Thua Thien Hue Provincial People's Committee and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Viet Nam will strengthen collaboration to support the province’s sustainable development objectives. Thua Thien Hue PPC Chairperson Phan Ngoc Tho and UNDP Resident Representative in Viet Nam Caitlin Wiesen signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to this effect in Hue city this afternoon. HE. Mr. Mai Tien Dung, Minister, Chairperson of Office of the Government, witnessed the signing.

Addressing the signing ceremony, Chairperson Phan Ngoc Tho highlighted the province’s strategy on fast development based on knowledge and sustainable development based on the culture of the province.

“We have developed a strategy to balance between development and conservation and this is in line with the cooperation strategy with UNDP,” Chairman Phan Ngoc Tho said. “We are very pleased to continue cooperating with UNDP on Climate change adaptation and biodiversity conservation; Smart low-carbon urban development and innovation; and Circular economy”.

UNDP Resident Representative in Viet Nam Caitlin Wiesen offered  triple-win options, including: i) green recovery of the economy; ii) transformation towards more sustainable production processes and production of green products; and iii) more actions to protect the environment to reduce the risks of future pandemics and of extreme weather events due to climate change.

“As Viet Nam enters its recovery phase from the pandemic, it is more important than ever to ensure that this undertaken in a way that is green and inclusive,  aided by innovation and digitization,” Ms. Wiesen said. “This MOU we sign today is a step towards enhancing Thua Thien Hue Province’s green, innovative recovery”.

With regard to climate change adaptation and biodiversity conservation, UNDP will continue to build 180 resilient houses for poor and vulnerable households. These are in addition to the 365 resilient houses that have already been built and handed over in Hue province.

UNDP will support the plantation and rehabilitation of up to 20 hectares of mangrove forests by the end of the 2021 planting season, thus contributing to the protection of mangrove forests and biodiversity. This is built on the recently established  Tam Giang – Cau Hai Wetland Protected Area.

In the area of smart low-carbon urban development and innovation, UNDP, in collaboration with the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) and Hue City, will support the pilot testing of e-bike sharing, with an  initial provision of 200 e-bikes and e-bicycles and  battery sharing systems that will be located in 50 parking lots and one operation center. UNDP and MPI will also expand the application of the Climate Business Index (CBI) to Hue City. Furthermore, UNDP will further expand the application of the digital map for disability (D-Map) in Hue City.

In the area of circular economy, UNDP will support Hue City with piloting of practical models of community-based plastic waste management.

For more information, please contact:

Nguyen Viet Lan, UNDP Communication Analyst, email: nguyen.viet.lan@undp.org, phone: 0914436769