Project Summary:

The drought and saltwater intrusion has deteriorated rapidly since September 2019 in the Mekong delta of Viet Nam. As of January 2020, saltwater has intruded deeper into the inland areas, up to 60km from the river mouth of Ben Tre province. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment forecasts that salinity boundary this year will cross the historical salinity boundary in the dry season of 2015-2016.

On 10 January 2019, Senior Management of UNDP Viet Nam met with VNDMA to clarify expectations of the Government of Viet Nam for the support required. The key support needed at this stage includes: technical support to a rapid impacts and needs assessment (the first assessment currently planned for 15-17 January), support to coordination and information sharing with provinces, international organisations and INGOs, and organization of debriefing workshops and events to present key findings of the assessment and the overarching response planning.

Project Objectives:

The project aims to ensure that UNDP Viet Nam will take a leading role in all processes pertaining to responses to live-saving humanitarian assistance and to early recovery actions impacted by the drought and salinity, and by the coronavirus crisis.

Expected results:

• Impact and needs assessments smoothly coordinated and timely undertaken in selected provinces that produce required information and data for decision making processes by the Government, UN agencies and INGOs.
• Enhanced UNDP capacities to catalyze humanitarian resources and provide technical support to recovery planning; Coordination of assessments and communication activities focusing on the most vulnerable groups.

Key achievements:

• A Rapid needs assessment smoothly coordinated and timely undertaken in selected provinces in late 2019 that produce required information and data for decision making processes by the Government, UN agencies and INGOs.
• Timely support with regular coordination / meetings on emergency and recovery planning, resource mobilization and information among UN agencies, INGOs and the Government focal agency.
• An impact assessment on impacts and needs in the selected Mekong delta provinces, focusing on water supply, livelihoods and road erosion was undertaken to inform Government of options for recovery and long-term support to the Mekong delta provinces.
• One concept note produced, and further work with the provinces and Government on developing technical papers and proposals to seek funding from potential donors for recovery efforts on resilient livelihoods/integrated SDGs for the poor coastal communities in targeted provinces is on-going