2009, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE), with the support of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction of the United Nations (ISDR) and the Australia Aid Program, jointly organised the first National Forum on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA).

The purpose of the forum is to bring together experts, practitioners and policy makers to share views and experiences on the role of disaster risk management, identify opportunities, build joint efforts and discuss how best to link climate change response and climate-related DRR strategies, activities and institutions in Vietnam, harmonize their coordination, and to maximize their synergies.

Representatives from MARD, MoNRE, other ministries, the DDMFSC, CCFSC, provincial authorities, UN agencies, diplomatic bodies, international organisations, NGOs, academic institutions, media and other organisations, attended the meeting.

Opening statements

Mr. Cao Duc Phat, Minister of Agriculture and Rural development, opened the Forum and welcomed all participants. He stressed the increasing challenges faced by nations all over the world, including Vietnam from disaster risks and climate change. Minister Phat also stated that there is a need for increased commitment and cooperation as well as quick implementation of integrated and multi-sectoral solutions. He emphasid that MARD will be active and proactive in the cooperation and implementation of the Government’s international commitments. At the same time MARD will encourage support for human resource training and technology transfer, and enhance public awareness on disaster mitigation and CCA.

Mr. Huong Trung Hai, Deputy Prime Minister and Chair of the Forum, emphasized the steps the Government of Vietnam has taken in tackling disasters and climate change. Apart from large financial investments to improve and develop structures for flood and storm control and disaster warning and forecasting, efforts have also focused on consolidating institutional management, developing a comprehensive legal framework, improved public awareness and the application of new technologies. The Vietnamese Government has also approved the National Strategy for Natural Disaster Prevention, Response and Mitigation to 2020 and the National Target Program to Respond to Climate Change.

Mr. Pham Khoi Nguyen, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, elaborated on the objectives, target and action plan of the National Strategy and the National Target Program, and the existence of the climate change and sea level scenarios, developed by MoNRE. He expressed the Ministry’s strong commitment to cooperate with other Ministries, sectors and other localities in the whole country to effectively implement the task of preventing and managing natural disasters.

Ms. Margareta Wahlstrom, UN Secretary General’s Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction, talked about the international DRR and CCA framework and the need for urgent action. She highlighted the importance of a coordinated multi-sectoral integrated and an inclusive approach with a specific focus on the most vulnerable and poorest and consistent with sustainable development. She noted that DRR and CCA is a complex and long process, and requires flexibility and adaptiveness.

Lastly, Mr. Allaster Cox, Australian Ambassador, pointed out that the recent disasters occuring in Asia, are part of a growing global patern of more frequent and more severe disasters. He underlined the need for integration and coordination of DRR and CCA in Government policies, implementation and action plans. The National Platform for DRR, one of the actions of the Hyogo Framework for Action, is only one of the many important and ambitious advancements the Government of Vietnam, with support of its international partners, has made.

Large steps taken, further steps needed

The various presentations from different ministries and agencies, made during the National Forum, show the strong commitment and willingness of the Government of Vietnam, with its national and international partners, to DRR and CCA.

Significant steps have already been taken, which include:
- National Strategy for Natural disaster Prevention, Response and Mitigation to 2020;
- National Target Program to Respond to Climate change;
- Hyogo Framework for Action: Vietnam is signatory;
- Climate change and sea level rising scenarios;
- Community Based Disaster Risk Management Programme;
- Legal framework for DRM

Other issues presented and discussed during the meeting were, among others: i) the importance of integrating DRR and CCA in socio-economic development plans; ii) the role of education in promoting DRR and CCA, and a focus on the youth as the new generation; iii) the strong focus of the Government on non-structural measures besides other structural ones; iv) the role of communities and public awareness; v) information sharing and management; vi) risk assessment and mapping; and vii) CCA in a context of urbanization and urban development.

Derived from the various presentations and plenaries, a number of recommendations could be formulated; 1) the need to strengthen the cooperation among various DRR and CCA stakeholders; 2) the importance of ensuring complentarity and avoiding overlap of programs, methods, tools, etc.; 3) the need to conduct more in-depth practical research relevant for different regions in Vietnam, for example on projections and climate change scenarios, so as to define appropriate and differentiated measures; and 4) to look more at the medium and longer term impacts on livelihoods and the ‘climate trends’.

Disaster risk reduction is everyone’s business

The National Forum provided an excellent platform for discussion on DRR and CCA among stakeholders. It represented a unique high-level forum where the Government of Vietnam, ministries, departments, provinces, scientific institutions, diplomatic bodies, donors, INGOs, and NGOs could share ideas and views in the field of disaster risk management. The Forum is a nationally owned and led, multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder mechanism to bring change.

As stated by Prime Minister Mr. Hoang Trung Hai; “This National Forum will be a good starting point to promote the establishment of a recurring platform for information sharing and institutional development, and will contribute to the effective implementation of natural disaster prevention, response and mitigation.”